Fischer’s, 50 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5HN

Fischer’s, 50 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5HN
01/06/2014
www.fischers.co.uk

She said: Over the years, I’ve watched a series of restaurant incarnations on this spot. My favourite was of course Eat and Two Veg, the superb vegetarian diner now long gone. Three restaurants on and he discovered the latest optimist: Fischer’s was having a soft launch and so booked us a table at the 50% promotional price! Having got excited over previous openings on this site, I was deliberately calm about this new establishment, even with its credentials of being part of that group which lists the Wolseley, Delaunay and Brasserie Zedel in its family. First impressions were good: an elegant, art deco dining space inspired by the Viennese grand cafes with green banquettes, dark furnishings and smoked glass. The restaurant seems split in two halves with the rear having a more atmospheric, opulent feel and the front, well less so. We were seated at the front but at a lovely table away from the hustle. The menu was good with lots of fish and meat (but no vegetarian main dishes). I started with a kasespatzle which is a sort of macaroni cheese, completely delicious and great value. I followed this with a seared sea bass which was a good portion and again very tasty. The side of picked cucumber I ordered complimented this perfectly. As we were about to order dessert we were asked to move tables which he thought was not a big deal but I thought was poor. The table we were moved to was against some sort of station for the waiting staff and next to the main bar and entrance way, so noisy, distracting and a complete change of mood. I proceeded with an order or cherry strudel which was delicious. When we asked for the bill, we were told the meal was on the house because of having to move home in the middle which was a very kind concession…Although ‘karma’ or whatever evened the score when I got home and spent the evening dealing with severe food poisoning. More shockingly, for the first time I can ever remember, he was also poisoned! Maybe the cucumber pickle did it? When he reported it the next day to the manager they did show due concern and attempt to investigate but alas, without ‘samples’ the restaurant findings were inconclusive. So where does this leave me? Well, without the poisoning, this is a great, upmarket local good for a coffee and cake break or the full dining experience. But there are many great places in London where a happy meal has not meant an unhappy stomach so I’m not sure if I’m a gambler…

He said: The last time I got stomach flu was ten years ago in India, after accepting a blessing in some far flung temple which involved drinking from some holy goblet. The second the water touched my lips I knew I was screwed. But even then it wasn’t dodgy food what did me in and, as you can see from the many posts below, there has been no shortage of eating lots of things in lots of different places. Even after nursing She through her countless bouts of Montezuma’s revenge, my trusty stomach has remained stoically and resolutely uncorrupted. Like some badass, cast-iron gutted Florence Nightingale coaching She in her world record 100m dashes to hug the porcelain.  So I will say nothing about Fischer’s other than I’m disappointed. After years of Daily Mail reading well-wishers telling me not to eat boiled bat soup in Guinea, or monkey brain soufflé in Indonesia… To be struck down by some fancy pants place on my own High Street. What a bummer…

Savoy, Strand, London, WC2R 0EU

Savoy, Strand, London, WC2R 0EU
04/07/2012
http://www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/dining/

She said: We don’t normally review ‘teas’ but an exception has to be made for the Savoy. He took me here as part of my birthday treat. Straight off – I must say that tea at the Savoy should be on everyone’s ‘things to do before I die’ list. Absolute perfection. From the moment we arrived and the happy, engaging cloakroom attendants took our coats we were in paradise; this paradise being a beautiful, glamorous, comfortable, ‘never want to leave’ parlour-cum-living room with high ceilings and ornate furnishings, with a pianist turning out classics from Fitzgerald, Sinatra and company from a birdcage-like enclosure and fellow tea-takers sharing the same pleasure in every second that passes in this wonderful place. The way it works at the Savoy (and how high-tea should work everywhere) is that you pay one set price which entitles you to repeat teas, sandwiches, scones and mini-cakes. The tea list is exhaustive and the sandwiches (which included salmon, basil and tomato, egg and mayonnaise and cheese and pickle) melted in the mouth and despite knowing I should pace myself I had to dig in to a scone. The service was immaculate – friendly, smart and attentive; after a certain passing of time the waiters would replace your tea pot with a fresh hot one and you could of course change the type of tea at any point. When we had our fill of sandwiches we were presented with a picture box of mini cakes on a silver tray. We divided and conquered picking different ones each containing mixes of creams, fruit, chocolate and meringue. When we were just about ready to explode and despite spreading things out over a few hours we were offered a hefty slice of cake which I forced on myself determined to eat my weight in pudding. Oh, and I forgot to say they preceded the cake-fest with some rocky road with a candle in and ‘happy birthday’ scribed in chocolate sauce to mark my unforgettable day. Happiness is tea at the Savoy.

He said: It's just as well that, as far as tourists are concerned, the Ritz has the best rep for afternoon tea. That means that locals can keep the Savoy, the true champ in this category, for themselves. This really is the way it's meant to be: flawless from start to finish, walking that tightrope between exclusivity and hospitality, generous and attentive, all in a really handsome, classy and comfortable setting. Tea can sometimes be twee and girlie, but not here, where the decor is a contemporary twist on 18th-century exoticism. It's a room in which to linger, which we did, trying out the various  teas brews from the extensive list, and endless cut sandwiches and sweets. Skip lunch, go early and spend the afternoon.

Soho's Secret Tea Rooms, 29 Greek Street London, UK W1D 5DH. 15/4/12

Soho's Secret Tea Room, 29 Greek Street London, UK W1D 5DH. 15/4/12
http://www.sohossecrettearoom.co.uk/



She said...Hidden on the first floor above the Coach and Horses pub (and entered by walking through the pub counter which is all very 'speakeasy' in feel) is a 40's-styled tea room, complete with vinyl record player turning out musical classics like the 'Singing in the Rain' soundtrack. There is fine bone china, frills, lace and floral dressing on display and when seated at our table for two, with crisp white table cloths, I felt a million miles away from the chaos of Soho. We opted for the full afternoon tea however, after the excitement of the setting, the tea was far from fulfilling. At £17.50 each, quite frankly it was a bit of a p***-take. My understanding and experience of afternoon tea at other venues is that you get free top ups of everything - tea, cakes and sandwiches but here is one round only. I may have been okay with this if what I had blew me away but instead of the fine, delicate pastries I've had at many other a tea room, here the offerings were heavy, stodgy sponges lacking either sophistication or nostalgia. You get a couple of sandwiches (egg, cucumber and salmon - two triangles of each), a thick, brick-like walnut cake slice and unmemorable fairy cake plus a fairly dry, luke-warm scone with a butter-like clotted cream and just enough jam. I had been really excited about this place as I am a tea and cake fiend but, given the other customers (mostly American), this one is clearly aimed at non-returning tourists. For a few pounds more, I would trade in the pursuit of the cute 40's room for a really classic English tea at the better known establishments.

He said: You've probably walked past this place a dozen times and never noticed it: it's right above legendary Soho boozer The Coach and Horses. But knowing where it is doesn't mean you're there yet: first you have to get passed the bar staff at The Coach, which on personal experience can vary from sweet to surly. Tell the barkeep you have a booking, he'll call upstairs to tell them you're here, and then tell you to get on with it, come behind the bar (nice!) and climb upstairs. Good start! All very 'speakeasy meets Ms Daisy'. The place certainly makes a good first impression: 33rpm croaking standards in the corner, lots of light pouring-in through the windows (you're on the first floor, after all, not all that common), doilies and mismatched china and table-wear everywhere. The atmosphere is spot-on, and contrasts delightfully with the sin and decadence raging outside on most nights. We both ordered the high tea. Cakes, sarnies and tea were all fine, nothing special really, but high tea is more about the ritual than the food, so I was keeping an open mind. My only bone with this place is that you only get one round of everything and at £17.50 a shot it's just too expensive for what you get. This place is on to something, and almost nailed it; extending some generosity that I'm sure most would not avail themselves of, would go a long way towards covering-up its flaws and making this a special spot.