Brass Rail Salt Beef Bar - Selfridges, London

This is quite simply the most tender meat you'll find. Chewing not required. The bread they use is Rye bread and it's always fresh and fluffy, the mustard is cheap yet it works, and the pickle on the side rounds it off nicely. £6.50 may sound like a lot for a sandwich but they really do pack it with salt beef. In fact I've taken some of the meat out on a few occasions and used it to make a second sandwich the next day.

If you don't want a sandwich you can choose from the protein platter (just meat) or the salad bar. It's all simple and understated but very well done. The main carver has been working there for 33 years so he knows his stuff. 

The bar is placed in a corner of the ground floor and although Selfridges is an upmarket place to shop this little corner is very unpretentious.. It's a little nest in a big cog, a small corner away from the expensive bags etc.... You'll find business men grabbing it on the go for lunch or chomping away right there. I often go at the end of a day of shopping, as a treat. 

It's delicious and unpretentious and highly recommended. 

Brass Rail at Selfridges
9/10

400 Oxford St
London W1A 1AB

0800 123 400 

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Johnny Rockets - Miami, USA

Johnny Rockets is an all American diner that serves everything from burgers, chili dogs, fries, chocolate malts, ice cream and brownies. I fell in love with the chili dog, which is quoted as being 'Nathan’s Famous® all-beef hot dog with our exclusive all-meat chili, chopped onions and grated cheddar cheese.' I couldn't finish it as it was far too big, and a little too greasy, but the chili had a nice meat content and a great cumin kick. My partner had a Philly Cheese Steak which was once again too greasy but indulgent and a once a month sort of affair. We then shared a Chocolate Malt, which was to die for. It was all pretty cheap, slightly higher than a Mcdonalds but rightly so because it's much better.

The restaurant in itself was opened in 1986 in LA and soon expanded. Today you'll find them all over the world. They pander to a gimmick of all American diner style, with jukeboxes on tables and proper feel good all American nostalgic atmosphere. 

It's worth going at least once to get a sense of the place, because it's fun and very American. 

Johnny Rockets

South Beach
6/10
728 Ocean Drive
Miami, FL 33139
305-538-2115


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Beamish & McGlue - West Norwood, London

It's bizarre where little gems pop up. West Norwood is a very unpretentious sort of place and so to find a really good delicatessen on its doorstep is surprising. You'll find a vast array of different, and good quality products, such as gluten free cake, great cheeses, organic fresh vegetables, organic meat, frozen Basilico pizza etc. Everything is seemingly sourced with consideration and on a good day you can eat outside. 

I liked their Quiche (£2.50 per slice) their Gammon, Leak and Potato Pie (£2.50) and the Goats Cheese, Apple, Beetroot and Mustard Sandwich (all sandwiches £3.50 or under).

It's not cheap however, but you do get what you pay for, and honestly I would buy all my food from there if I still lived close by.

Beamish and McGlue
461 Norwood Road

8/10
London
SE27 9DQ
020 8670 0792
www.beamishandmcglue.com

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Joe's Stone Crab - Miami, USA

Joe's stone crab is, to say the least, an institution. Presidents such as Bush, Clinton and Nixon have all been, which signals its reputation. However when reading the latter in my hotel magazine I assumed it would be a posh nosh sort of affair. It's not. Joe's is a modest yet beautiful place. The food speaks for itself and the decor is a mix of diner come savvy. 

So... of course I ate the Stone Crab, which was as fresh as it was delicious. I came to learn that Stone Crabs were discovered by this restaurant, before which nobody thought them edible. This discovery, which took place in 1921, meant that Joe's had its edge. A place that served a crustacea that nobody else thought edible, however with one bite they were converted, and seemingly this meant that Joe's was not only the oldest restaurant in Miami, but also the most innovative. 

Today Joe's sits in a classic bracket. It's not fancy, it's not new, but it serves fresh simple fish, and it serves it well. The Stone Crabs, which you can order in small, medium and large are so fresh that you don't get a whiff of that fishy smell we've come to associate with semi rotting fish. The price varies according to the market, because this fish is fresh and they don't want you to forget it! It is accompanied by a mustard sauce, which resembles mayonnaise, minus the thick gloopiness. 

We followed the claw magic with a Seafood Bisque, which was delicious, albeit slightly too creamy. ($6.95). We also had a side of Onion Rings ($6.95). The rings were the biggest I've ever seen and were coated in a herby crust that was a perfect mix of salty and sweet. We ended with the classic Key Lime Pie ($6.95). I liked it but felt it was slightly too much like a thick custard, this was more about the texture than the taste. All in all the meal cost us $29.95 and although we were minimal with our ordering what we did order was filling and very reasonable.

If you go be aware that you can't book and the wait for dinner is up to 2 hours, however at lunch there is no wait. That's when I went and I recommend that time. 

Joe's Stone Crab
9/10

11 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach, FL 33139

(800) 780 crab

www.joesstonecrab.com

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The Warrington - Maida Vale, London

The Warrington Pub based in beautiful residential Maida Vale is a lovely gastropub with a difference. Owned by the famous Gordon Ramsey it was taken over in 2006, and in perfect Ramsey style he made over the restaurant with traditional yet simple class. Another good reason Ramsey bought this pub is he left the downstairs bar with much of its original fixtures, keeping true to its 1857 beauty.

I began my meal with the Veal and pork Veal and Pork Pie with Pickled Cucumber (£7), which was delicious and succulent. I then followed with the Smoked Haddock and Salmon Fish Cakes with tartar sauce (£11.25), and ended with the Banoffee Pie (£5.50). The fishcakes were filled to the brim with fish, and were moist and flavourful, yet simple and understated, while the Banoffee pie was sweet and absolutely delicious.

The bar menu is similar to the main menu if you're looking for less formality, and boasts traditional English food such as Lamb sausages with Mash and Onion Gravy (8.25)

The prices were surprisingly reasonable for a Ramsey restaurant and the food was well worth it. It was simple yet tasty and the decor was predominantly white, which added a lovely clean feel.

I would certainly eat here again and would recommend it to anyone looking for good English food. 

The Warrington
8/10

93 Warrington Crescent

London

W9 1EH

0207 592 7960

www.gordonramsey.com/thewarrington

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Quality Chop House - Farringdon, London

British food is gaining a good reputation, and the Quality Chop House in Chancery Lane reinforces this. Here is a restaurant to be proud of. The food is simple and only uses seasonal ingredients.

The restaurant has a canteen feel to it with brown wood benches that resemble a posh school canteen. The food, however is far from that which you ate at school. Robust, seasonal, delicious, makes this food to be proud of. I ate the seared Scallops with Creamed Jerusalem Artichokes and Crispy Bacon to start (£10.95). The scallops were perfectly cooked and the bacon added a lovely salty finish. I followed with the Pork Chops, Black Pudding Hash and Crackling (£14.95) and boy did it deliver. The black pudding was moist yet crumbly, the crackling was so crispy that had I thrown it at the waiter he'd have been in serious trouble, and the pork was moist and tender.

If you want traditional British food here is a place to try. The price is slightly steep however, but I didn't mind as it made up for it with lashings of flavour.

The Quality Chop House
8/10
92-94 Farringdon Road
London 
EC1R 3EA
0207 837 5093
www.qualitychophouse.co.uk

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La Famiglia - Fulham, London

The exterior of this small family run restaurant in Fulham is unpretentious, and the interior too for that matter, however the food speaks for itself. It is run by Alvaro Maccioni and his family and has been an institution since it opened in 1975. It offers authentic Tuscan food with a wholesome family feeling.

As the doors opened we were greeted by an old Italian man who took our coats and spoke with a thick Italian accent. We were seated in the main restaurant (not the conservatory), which was very sweet and comfortable. The walls were adorned with family photographs, which added to the warm and welcoming feeling. The lighting was slightly too bright for my liking as I was looking for a romantic place to share a meal with my boyfriend. However a bite of my starter and that feeling past post haste.

I began with the Deep Fried Marrow Flowers, which were both sweet and savoury. Truly the stuff of dreams. I then followed with the Fresh Pasta with Wild Boar Sauce. This melted in my mouth. The meat was tender and perfectly seasoned, while the pasta kept a bite. I didn't have room for dessert, which I sorely regretted, but the couple to our left confirmed that their dessert was as good as the rest of their meal.

I later went back to La Famiglia for the set menu on New Years. This comprised of half a lobster, a hearty pasta dish, a starter of perfectly cooked scallops, a glass of champagne and a subtly beautiful dessert. Every single part of the menu made me sigh with happiness. It was steep at £90 a head, but for New Years I was happy to part with the money, and I walked out thinking I would have happily paid double.

I fault this restaurant only on its ambiance. I believe it could stand to be a little more intimate, the food somehow requires it. With that said however this is one of the best places I've ever eaten, and I almost feel bad for finding any fault at all.

It's not cheap and I sadly can't afford to go often, but when asked what my favourite restaurant in London is I often say La Famiglia.

La Famiglia
7 Langton Street
9/10
London, SW10 0JL, United Kingdom
+44 20 7351 0761
www.lafamiglia.co.uk


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Gilgamesh - Camden, London

I went to Gilgamesh for my birthday and it certainly was a night to remember. As I took the escalator up to the restaurant I was instantly taken by the beauty of the decoration. Much like the food, the decor at Gilgamesh can at best be describe as heavily Asian with a modern twist. Who would have thought you could find a Babylonian restaurant with technicoloured lighting and a dance floor?

The food is really quite good, a mix of Californian, Japanese, Indian ... fusion cooking at its best. I didn't really know what to make of it at first so we settled on 2 main dishes with a mix of little small dishes to share. The Son in Law Eggs (£4) were to die for. It comprised of a small heavily spiced omelet with lashings of coriander and bursting with flavour. The Spicy Spider Roll with Soft Shell Crab (£8.50) was also delicious, if not a bit small.

If you're looking for a theatrical experience with very good food, as well as a place to drink and dance, then Gilgamesh is certainly the place for you. It doesn't make sense as a concept: Pan-Asian food with Indian decoration in the middle of Camden, but London is a melting pot and this somehow works. 

The Stables Market
7/10
London, NW1, United Kingdom
+44 20 74825757
www.gilgameshbar.com

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Hakkasan - Soho, London

Hakkasan, owned by Alan Yau of Wagamama fame opened in 2001 in the dark alley of Hanway Street near Tottenham Court Road. It went on to receive a Michelin star in 2003 and has since maintained its reputation as an Oriental Fusion restaurant of very high class.

The interior cost millions of pounds to decorate and as you walk in you can see why. It mixes old school tradition with a distinctive modern twist. Much of the interior comprises of black wood and as such creates a sultry and sexy feel.

Lets face it, you're either going to go to Hakkasan for an occasion or if you've got money to burn, and in all honesty I wouldn't choose Hakkasan as my occasion restaurant. It's a bit passé now and there are better and more hip restaurants out there.

With that said however, the decoration is nice and the food very well done. I had the Braised Duke of Berkshire Pork Belly Clay Pot (£15.50), which was moist and falling apart. It came in a rich, dark and sticky sauce which coated the fluffy white rice perfectly. I would go again if someone else was picking up the bill, but I wouldn't choose it if I was paying!

Hakkasan
7/10

8 Hanway Place

W1T 1HD

0207 927 700

www.hakkasan.com

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Ping Pong - Soho, London

Ping Pong boasts to serve 'little steamed parcels of deliciousness' and this is no exaggeration. You might not like everything on the menu but the choice is so varied its bound to suit all tastes. As you are seated in the dark, sexy and stylish restaurant you are given a card and pen. You mark the amount of each savoury bite you desire according to the menu and pass it back to the waiter. Each dim sum plate, consisting of 2 to 3 pieces per plate costs anywhere between £2 to £5. I went with 3 people and we chose 3 to 4 plates each, however we did end up ordering more as we went along. The Scallop and Prawn Dumpling (£2.99) were delicious, as were the Crispy Prawn Balls (£3.59). 

Ping Pong and dim sum in general is very much a grazing way of eating. It's very easy to wile away the afternoon picking on little bites of intricately prepared food, ordering as and when you want it. This, however, is not as cheap as it may seem, be aware of how much you're ordering if you're on a budget. Ping Pong started in Soho, however has now branched out all over London with a total of 12 restaurants. I would suggest going on a Sunday when you can eat unlimited dim sum for a total of £17.15 a head.

Ping Pong

8/10 

45 Great Marlborough Street W1F 7JL

0207 851 6969

www.pingpongdimsum.com

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Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop - NYC

It was by sheer chance that I discovered this place you understand. I was hungry and walking down 5th Avenue, a little lost and out of my depth. But then there it was. The epitome of what I thought New York is, was, and should be. Eisenberg's is an old fashioned, long established sandwich shop in New York's throbbing heart. Its charm comes from its understated, unrefurbished interior, and similarly low key exterior.

A classic Jewish deli and diner, its been serving up sandwiches, soups, breakfasts, meatloafs, brisket, ice cream sodas (the menu is extensive, I could go on) for over 80 years. And although it was bought by a new owner in 2005, it's still the same as it always was and it's still 'raising cholesterol since 1929' (a quirky little tag line they use on their menus and t-shirts).

As you walk in you're struck by how narrow the front of the shop is. A huge countertop dominates the left side, behind which are old signs and pictures of celebrities that have visited. It's cosy, to put it nicely, and I can imagine that during the lunchtime rush it would be a nightmare. However when I went it was a little quieter, still bustling though. The tables were adorned with every kind of condiment, including pickles, a good start.

I sat in the back and had a Matzo Ball Soup ($4) which was effectively a light broth with one huge ball floating in the middle. Perfectly nice if not a little on the bland side. As Eisenberg's is famous for its Hot Pastrami on Rye ($10) I went ahead and had that next. It consisted of soft, fluffy rye bread with a mountain of tender flaky pastrami in between the slices. The ratio of meat to bread was extreme, but that's how they've been doing it for years so bring it on,  but waitress I'll need some more mustard please. It was made even better by the addition of a vinegary/salty pickle on the side.

I think the reason I loved this place so much was that it embodied New York to me. I had no knowledge of it before walking in but I was struck by its authentic feel. I felt lucky to have stumbled on this institution, a place that felt like it had remained true to its roots, a place that hadn't changed since the first time it opened its doors. A slice of history in between two slices of rye.

Eisenberg's 

174 5th Ave

New York 10010

(Btwn 22nd & 23rd St)

Phone: (212) 675-5096 

Fax:(212) 675-0276

http://www.eisenbergsnyc.com/

Mildreds - Soho, London

Mildreds is a 17 year institution lying in the heart of Soho. It is unique for a few reasons. Firstly it boasts an eclectic and inventive vegetarian menu, and secondly it's informal and understated while also being trendy.

You can't book a table at Mildreds, and nor would you want to. You simply stroll in, hope there's a table, and if there isn't you can peruse the menu while waiting at the bar sipping anything from Organic Champagne to fresh fruit juices.

The interior is small and unfussy. The tables are placed closely together to maximise covers but doesn't feel claustrophobic. In fact sitting in this way allows you to have a sneak peak at what the people around you are eating. This, I found, was the only way I could decide on what to eat, for everything on the menu was tempting in its own way.

So I began with the Pumkin and Ricotta Ravioli with Sage Butter (£5.25). It was melt in the mouth, both sweet and savoury and had depth of flavour that just kept coming. I followed with the Burger of the day with Fruit Relish and Basil Mayo served with Leaf Salad and Fries (£7.40). This I had been told is a Mildreds staple. The burger was made with a myriad of different beans and was light and fluffy while also being somewhat juicy, a hard feat for a meatless burger. Lastly, (and with little room) I delved into the  Sticky Toffee Pudding (£4.75). Dark and sticky while also being moist and light this pudding was glorious, my only qualm was that it was very sweet. What sets Mildred's apart from its vegetarian competitors is the clever working of the menu. Meat just isn't missed here and that is a hard accomplishment. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a romantic night out, but if you're looking for a hearty, healthy, delicious and reasonably priced lunch/dinner then this is the place to go.

Mildreds

8/10
45 Lexington Street
London
W1F 9AN
Tel : 020 7494 1634
http://www.mildreds.co.uk/

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