Feeling flash...

A Second Serving reviews Ours in Knightsbridge..

Ours is a brand new star studded restaurant in Knightsbridge that serves British-euro cuisine. Inside, the high trees and high ceilings add to the drama and elegance of the comfy and contemporary restaurant. Not only is the service impressive and attentive, the food is also up there with the best. It's hardly surprising though as the head chef works very closely with Tom Sellers of groundbreaking Restaurant Story - he's the culinary inspiration and adviser of Ours, as well as being a director of the restaurant.

Why go? 

This is one flash place! Stepping inside, you walk through an impressive tunnel of lights into the main restaurant which feels a bit like a giant greenhouse with plants everywhere and two big trees covered in fairy-lights that pop up through the restaurant floor. Once we were settled, the waitress helped us to pick two delicious gin cocktails from the menu, then bought over a giant platter of crudites (traditional French appetizers consisting of sliced or whole raw vegetables which could be dipped in a sauce) which she poured liquid nitrogen over for dramatic effect - this definitely worked as we did the whole 'ooooo' thing as the smoke billowed out from our table.

Our John Dory and steak main...

To start I had the crab, which came with avocado and apple. While it was quite a small portion, it was incredibly tasty and the sweetness of the apple really lifted the dish. My friend Kelly and I then decided to share two dishes between us for the main as we couldn't decide what we liked the look of best. We tried the John Dory, which came with saffron, tomato and courgette and this was super fresh and well seasoned. But the fish paled in comparison to the fillet of steak with bearnaise sauce. Oh my bloody God. It was so good in fact that Kelly said she couldn't talk because she was enjoying it so much! We'd ordered a portion of pecorini foie-gras chips to go alongside it and these were thick, chunky and full of flavour. Although we were stuffed by this point we decided to share two desserts (why not!) and they were bloody brilliant too. The doughnuts with raspberry filling came in a cute paper bag and the chocolate, smoked black tea and almond tart was delicious and not as rich as it looked... so of course we ate the lot! What. A. Meal.

Downsides? 

It's quite pricey! Our three course meal and drinks came to over £200 but if you have the cash to splash or you've got a big celebration coming up, then this is THE place to go. I haven't been so wowed by food, location, surroundings or service in a long time.

Location?

264 Brompton Road, London, SW3 2AS.

Baking with Cookery School at Little Portland Street

A Second Serving reviews the Ultimate Afternoon Tea class at Cookery School at Little Portland Street...

Cookery School at Little Portland Street is one of the oldest venues in London for amateur cooks - and London's leading teaching kitchen. They offer over 30 different classes that range from daytime and evening class sampling - from bread and cake making to gluten free cooking and knife skills, to the regional cuisine of the Middle East and Mexico. The Cookery School aims to demystify cooking with an emphasis on it being fun, friendly and accessible. Most of the classes are aimed at amateur rather than professional chefs, who, like me, want to pretend they're on Masterchef! Every session provides lots of hands on practice and there are ample opportunities to ask questions and hone your skills. I was invited to the Ultimate Afternoon Tea class and took my sister Rebecca... who was just as rubbish as me!

The sponge cake of dreams (I actually made this!)

Why go?

Upon arrival we were welcomed with a glass of bubbly (hell yes!) and handed an apron with our name on. Before long the class had started and we were split up into pairs and allocated tasks to begin. My sister and I decided to start making the sponge cake, which had a cream filling and chocolate ganache topping - something I'd never dared attempt before. Fortunately, all of the ingredients were weighed up ready for us to use so we had to just follow a simple set of instructions... easier said than done if you confuse salt with sugar. Guilty as charged! As the class progressed, the chef stopped at moments to show us different things, and we were assigned other tasks. As well as the cake, we also helped make the scotch eggs and scones. The chef was fun, if a little sarcastic about our cooking skills, but it was all in good taste and made the class a real laugh. The three hours seemed to whiz by and before I knew it the food we'd made was all cooked and laid out on a table in front of us.

Scones and lemon tarts

Egg rolls in homemade bread and sarnies

At the end we all sat down together and enjoyed the food that we'd made, along with another class of fizz and a cup of English tea. We made classic scones with cream and jam, cheese scones, lemon tarts, cucumber and salmon sandwiches, egg mayonnaise on homemade mini rolls, scotch eggs and a sponge cake. I tell you what everything tasted so much better knowing we'd made it ourselves! We were also given a handy little pack to take home with us which contained all the recipes should we wish to give them another try. While I very much doubt the class made me a potential Masterchef contestant overnight, it was heaps of fun and I did pick up a few tips along the way. The best one? Crack an egg on a hard work surface, not the side of a bowl. Sounds silly I know, but six cracked eggs later and not one piece of shell was in that mixing bowl. So proud!

Ready and raring to go!

Downsides?

Everyone in our group was fairly quiet and I couldn't help but feel like it would have been a bit more fun if we'd known each other before. Saying that, it was probably just pot luck, and because they were quiet it meant we stuck our hands up and tried more things. This class would be great to do with a small group of friends or maybe even a hen party looking for a fun activity.

Location?

15b Little Portland Street, London, W1W 8BW

Seriously good sushi!

A Second Serving reviews Tombo Poke and Matcha Bar in Soho... 

This clean and modern sushi cafe is in a fab location, slap bang in the heart of Soho - and also, rather helpfully, very close to my office. Rather than just focus on mainstream dishes like sushi, they specialise in poké, (pronounced POH-kay) - which is essentially a colourful, flavourful version of sushi served in a bowl format. The Hawaiian raw fish sits somewhere between sashimi and ceviche. They also offer a range of high quality Tombo Green Teas by the cup, alongside their unique Tombo Matcha Lattes, Matcha brownies, gateau, sundaes and Matcha Soft Serve. Yum!

Why go?

If you're hungry but craving something nutritious, get your ass here pronto. The dishes are all super healthy at the same time as being filling and endlessly customisable. I went for the classic salmon poké, which was made up of salmon, classic sauce, edamame, white onion, sesame seeds and nori. I loved it - and literally felt like I was eating a bowl of goodness. Price wise, you get a decent amount for your money. My regular sized bowl cost £6.95 but if you're not quite as hungry, you can get a small bowl for £4.95. My pal opted for the veggie poke which came with tofu and avocado as well as a tasty matcha miso sauce - and she seemed to enjoy. After washing my lunch down with an apple and ginger juice, I headed back to work feeling smug and satisfied.

Downsides? 

Tombo has only been open a week or so, which means it still has that brand new-trying-to-find-out-feet kinda vibe, especially in the downstairs area where there's a faint smell of fresh paint. Don't let this put you off though as I sense good things for this place and will definitely pop in again soon!

Location? 

28 D'Arblay Street, London, W1F 8EW.

All Star Lanes

A Second Serving reviews All Star Lanes in Bloomsbury...

All Star Lanes is a popular retro-themed venue hidden away by a discreet sign in Bloomsbury (blink and you'll miss it!) They have four bowling lanes (plus two private lanes upstairs), a cocktail bar and a restaurant - so there really is something to suit everyone. Bowling costs £8.95 per person per game and shoe hire is included. The restaurant, which is literally right next to the bowling area, serves good old American style fare - all ribs, burgers and steaks. Nom nom nom!

Copyright: All Star Lanes

Why go?

Because bowling is so much fun.... durr! On my weekend visit there were quite a few families and children (as expected) but on a week night I reckon this place would be the perfect spot for a fun date. When we first arrived the staff were very friendly and helpful so it didn't take long before we were set up and ready to start playing the game. I used to love bowling as a kid so couldn't wait to see if I still had the special touch - it turns out I do as I WON (not that I'm competitive!) After all the energy I'd used up focusing on winning the game, it was time for food. I decided to try their limited edition meatball hoagie, which is available throughout the whole of June. It really is the ultimate comfort food... made up of homemade meatballs, deliciously simple Marinara sauce and melted mozzarella tucked into a lightly toasted brioche bun. It cost £10.95 and was surprisingly filling! I washed it all down with a fiery Red Snapper cocktail (Bombay Sapphire, Tio Pepe sherry, celery bitters, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, strawberry puree, tomato juice, celery, basil, with a strawberry and celery skewer) and added an extra dash of tabasco sauce to make it a little hotter. To finish, I tucked into the salted caramel cheesecake with toffee sauce. Perfect!

Meatball hoagie!

Waiting for my grub!

Downsides?

While the cheesecake for dessert was really nice, I thought the base was a bit too thin and soggy. Saying that, it was demolished in seconds so it can't have been that bad!

Location?

Victoria House, Bloomsbury House, WC1B 4DA.

Feeling fancy? Head to Holborn Dining Room!

A Second Serving reviews The Rosewood Hotel's Holborn Dining Room in central London...

Set within the lavish Rosewood Hotel is Holborn Dining Room, a bustling brasserie which serves up seasonal, locally sourced British cuisine in a vibrant and impressive dining salon. The interior is simply stunning... all reclaimed oak, antique mirrors and red leather booths, and this creates a real feeling of class and sophistication. Not only that, the Gin Bar also offers London's largest collection of gin (hell yes!) in fact they have over 400 different gins and 27 tonics. Hiccup!

Copyright: Holborn Dining Room

Why go?

If you're keen to impress someone or fancy splashing out (but hate anywhere too pretentious), then make a reservation at the Rosewood. I took my boyfriend as a treat for his birthday and we had a fab time, in fact I enjoyed it so much I didn't even resent paying... which is a rarity! I thought I'd start off semi healthy by going for the chicken salad with avocado and smoked bacon, but this wasn't any old salad, oh no. It was essentially a whole lettuce, which when you pulled open was filled with layers of creamy chicken. The portion was huge but incredibly delicious so of course I ate it all. My boyfriend went for the fried squid which I had a little taste of and this was bloody lovely - salty, sweet, crispy and just the right amount of chewy, although he said the relish was perhaps a little too tangy for his liking. For our main my other half opted for the BBQ pork belly with creamed sweetcorn, fennel and apple salad, which seemed to go down a treat. I decided to go for the pot roast lamb breast with celeriac remoulade and green sauce because I'm a massive lamb fan so hoped Holborn Dining Room would impress. And boy it did, that meat was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I had two sizeable circles of lamb which was beautifully tender and seasoned to perfection. I literally couldn't stop going on about it afterwards, and if I go back I think I'll probably have to have the same dish again! We also both shared a side of creamed mash potato and carrots (£4 each). When it was time for dessert I was pretty stuffed so let my boyfriend choose the chocolate mousse with malted ice-cream and honeycomb. I managed to try a few scoops and it was just as rich, gooey and crunchy as I'd hoped. All in all, a fantastic evening of food.


The pork belly main



....and the lamb I couldn't get enough of

Downsides?

For food, service and surroundings this fancy I was more than happy to pay what I did (around £110 for two with a tip), but this would feel a lot for just a normal meal out... so save Holborn Dining Room for a special occasion, then go all out!

Happy faces to finish!

Location?

252 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EN

Mad about Mud!

A Second Serving reviews Mud in Tooting Broadway...

Mud is a laid-back Antipodean-style café in the heart of Tooting that offers great coffee, awesome brunches (until 3pm) and freshly prepared cakes and sandwiches. The interior is decked out in reclaimed wood and bare brick, which really adds to the cosy vibe, and there's also an outside seating area. The café is so popular that you can expect to queue outside most weekends... but when the food tastes as good as it does, it's worth waiting for.

Eggs benny with cured salmon

Why go?

If you roll out of bed craving your typical hipster sourdough/smashed avocado/sweetcorn fritter hit then this is the place for you. The atmosphere is cosy and comfy, while the food tastes good, and looks very pretty too. My boyfriend went for the corn fitter stack as he's a sweetcorn addict (and would have it in every meal if he could), and this didn't appear to disappoint - we barely spoke as he tucked in! The dish was huge and consisted of corn fritters, avocado, chilli jam, a burford brown egg and streaky bacon. I went for eggs benny (bubble and squeak, an egg, brown butter hollandaise and cured salmon), and this was equally delicious - there was so much yolky egg I needed some bread to wipe the bowl clean at the end! Fortunately, the food was purse friendly (under a tenner each), and very tasty, so it's well worth a visit if you're in that neck of the woods. Stick to the coffee though, I wasn't a huge fan of my £4 fruit juice which had an overpowering melon taste.

Downsides?

We didn't realise you had to pay at the counter so we were waiting for ages after being handed our bill. When we realised our mistake, I didn't find the staff overly friendly or helpful. A little smile wouldn't go amiss.

Location?

141 Mitcham Road, Tooting, London, SW17 9PE.

Brunchin' in Balham

A Second Serving reviews Gazette in Balham...

If you're out and about in South West London and fancy a slice of rural France in food form then you really must pay Gazette a visit. The stylish and relaxed restaurant, which is just a five minute stroll from Balham station, offers a range of seasonal French delicacies on a large all day menu. In the summer, the front part of the restaurant opens out onto Balham High Road, making it a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by, continental style. I visited for brunch at the weekend and found the restaurant to be bustling, yet not too busy, with a mix of customers, old and young.

Heaven in a saucepan

Why go?

When I first glanced over the menu, which pays homage to Gallic bistro greats from foie gras, snails and moules mariniere, I initially felt a little overwhelmed by all the fancy French words. Fortunately, the breakfast, when it arrived, was as sophisticated and refined (unlike me!) as it sounded. After a recommendation from my friend who'd visited before, I went for the cocotte meurette which turned out to be AMAZING. The dish consisted of three fried (yolky, yes!) eggs and French toast garnished with pancetta and mushroom in a red wine sauce. It came in a cute rustic cast-iron pan, so not only did it taste bloody delicious, it looked the part too. The French toast in particular was crispy, greasy yet oh so more-ish. My friend chose a similar dish but with parmesan grated on top. Each dish cost just £6.50 each, which is an absolute steal in my opinion.

The mushroom and parmesan alternative

Downsides?

I'm going to sound super fussy but I'd have liked a bigger pot for my tea! Ridic I know, in the grand scheme of things, but everything else about the breakfast was pretty much perfect. I will definitely be back soon for another fancy French dish. Bon appetite!

Location?

100 Balham High Road, Balham, London, SW12 9AA.