CORE blimey! London's hottest new venue has raised the bar

The calm before the storm - dancefloor beware!

To find a chic, relaxing, stylish joint in the throngs of the City scene in London, contrary to popular opinion, is not so easy.

Sure, there are numerous bars and pubs that profess to provide a funky, after-work vibe that can extend into the late evening, but how many can provide a relaxing and attentive feel while at the same time feeling like party central?.

Well, London's hottest new venue, Core (Aldermary House 10-15 Queen Street, City of London, EC4N 1TX) is the place to head to. Open Monday-Friday to the general public (Saturdays and Sundays can be hired out), Core offers an extensive drinks menu, as well as a cultured and classy lunch and evening dining menu.

The bar was formerly called Apt, but for past regulars, the new establishment will open your eyes to a more modern and relaxed way of socialising.

Our first impressions on approaching the venue was 'thank goodness the outside area had been maintained.' This can provide a perfect al fresco dining experience which is perfectly suited to the approaching summer.

A warm welcome will greet you at the entrance, provided you are dressed smart/casual and of the legal drinking age! The first level consists of bright, modern decor, an easily accessible bar and a buzz as much provided by the customers as those working too.

Downstairs is more geared towards mood lighting, and then the offshoot from the bar and dining area is where the party gets started in the evening with a dancefloor and bar.

We visited on an evening after being recommended the quality of the food on offer. And now we are in a position to recommend! My dining partner and I both opted for the aged rib-eye steak, that comes with fluffy seasoned chips and a side salad.

The bright atmosphere will be matched by your mood at Core

But there are always those places for a more intimate evening

If you are demanding to eat off the finest china and a big emphasis on presentation then you may be disappointed. If you are expecting to taste one of the juiciest, tenderest (is that even a word) practically rind-free cuts of prime steak, you are in the right place.

And surely that's what it should be about anyway, right?!

Coupled with a large class of crisp and refreshing Argentinean Malbec-Merlot Paso, it was the perfect start to the evening. However, as well as the delectable foods, the service and attentiveness of staff is somewhat surprising for the birth of a new venue. It's clear the training began a long time before the bar opened, which is pleasing for the customer.

The drinks menu is classy, yet concise

After a couple of glasses of Moet and a cheeky cocktail (there is an extensive range), we decided to join in and see how the night takes off. Core has already grasped how to provide a relaxed, easy-going party atmosphere. The staff are fully focused on not only providing speedy and efficient service, but also how to engage with their customer and not act as aloof as other venues perhaps do.

For the record, I recommend a Fizzazzle cocktail. Finlandia vodka, passion fruit puree, peach puree, mixed with champagne and topped with a peach slice will give you that extra buzz to take to the dancefloor!

It really does tick the boxes - whether you are wanting to wind down the hours after a long day at work, or whether your night has been planned for this trendy and lively nightspot. If you're looking for an amiable venue where the customer is the central focus, where the food menu is exciting yet concise, and where the drinks are varied and detailed, get yourself down to Core for a truly warm and memorable experience.

To view the Core food menu, click here

To view the Core drinks menu, click here

To make a booking at the venue, for dining or a party, click here

The outside area is perfect for the summer months

 

Miller & Carter - 'Experts in Steak' are cooking up a storm

With social networks awash with positivity about Miller & Carter Steakhouse, I felt the time was right to see what all the hype was about.

The Brookmans Park site has been open just over four weeks when my partner I decided to pay a visit. We booked for a Saturday night, to get a real feel for the atmosphere of the place.

We were greeted at the front desk by the general manager, Derrick Fiddes, and promptly shown to our table, despite it being a hive of activity.

The sizeable chicken wings starter

Our server for the evening was Claire, our first impressions being that she was warm and friendly, while also being passionate about her job and all that Miller & Carter stand for.

For my first drink, I chose the Pilsner Urquell, appealing as it is rare to find on draft in restaurants and pubs in the UK. It was crisp, refreshing and importantly, served chilled in Pilsner Urquell-branded glass (a bug bearer when beer is served in inappropriate sized/styled glass). 

The food menu threw up no surprises - different meat dishes all sounding equally appealing. For starter we decided to share the Chargrilled Chicken Wings (in the knowledge that we had a sizeable main of meat to come), served in a Chipotle glaze. We were told that these 'weren't your normal wings', and so this proved.

The fillet steak was cooked perfectly and supplemented well

The ribeye was recommended ahead of my visit, and I wasn't disappointed

Four bumper-size chicken wings arrived, supplemented with a creamy and cooling blue cheese dip.
The glaze made the skin just as edible as the juicy, slide-off-the-bone chicken.

When selecting our main courses, I wanted some inspiration, and believed our server Claire would be able to provide that. Listening to her favourites from the menu, as well as advice as to how to have the steak cooked and what to have as a side led me into selecting the 12oz Ribeye, cooked medium with a peppercorn sauce.

My dining partner plumped for the 8oz Fillet with a bordelaise sauce, and after Claire's advice, deviated away from medium to go for medium-rare. We also decided to sample a half-rick of ribs, promised by Claire that they would be the perfect accompaniment.

The Rioja was a perfect accompaniment to my steak

A quirk of Miller & Carter is that you also select you 'lettuce wedge' which will be delivered prior to the steak. I went for the wedge served with bacon and honey mustard, my partner chose the blue cheese and Stilton option.

As with any review, it's important to be brutally honest. I would say that a negative review makes much better reading.

Sadly there are no negatives here. Both our steaks were perfectly cooked, served with a generous helping of seasoned fries and Miller & Carter's renowned onion loaf.

The ribeye was flawless - the fat cooked off and invigorating the meat which was juicy and tender with a very unique after-taste. The fillet was smooth to cut through and easy to chew through. What impressed me was not only the flavour of the meat before any of the side-sauces were added, but the lack of those 'gritty bits' that have to be pulled out in secret and into a tissue.

And let's not forget about the half rack of ribs! It is the first time I have not felt as though it was a battle, me against the rib, a fight till the death (or at least until I had shaved the bones of all the meat).

My partner rushed in at this before I took the picture!

The meat literally slid off the bone with one fell swoop of my knife. And similar to the chicken wings, there was more meat than bone, cooked in a tingly barbecue sauce.

The thought of being too full was lost on me, as I carved my way through this meat feast. Supplemented with a small glass of Rioja, oaky and vanilla in taste, it was a good night.

Sadly dessert was out of the equation for me as I had most certainly had my fill.

I say out of the equation, but maybe the delicious After Eight-Thirty cocktail I finished off with 'could' be classed as dessert.

My partner was feeling braver, and her selection of the vanilla  Beechdean Farmhouse Dairy Ice Cream and Cookie was a good one - I admit I squeezed in a spoonful and it was rich and creamy and generous in portion.

I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. And now I know why. The interior of the restaurant is welcoming, lively, and atmospheric, with a happy buzz prevalent in customers as well as in staff.

My 'dessert' After Eight-Thirty cocktail

The Brookmans Park site is vast catering for different group-sizes as well as offering a 'private' room for those who want a more personal experience (call general manager Derek Fiddes for more information, 01707 647429).

The food is evidently 'cared for' at every stage of the process - from the preparation, to the cooking to the serving, and this feeling of 'pride' is similarly displayed by the members of staff.

All this added together made us, as the customer, feel cared for, and left us reflecting on all the positives from our first ever visit to a restaurant who label themselves as 'experts in steak' - and I'm not disagreeing.

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

Setting -9
Service -9
Quality of food -10
Cleanliness and decor -9

Total score  - 37/40

To view the Miller & Carter menu, click here

To make a booking at Miller & Carter Brookmans Park, click here

Could you conquer The Monster?

TGI Friday's, Covent Garden, soon filled up

Covent Garden, London is probably one of the busiest places to be in Autumn/Winter as the area gets ready to celebrate the festive season in its own, flamboyant style.

So a trip to review TGI Friday's left me feeling apprehensive, and the battle-plan was drawn on how to navigate through the tourist-majority crowds and then on how best to attract attention in what would blatantly be a full restaurant.

I was wrong on one count.

Yes, there were plenty of people milling about, making their way to see the Christmas carols being belted out by the market entrance, but once inside the American-themed eatery, there was the pleasant realisation that service should be decent judging by a fair amount of empty seats.

We had booked our table for 7pm on a Wednesday night, and after introducing ourselves to the front desk, we were shown to our seats, given a drinks and food menu with a cheerful smile.

One negative, which was fairly evident, was the size of the table and the close proximity not only to other diners, but also that it was right on the walkway. Also, there were a couple of sticky patches on the table, and a prawn on the floor underneath the table opposite caught my eye. But with the nature of the trade of TGI's it is near-impossible to keep on top of everything all the time, so an issue wasn't made of this.

Obviously the idea of the business is to get as many people in as possible, keeping the service prompt so as to keep a revolving door of custom. But this led to there already appearing to be an atmosphere of rush and bustle - waiters and waitresses were near-jogging around. But we will call this the American-themed enthusiastic atmosphere!


Paradise Punch

Strawberry Surprise

We ordered a cocktail each after being introduced to our friendly waitress for the evening, Bella. I plumped for the Paradise Punch, which was Southern Comfort, Luxardo Amaretto, BOLS Grenadine and SKYY vodka with pineapple, orange and lime juices. My partner was on the non-alcoholic cocktails for the evening, and went for the Strawberry Surprise, which was frozen strawberry, apple and pineapple juices topped with soda. (For cocktail menu, click here).

The only complaint I would say is that, the fruit juices perhaps overshadow some of the alcohol tones, but as some have told me recently, that's the trick of cocktails that keeps you ordering more. The Strawberry Surprise wasn't so much of a surprise as it went down well, although the strawberry flavour was a little too weak, which when the ice melts, tends to get lost completely.

All the while, the place was filling up, the noise-levels were rising, and the walkway next to our table was becoming more trafficy.

The Monster Burger - prior to being attacked

Finished - like a boss

We decided on mains only, and I knew even before getting there, what I was going to choose.

The Monster burger. A 12oz burger heaped with crispy bacon, sliced Colby cheese, Cajun-battered onion rings, and Friday's mayo on a toasted seeded bun with fresh cos lettuce, red onion and beef tomato. All served with crispy fries. (Click food menu, click here).

The menu asked the question 'can you handle it?' and the answer, proved by me, was yes (although it was a struggle)!

I felt like Adam Richman from the hit American TV programme Man v Food. I began to plan how to tackle the mound on my plate. The best idea would be to tackle the burger as priority, eating the chips sparingly even if it meant there would be quite a few left at the end. One plan went out the window immediately - there was no time for messing around with a knife and fork, this had to be done in real cave-man style.

The French Canadian Twisted Burger

So, despite not being able to get my mouth around the full height of the burger, I battled through, enjoying every minute of the succulent and gristle-free meat, perfectly complemented by a cool and refreshing sauce.

And in about 20 minutes, I had completed my task. Albeit some time after my partner, who went for the lighter French Canadian 'twisted burger'.

This was a grilled chicken breast basted with sweet Canadian maple syrup and topped with crispy bacon and creamy melted French brie, on a classic toasted bun with cos lettuce, beef tomato and red onion, served with a creamy garlic mayo.

Purple Rain, back, and Hawaiian Island
Surfer, front

The maple syrup was succinct and just-about sweet, however it was noted that the bun being sweet too, perhaps overloaded that particular taste. The chicken was well cooked and flavoursome on its own, without being overpowering.

During my intense war with The Monster, I ordered in another cocktail, Purple Rain.

This is Bacardi Superior rum, BOLS Blue Curacao, SKYY vodka and Chambord with a drizzle of BOLS Grenadine, it looked good, and tasted amazing - my same criticism that it was hard to distinguish the individual alcohols. However, the mix was refreshing and wickedly-coloured.

My partner went for the Hawaiian Island surfer, Peaches, pina colada, pineapple juice and orange sherbet, with vanilla flavor ice cream. This was a really flavoursome concoction, which maintained it's taste till the very end.

It was decided, after sweating my way through my mound of meat, that we would have hot drinks as our 'dessert,' I want for a cappuccino and my partner, as traditional as she is, went for a tea. They arrived well presented with enough sugar and milk.

The service throughout from Bella was excellent, she was always prepared to come over when I caught her eye, she also, and I think this is vital in the restaurant industry, gave her opinions and recommendations on the food and cocktail menu.

On summing up this restaurant, I would say it is somewhere you should go if you are really hungry. Although I can't make judgement on the salad and lighter options, it is a very main-meat orientated venue, and without trying a sizeable burger, steak or fajita you really would be missing out.

But don't rule out popping in for a cocktail - the variety is excellent, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. And perhaps during the week might be a good idea to beat the queues!

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

Setting - 7
Service - 8
Quality of food - 8
Cleanliness - 7

Total score  - 30/40

To make a booking for TGI Friday's, Covent Garden, click here

Enjoy some top-quality meat at TGI Friday's