The Dairy - The Cream of the Clapham Crop

The Eatery: The Dairy, 15 The Pavement, Clapham Old Town, London SW4 0HY
The Site: http://the-dairy.co.uk/
The Companion: A perfect date night
The Dolla: £45 per person for a delicious tasting menu - great value
MCM Rating: 4.8/5

As a Clapham local, I'd been hearing the buzz around The Dairy for a few months. Michel Roux has famously hailed it as his favourite restaurant in South London and quite rightly. What's not to love about a small, unassuming local restaurant that totally surprises you with sophisticated food and a mean drinks menu?

The seven course tasting menu; an affordable £45 per person, is definitely the way to go if you want to experience The Dairy in all it's glory. Different dishes depending on the day. Served on a mix of heavy stoneware and contrasting pretty china bowls; the food is delicate and refined.

Snacks
The meal kick starts with a flurry of small, delectable dishes, the highlights on our menu were the Homemade sourdough bread with a bone marrow smoked butter, chicken liver mousse, cellar salami  served in a woven bag with the delicious smoky butter smeared over a smooth stone- very Game of Thrones! Followed by Chicken oyster; crispy skin, cellar kimichi, cimi de rapa - my favourite out of the snacks; great creamy flavour and texture added by the crispy chicken skin (every chefs favourite addition as of late).

Sea
Snacks were followed by lovely statement plate of Applewood smoked eel with heritage tomatoes topped with rooftop herbs (they grow their own herbs on their rooftop)! The other seaside plate was The Dairy's smoked trout served with Jersey royal potatoes, sorrel and radish - which I must admit, fell a little flat for me after the eel.

Land
There was a choice of  two meats on offer: 63 day aged White Park beef with comte, artichoke and onion treacle or Blackface lamb rump, smoked aubergine and pressed shoulder topped with miso. The beef was probably the winner here; tender and delicious - loved the artichoke and onion treacle.

Cheese
You pay a little extra to add cheese to your tasting menu, but when they bring over the Truffle Brie de Meaux, fig and walnut toast with rooftop honey, you definitely don't regret the decision so splurge!. A rich little plate with a combination of complimentary and delicious flavours.

Sweet
Finally, there was a unique selection of puddings to choose from including,; Lemon Leaf curd and Salted Carmel and malted barley ice cream!

 To top it all off and to thank you for your custom, they bring over a worn, old biscuit tin filled with warm, mini homemade doughnuts and dollops of sharp, sour apple jelly. A nice touch.

The Dairy definitely knows how to leave a sweet taste in your mouth at the end of the night; a feeling that you've found a little gem on your doorstep. A well thought out, delightful tasting menu, maybe not quite to Michelin standard yet but not a long way off.

MURAKAMI - Sushi, Sake and Skewers

The Eatery: 63-66 Saint Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4JS
The Site: http://www.murakami-london.co.uk
The Companion: A dinner date
The Dolla: A little on the pricey side..around £100 for a meal for two with a bottle of wine
MCM Rating: 3.5/5

Murakami is a modern Japanese restaurant on St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden. If you peer through the window the buzzing atmosphere and the playful decor makes you want a piece of the action.

A good list of cocktails and good fun picking out your plates with your pals. They also have pre-selected menus for groups if you don't fancy arguing over salmon vs tuna.

The menu's made up of sushi, sashimi, grilled skewers and tempura. Loved the presentation but the food was probably a little more impressive on the eye than it was on the palate. 

Everything was beautifully made and perfectly good sushi but the menu and flavours were lacking a little bit of inventiveness and oomph in comparison to the price.

Bottom line; their logo probably sums it up ' live, life, love...oh and there's some sushi too'! Not the new Nobu but you could try it out if you're looking for somewhere with some good atmosphere and satisfactory sushi!

On the Bab!

The Eatery: 305 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LA
The Site: http://onthebab.com/
The Companion: cheeky date before a few drinks on Old Street!
The Dolla: £15-£20 a head
MCM Rating: 4/5

It's a rare occurrence for me to venture to the depths of East London from nappy valley but when I do I remember why everybody else does! On the Bab serves up tasty Korean street food - it's casual, unassuming and the babs weren't too bad either.

First things first, the drinks menu definitely met the needs of my sad dry Jan! Great selection of teas and non-alcoholic cocktails - the OMG (preserved ginger, honey and lemonade) was awesome. There were also some great Soju (rice liquor) based cocktails that I'll definitely be going back for.

Sweet and Spicy YangYum Chicken with crushed peanuts

Start off with the sweet and spicy YangYum Chicken (the reputation of these wings with crushed peanuts preceded them); genuinely some of the best wings I've had in London. I'd also get a few of the Kun Mandu (pan-fried dumplings) the shrimp filled dumplings were crispy and succulent.

Kimchi Bokeum Bab- Korean style kimchi bacon paella with a fried egg on top

There's a pretty extensive selection of mains to choose from; either bulgogi beef, spicy chicken, spicy pork or vegetable fritters - 'on the rice', 'on the soup noodle' or 'on the bun'.  Each dish we had was full of flavour and had a pretty spicy kick- maybe not the best choice of restaurant if you're not good with spice. I was loving the addition of the perfectly fried egg on top that you eventually mix into your food.

Bibimbab: spicy pork on rice with a fried egg, vegetables mixed with gochujang

It can feel like a bit of a gamble picking from this menu if you don't know a huge amount about Korean food...I felt like a bit of a winner when I got my Traditional Bibimbab with spicy pork, fried egg, vegetables and rice - add some Kimchi if you're hungry and haven't tried it before!

The bottom line: tasty food, staff a little busy and distracted but a good little buzzy gem worth trying.

Dip & Flip - Flipping Amazing

The Eatery: Dip & Flip, 87 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1HW
The Site: http://www.dipandflip.co.uk
The Companion: Buds who like to get stuck in
The Dolla: Cheap as chips for what you're getting: around £15 for a burg, fries and a drink

I've been wanting to recommend this burger/ roast sandwich heaven for quite a while but to be very honest I wasn't sure I wanted everyone knowing about it! Finally I'm ready to share...

When I first heard of the idea of burgers and roast sandwiches dipped in gravy I had my reservations, being a Londoner through and through my view was that gravy should pretty much be served with turkey and nothing else. I have been converted. It's an absolute stroke of genius which has now made all other burgers look pretty inferior in comparison.

You can go for 'The Dip' :thinly sliced roast meat in a freshly baked brioche bun dipped, double dipped or soaked in gravy with with white cabbage slaw OR 'The Flip'; burgers cooked medium-rare on American chrome flat grills and served wit ketchup, mustard, cabbage slaw and pickles - gravy comes on the side ready for you to dip, dip, dip to your heart's content. Both of these options are mouth-wateringly delicious - just can't get enough! A few sides that aren't in the menu above are, Squeezy Cheesy Fries and Cheese Fries with gravy, crispy bacon and green chilli!

Now these guys are pros so they've come up with an excellent variety of options to help you wash down this delightful grub: a range of bourbons, Sambrooks Pump House Pale Ales, bottled craft beers, hard and soft shakes (my personal favourite) and even 'The Pickleback' which is a combination of your choice of bourbon shot chased down with a shot of pickle juice!?! - I'm yet to try one but I'm planning to on my next visit.

If you make it to the end and still find yourself wanting more you definitely won't go hungry, go for a slice of pie; Chocolate Salted Caramel Pie OR Bourbon & Pecan Pie with double cream or you can finish off with a liquid dessert; shots of Strawberry & Ginger Crumb Cheescake or Chocolate Mousse.

At the moment you can normally rock up to this place and not have to queue or book, not sure how long this is going to last so get down to Dip & Flip to experience the gravy phenomenon - turns out northerners really know what they're doing.

The House Of Ho - Bringing Sexy Back To SoHo

The Eatery: The House of Ho, 57-59 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 6HP
The Site: http://www.houseofho.co.uk/
The Companion: Late night dinner with a date or small group of friends
The Dolla: A meal for two with drinks costs around £70

The deviously named 'House of Ho' is located in the heart of Soho on Old Compton Street. It's sleek, fun, sexy and the food isn't bad either! This is definitely a night-time venue, perfect for having a few sharing plates with friends along with some sake and a few too many delectable cocktails. I went for the cocktail of the month; the Ho'rny Devil of course; chilli vodka, lemongrass vodka, coconut water, a dangerously large Vietnamese Devil chilli floating on the top and coconut flakes frosting the rim of the glass.

The menu at House of Ho is split into Light & Raw dishes, Hot & Grilled dishes, Ho’s Dishes, Sides and Dessert. All the plates here are designed to share which adds to the fun and games.

Starting with the Light & Raw dishes the Crab Pomelo Salad is definitely a good option, it's light and fresh and is made up of a variety of different textures.

Crab Pomelo Salad, Vegetable Noodles, Mint, Lemon Oil & Crispy Vietnamese crackers

I also enjoyed the Spicy Salmon Tartar. Beautifully presented and again featuring a good range of different textures on the plate. However, I have to say I was slightly disappointed with the depth of flavours, for me Vietnamese is all about strong fresh flavours and fiery chilli - I found these dishes falling slightly short in this arena.

Spicy Salmon Tartar - Chopped Pistachio, Shiso, Jicama with Asian Vinagrette

If you're feeling like satisfying your guilty pleasures then go for the Spicy Chicken Wings and BBQ Baby Back ribs from the Hot and Spicy section of the menu! Probably give the Hanoi 5 Spice Quail a miss as it was fairly dry and bland!

Now onto the star of the show, mixed reviews on how delicious it might be based on this photograph, but I have to rave about the Shaking Beef one of the 'Ho's Dishes'. Tender, tasty and one of my favourite dishes of recent months - definitely worth giving it a go!

'Shaking Beef', grass-fed, 21 day-aged fillet

PLEASE give it a try with some Morning Glory, in my opinion one of the most delicious Asian vegetables you can find -I'm addicted.

Morning Glory

If you're feeling extra naughty, go for the Molten Marou Chocolate Cake (basically a chocolate fondant) - I couldn't resist.

The verdict - although head chef Bobby Chin owns restaurants in both Saigon and Hanoi, I have to agree with many of the other critics when I say that this is not the most authentic of Vietnamese restaurants, not necessarily always a bad thing, for example the elements of fusion such as ceviche are delicious and give the menu a good range, but for me it lacked the explosions of flavour you tend to expect from Vietnamese cuisine. However, I have to say that I did enjoy the food overall especially the different components that feature on the plates and the sharing element. The drinks have certainly kept me coming back for more and I can confirm that with it's sleek style House of Ho has brought a little bit of sexy back to Soho.


Food photographed by my gurl Amandine Powell

Flesh & Buns - a tasty combination

The Eatery: Flesh & Buns, 41 Earlham St, London WC2H 9LX
The Site: www.fleshandbuns.com
The Companion: Dinner with a SMALL group of friends or a casual dinner date (this is no place for a DMC or a romantic meal)
The Dolla: Meal for two including 2 cocktails, one small plate, two flesh and a dessert to share was £77 including service - not too shabby

You're not too sure what to expect when you descend the steep stairs into the basement of 41 Earlham Street, but with the music blaring and with the knowledge that this eatery comes from the same team as Bone Daddies around the corner you can't help but be just a LITTLE bit excited.

I have to admit I wasn't too crazy about the layout, the whole room is dissected in half by one long, communal table, you hop onto a tall chair (always a challenge for me) and find yourself getting rather cosy with the people either side of you. But after a little bit of maneuvering and the acceptance that at several points during your meal you may be elbowed by the nervous guy on your right trying to salvage his Tinder date, you're ready to get stuck in.

Watermelon & Kaffir Lime Collins and Lychee & Pomegranate Martini

The drinks menu is definitely something to get excited about; with  a huge selection of both cold and warm sakes served by the masu (cup) or by the carafe, or if sake isn't your tipple of choice then there are a variety of cocktails that won't disappoint. This time we went for the sweeter options served ice cold with fresh fruit; the Lychee and Pomegranate Martini (vodka, lychee juice, pomegranate syrup & orange extract) and the Watermelon and Kaffir Lime Collins (vodka, watermelon, kaffir lime syrup, soda). If you're a fan of tequila be sure to try the Frozen Yuzu Margarita (tequila, yuzu & lime juice, agave syrup, orange liqueur) - delicious.

Softshell Crab  - Jalapeno Mayo

Now onto the small dishes, you can go for the cold dishes such as the sushi rolls, sashimi or tataki or opt for one of the hot options, for me the crispy, juicy, softshell crab served with a spicy, tangy jalapeno mayo wins every time. I was also really surprised by how much I enjoyed the grilled corn - served on the cob with delicious lime spice butter.

Crispy Piglet Belly - Mustard Miso and Pickled Apple

At this point you probably will have realised that Flesh & Buns isn't the most authentic of Japanese restaurants, there's a bit of a fusion going on and they're definitely catering to customers who are drawn in by the latest ‘food trends'. However, I happen to be a sucker for a gimmick and in this case their gimmick has definitely payed off. For your main course, F&B serve homemade, soft and fluffy Hirata buns filled with your choice of 'flesh'. Each dish is served with lettuce, cucumber, pickle and two buns per person but you can always order more if you feel the need. Definitely, pick different fillings amongst you so you can try as much as possible!

Crispy Duck Leg - sour plum soy (beetroot pickle)

 The crispy piglet belly is their signature dish, incredibly tasty and perfectly paired with a spicy miso and tart pickled apple. Another popular dish is the crispy duck leg with sour plum soy and beetroot pickle - for me this wasn't too different from the crispy duck you would get at a fairly decent Chinese restaurant - nice but nothing special.

 Grilled Seabass - coriander, miso (kimchi pickle)

My absolute favourite 'flesh' is the grilled seabass, I've had it a few times and it's always cooked perfectly with the skin salty and crispy and the fish tender and tasty. I also love the little bowl of kimchee you get on the side.

Kinako Doughnuts - black sugar custard

Final bit of advice, this is a place where you should always leave room for dessert because F&B offers up a few which are pretty unique. I'm yet to try the S'more which I must say really intrigues me (marshmallow, chocolate and green tea in a biscuit) but I have absolutely devoured the Kinako (soybean flour) doughnuts which are oozing with warm black sugar custard; light and delicious. The sorbets (these tend to change depending on the day) are also a great option. I got three scoops of mango and kiwi, lychee and raspberry and tangerine - incredible.

Sorbet - 1.Raspberry and Tangerine, 2. Lychee 3. Mango and Kiwi

So the verdict? Yes, it is a bit gimmicky and yes, the noisy, busy basement venue might not be everyone's cup of tea but Flesh & Buns is always a lot of fun and boy are those buns TASTY! Jump on the band wagon....