Bone daddies for a bowl of warm bear hug this winter

It was a cold wintery day, having just snowed the day before. Most people stayed home and those who were out like us, were wrapped up like dumplings. Yes, we had to meet this specific day. No postponing or whatsoever. Firstly, we had to hear all the juicy details about the proposal from our newly engaged girly. Secondly, another friend of ours was leaving for good the next day. See, all the reasons to be out on such a cold day.

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Since we were in Soho, what better place is there for hot soupy ramen! We headed straight to Bone Daddies and were so lucky there was no queue. It was probably cause we were there before the busy late Saturday lunch time.

Tonkotsu Ramen with bone broth simmered for 20 hours - not spicy for those who can't eat spicy food

Tantanmen - slightly spicy for those who like it spicy

The ramen had thick flavoursome broth, very rich and sweet. They came with perfectly cooked eggs which were slightly runny and pork slices that melt in the mouth.

By the time we were finishing our meal, the queue was already piling up, with people staring at us, hoping we would gobble up our two slurps full of deliciously hot soupy ramen so they get to do the same.

Smile..

Well flavoured ramen and very comforting like a warm bear hug during winter. The big bowl of ramen is enough to keep you filled up for the whole day.

Frown..

It is eat and leave type of place and not suitable to linger a little longer for dessert once the ramen digests.

Will I return?

Definitely, especially during such cold weather.

Bone Daddies Ramen Bar

31 Peter Street
London W1F 0AR
Tel: +44 (0)207 287 8581

Closest station: Piccadilly Circus

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Randall & Aubin

Tuck in the vicinity of the Soho red light scene, the seafood displayed at the window and the usually long queue definitely entice Soho passersby. That was the reason why some of us were keen to go there in the first place. The interior had shelves filled with bottles of Champagne, framed pictures of seafood on the walls and a big disco ball on the ceiling. It was dim with groovy music that will get everyone ready to continue the night with more drinks and dance in Soho.

Well presented fresh Devon crab salad with shrimp, avocado and pimento dressing

Considering this is a crab and avocado salad, the chef could be more generous with both ingredients. It lacked the sweetness of crab meat and avocado creaminess although, I like the pimento dressing and that they packed the stacked salad with lots of crab roe which I absolutely love.

Mixed grilled seafood - scallops, squid, tuna, seabass, prawns, mussels with aioli and grille garlic flatbread

The mixed seafood was well cooked except for the fish. The tuna was overdone and was not seasoned well. The seabass could be better with crispy skin. The flatbread was good but aioli was more like mayonnaise as it lacked garlic and lemon juice.

Large roasted Langoustine with garlic butter  & pommes frites

The garlic butter brought out the already fresh and sweet langoustines to live. Remember to suck the juices out of the head. That is where the flavour and creaminess is concealed. Peeling them were a little messy but that is part of the fun of eating seafood. Get your hands dirty, lick the your fingers for any seafood juices that has trickled down your hands. At least you will be provided with enough serviettes and bowls of lemon water to wash your hands.

Sticky date pudding with ice cream

A plate of warm pudding with toffee sauce and cold vanilla ice cream that is to die for. I have been searching for this sticky date heaven that is rich but light in texture for a while now, and I found it! This is only second to the ones I had in Marco Pierre White's Kings Road Steakhouse and Grill.

By the end of the night, my legs were a little numb from sitting on the uncomfortable chair but since the end of our meal was a delight, that did not bother me so much. My personal reasoning behind the awkward chair is to make sure customers are not able to sit and chat for too long while a long queue of people are waiting in the cold for their turns. It is a small restaurant, very packed and do not take reservations for dinner so get there early or wrap up tight.

Smile..

Fresh langoustines. Sticky date pudding to die for.

Frown..

Uncomfortable seats, too dark and loud music. Price and value ratio needs revising.

Will I return?

For when I have craving for pudding.

Randall & Aubin

16 Brewer Street
Soho, London
W1F 0SG

Tel + 44 (0) 20 7278 4447
Lunch time reservations only

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Burger and Lobster

When you hear of a restaurant serving a whole lobster for £20, the obvious reaction is to get dressed and head to Mayfair as soon as possible. That was what I did when Burger and Lobster first opened. Well, I am exaggerating. It was opened in December but I was away then so when I came back in January, finding out about this place got me so excited, I gathered some lobster aficionados who were willing to possibly queue in the cold in February. You heard right, it has taken me nine months to write this, enough to grow a baby in the tummy. I apologise for being too busy eating on your behalf. Also, queuing takes time, and it is a no-reservation restaurant that has become new restaurant trend of the year.



Lucky for us, we were able to wait for our table by the bar and be entertained by the extensive drinks list, since the menu was brief. There was only a choice of burger or lobster as the name suggests; one type of burger, choice of steamed or grilled lobster and lobster roll. Simple! When we finally got our table and ordered, we were given each a plastic bib for the predicted juice oozing lobster. Tipsy by now, we put on the bib with great enthusiasm, mimicking the bib man with odd hair, eagerly waiting for our lobster to arrive.

Star of the night!

The lobster was of a good size. It came with salad and crispy chips with butter sauce on the side. I think the sauce was not needed. The lobster on its own was enough to be the star, with its perfectly cooked fresh flesh, juicy and sweet. Delightful! We were also given some Japanese mayonnaise for the chips. Japanese mayonnaise is my absolute favourite, we asked for more. My friend who has never had Japanese mayonnaise is now a convert. It has depth of flavour, more egg-y and thick. In other words, better than Helmann's mayonnaise.

Lobster and crab claws has a significant memory. Me and my siblings used to fight for the claws when we were young. It was the part that was most easy to get the flesh out and that we got to suck the juice out of its claws. This time, I had the whole pair of claws to myself!





I tend to insist on finishing my meal with something sweet as I am a real dessert person. To have had such wonderful night from waiting for an hour for our table while sipping cocktails at the bar chatting away, to ordering without having to look at the menu and relishing the whole lobster without anything edible left on the plate, it seemed like a disappointment when we had the dessert. It was as if they have forgotten that dessert is part of a complete meal. The chocolate mousse and lime mousse both appeared like they have just whipped up some cream and fold in melted chocolate or lime zest and let them set in the tub just so someone was able to fulfill that after main course sweet fix.

Burger and Lobster in Mayfair is a wonderful restaurant for any lobster lover. Service was swift and friendly. I definitely recommend that you come here for lobster if you have not; just not the dessert. They must be doing very well to open two new restaurants in Soho and Farringdon in the same year. They take reservations here.

BURGER & LOBSTER

29 Clarges Street
Mayfair, London, W1J 7EF

Tel + 44 (0) 207 409 1699
No Reservation

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