Category: Restaurants

Lunch at Cantine Milano in Milan, Italy

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On the last day of my trip to Milan, we had our lunch at Cantine Milano which is the first Italian Restaurant with wine shop. The concept for Cantine Milano was born from a passion for wine and the love of good food. All the wines displayed in the restaurant can be tasted and purchased.

Location:

Cantine Milano is located within the Isola district and overlooks Via Traú. The restaurant is only a 5-minutes walk from Zara tube station and is easily reachable from the centre of Milan.

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Atmosphere:

The restaurant has a charming and exclusive décor and the entire dining area as well as the cocktail bar (which counter is entirely made of marble) are surrounded by a unique atmosphere created by the play of lights on the glasses and the dark walls. In addition, Cantine Milano has a private dining room and a spectacular open wine cellar downstairs.

The menu:

Cantine Milano accommodates great Mediterranean cuisine and fine wines with over 300 national and international labels to choose from. All dishes are created following the Apulian recipes and freshly made from high-quality locally sourced ingredients.

Starters:

For my starter, I had some roasted octopus on fondue with cheese, pepper and crispy leek. The dish was flavoursome.

My husband had a trio of mini tartare with tuna, yellowtail and salmon which he enjoyed.

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First Course:

For our Primi (First Course that Italians normally have before a main) we had a couple of dishes to share. I ordered some Gnocchetti (home made potatoes pasta) with cheese and pepper fondue, crispy bacon and parmesan waffle. My husband had some Spaghettoni pasta with raw and cooked crustacean with red bisque and purple potatoes. Both dishes were appetising.

Mains:

For my main, I decided to have some Tataki of tuna in black sesame crust with citrus soy sauce. This Asian-inspired dish was simply phenomenal.

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My husband had some beef with cheese, cognac with green pepper, potatoes and spinach which was delectable.

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Desserts:

My husband decided to skip his dessert but I ordered some tiramisu which was mouth-watering and had a perfect, light consistency. Everything I had was tasty but it was my favourite dish.

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Overall experience:

Our last meal in Milan in Cantine Milano was definitely my favourite and this restaurant is definitely a hidden-gem. From the beginning of my meal until my dessert, everything I ordered was cooked to perfection. In addition, the service was friendly and attentive which is always appreciated. I would definitely recommend anyone who loves good food and wine to visit Cantine Milano next time they are around.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://www.cantinemilano.com/

Address:

Via Traù 1

20159 Milano

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Dinner at Don Lisander Restaurant in Milan, Italy

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I travelled to Milan in Italy a few weeks ago. On the second evening of our trip, we visited Don Lisander restaurant for our dinner.

Location:

Don Lisander is situated around 5-minutes walk from the famous Duomo square in central Milan. It is also around a corner from some of the most exclusive boutiques that are located in Vittorio Emanuele shopping mall.

Atmosphere:

The restaurant has a classic and elegant décor. Its waiting staff are were attentive and polite. The indoor dining room for 50 guests was set up in what was once the chapel of Palazzo Trivulzio (1700). During the summer season restaurant also offers al-fresco dinning.

The menu:

Don Lisander restaurant specialises in the Mediterranean cuisine and serves the best of Lombard and Italian regional cuisine. The chef carefully selects quality, local ingredients that allows him to offer dishes inspired by ancient flavors with a modern twist.

Starters:

For my starter, I had some gold scallops accompanied by sweet potatoes and celeriac with crunchy cassava and liquorice. They were cooked to perfection.

My husband decided to have some Mondeghili meat balls with potato cream.

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Mains:

As we had a large lunch, we decided to skip Primi course and ordered our mains. I had sliced sea bass which was complimented by some artichokes and mushrooms. It was my favourite course as it had a pleasant, distinct flavour.

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My husband had a veal cheek with creamed yellow polenta. It was luscious.

Desserts:

My husband decided to skip a dessert. I always delight myself with something sweet to end my meal and I ordered some tiramisu. It was mouth-watering but as the portion was really large, I wasn’t able to finish it. It would be a perfect dessert for sharing though.

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Overall experience:

If you would like to try some traditional local cuisine with a modern twist then you should definitely visit Don Lisander. I would love to return here when I am in Milan next to experience some more of their flavoursome dishes.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.ristorantedonlisander.it/

Address:

Via Manzoni 12/A

20121 Milano Italy

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Dinner at Ristorante DeRos in Milan, Italy

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A couple of weeks ago, I travelled with my husband to Milan in Italy. On the first evening of our trip, we fancied some seafood thus decided to visit Ristorante DeRos which was recommended by one of my Italian friends.

Location:

Ristorante DeRos is situated just minutes walk from the bustling Duomo square and is ideally positioned for discovering Milan and its array of galleries and boutiques.

Atmosphere:

The restaurant has a modern, minimalist décor. I really enjoyed its central piece – the green, plants wall which made it uber trendy. Ristorante DeRos provides a relaxing environment and its waiting staff are all prompt, precise and polite.

The menu:

Ristorante DeRos serves specialises in seafood bringing out the best flavors and the freshest ingredients together. All dishes are handmade by a skilful chef who offers its dinners a culinary experience where they can set off on a cruise with Mediterranean dishes.

Starters:

For my starter, I had some kingfish tartare with zucchini’s scapece and anchovies mayonnaise. The dish was delectable.

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First Course:

As some of you know, Italians normally have a pasta / rice dish in between their starter and main. For our Primi (First Course), I ordered some linguini with mixed seafood and candied lemon which was tasty and brought up a mix of interesting flavours.

My husband had some Pasta Naples Gulf with mussels, potatoes. It was flavoursome.

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Mains:

For my main, I decided to have a fish of a day accompanied by tomatoes salad. The dish was cooked to perfection.

My husband had a seabass which was succulent.

Desserts:

After 3 courses, my husband decided to skip a dessert. As I have a very bad sweet tooth, I always have some room left for the last course. I decided to have some tiramisu which was simply delightful and was my favourite dish with its beautiful light consistency and mouth-watering flavours.

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Overall experience:

If you like seafood (I am a big fan) then you should definitely visit Ristorante DeRos. Both food and service were marvellous. The restaurant is a hidden-gem and I will definitely return here next time I am in Milan. Also, if you enjoy tiramisu then you cannot visit Milan without trying DeRos’s version which is simply phenomenal.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://www.derosmilano.com/

Address:

Via Giandomenico Romagnosi 4,

20121 Milano MI, Italy

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Sunday Lunch at Marwick’s Brasserie in Bosham in Sussex

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A few weeks ago, I travelled to Bosham near Chichester. We celebrated my husband’s birthday in Millstream hotel – a small, boutique hotel and on the last day of our stay we decided to have a Sunday lunch at Marwick’s Brasserie.

Location:

Marwick’s Brasserie is located in the center of Bosham village in The Millstream hotel. It can be easily reached by car from Portsmouth or Chichester – the drive takes around 20 minutes.

Atmosphere:

The brasserie creates a welcoming atmosphere with informal surroundings and lots of natural daylight. Our table was attended by a few waiters thought-out the afternoon. They were all friendly and professional.

The menu:

Marwick’s Brasserie features traditional favourites that change during the seasons. The dishes are prepared using the best ingredients most of them sourced locally.

Starters:

I decided to order one of the most popular dishes – a twice baked blue cheese soufflé with cheddar and spring onion sauce. It was simply amazing. I love cheese and soufflés so I this starter was a perfect choice for me.

0A47160D-1F76-4930-B7D1-619B49FCDCC0My husband decided to have some free range chicken terrine with mayonnaise and pickled chanterelles with crackers. It was delectable.

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Mains:

There was a nice selection of mains on the menu but as it was Sunday – my husband decided to have a traditional Sunday roast of English beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and red wine gravy.

I ordered fillet of bream with a lovely shellfish bisque, crushed new potatoes, spinach, and crab beignet. It was flavoursome.

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Desserts:

My husband decided not to have any dessert as he was full however as I have a very bad sweet tooth, I had some sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice-cream and toffee sauce. It was delish!

Overall experience:

We both really enjoyed our Sunday lunch at Marwick’s brasserie. Both service and food were great so if you ever in the area then you should definitely experience it yourself.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://millstreamhotel.com/marwicks/

Address:

Bosham Ln, Bosham, Chichester PO18 8HL

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

Dinner at Millstream Restaurant in Bosham in West Sussex

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A couple of weeks ago, I was with my husband in Bosham near Chichester. On the second evening of our adventure, we booked a table at the fabulous 2 AA Rosette Millstream Restaurant.

Location:

Millstream Restaurant is located in the center of Bosham village in The Millstream hotel. It can be easily reached by car from Portsmouth or Chichester – the drive takes around 20 minutes.

Atmosphere:

The restaurant has an elegant décor and an inviting atmosphere with lots of natural daylight supplemented by the views across the gardens. We were welcomed by Zsolt who was attending our table through the night. He was extremely professional.

The menu:

Millstream Restaurant serves dishes that are prepared according to traditional recipes, with a modern twist. Head Chef Neil Hiskey sources the best ingredients and takes pride on bringing the flavours out in each dish. All guests can choose from A La Carte menu providing at least 6 choices for each course with some of the dishes changing daily.

Starters:

I decided to order Seared Scottish Scallops with some black pudding, apple, celery and verbena salad. The dish was delectable.

My husband decided to have some home cured salmon Gravadlax with pickled fennel, dill, crème fraiche and accompanied by lemon rye bread. It was perfect!

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Mains:

There was a few great mains on the menu so it was difficult for me to decide what I should have. After a bit of a consideration, I ordered a fillet of bream with some shellfish bisque, cornish potatoes, spinach, crab beignet. The dish was really tasty.

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Desserts:

I am always looking forward to having a dessert and I ordered some pistachio cake that was accompanied by almond cream and cashew nut ice cream. It was delectable!

My husband decided to have a selection of Sussex and Hampshire cheeses with oatcakes, wafers and quince jelly. He enjoyed them with a glass of port recommended by our waiter.

Overall experience:

We both had a lovely time Millstream Restaurant and will definitely return here when we are in Surrey. The restaurant serves delicious food based on fresh, seasonal ingredients and the service was faultless. If you are looking for a great meal then you should definitely book a table and experience it yourself.

Website:

For more information and to book visit:

https://millstreamhotel.com/

Address:

Bosham Ln, Bosham, Chichester PO18 8HL

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

 

Les Agitateurs Restaurant in Nice, France

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Last month, I traveled with my mum to Nice in the Côte d’Azur region famous for its interesting bars, restaurants and galleries. During the second day of our stay in this beautiful city we decided to have our dinner at Les Agitateurs restaurant.

Location:

Les Agitateurs is located on Rue Bonaparte – close to the port, exhibition centre and the modern art museum.

Atmosphere:

At first glance, Les Agitateurs looks like many other eateries however when you go inside you’ll discover that the restaurant has very cosy and accommodating surroundings. It is run by Juliette, Samuel and Pierre Jean who meet during their studies at the Paul Bocuse Institute and decided to use their experience to open Les Agitateurs.

We booked our table for 7:00 p.m. and we were welcomed by a friendly waiter – Pierre who took us to our table and looked after us throughout the evening.

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Menu:

Guests dining at this cosy French eatery have an opportunity to select their dishes from the A La Carte Menu as well as a tasting menu. If you are looking to experience some great French cuisine then I would recommend you to try Les Agitateurs’s 5-course tasting menu as that’s what we had and we really enjoyed it. All dishes are made using  the fresh, local produce and you’ll get a selection of amuse bouche, starter, main and a dessert. The menu is changed seasonally so if you travel to Nice often then you can try some new, modern French dishes regularly.

We started our meal with a glass of bubbly.

A couple of amuse bouche were followed by a delicious risotto with gorgonzola.

The second dish we had was some black mullet with roasted peppers and black garlic condiment. For third course was ox with some rich red wine sauce.

For my dessert we had some mouth-watering aloe vera based delicacy. I had some herbal tea at the end of the meal.

Overall experience:

Both my mum and I had a great dining experience at Les Agitateurs. All dishes were delicious and rather Instagram-friendly. If you are looking for a meal based on the best quality, locally sourced ingredients then you should look no further. The service was great and the food was delectable so we will definitely be returning there next time we are in Nice.

Address:

24 Rue Bonaparte,

06300 Nice,

France

For more information and to book visit:

https://www.lesagitateurs.com/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Dinner at Restaurant Pfistermuhle in Munich

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During our recent trip to Munich, we tried lots of local German cuisine and today I would like to tell you about the best meal we’ve had whilst on our trip. You are probably wondering what was so great about our dining experience at Restaurant Pfistermuhle. If you are intrigued then read on…

Location:

Restaurant Pfistermuhle is located in Munich’s oldest mill building also occupied by Platz Hotel. It has a perfect location in the heart of the city – right by the Platzl and just a few minutes away from the famous Marienplatz. It can be easily reached by public transport.

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Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 7:00 p.m. We were greeted by a friendly waiter who made us feel welcomed and walked us through the menu.

The restaurant has a welcoming décor. Dinners can be sited in its classic dining room in the vaults of an old 16th-century mill or one of the tables based outdoors which are perfect for when the weather is sunny. We decided to sit outside.

The menu:

Restaurant Pfistermuhle offers its diners fine-dining experience serving high-end Bavarian cuisine with a modern twist. The menu changes seasonally and offers a nice selection of local dishes that are all built around the best produce from the area which guarantees consistently high quality. The Head Chef – Michael Sobota provides his diners with unique style of cooking which he himself describes as ‘Alpine cooking with international flavours’.

We commenced our evening with a refreshing cocktail. Our waiter also brought us some complimentary bread and butter.

To start with, I went for some prawns with an avocado chutney, mushrooms and a side salad.

My husband had some salmon accompanied by a pesto from wild herbs, chanterelles and chicken gravy. Both dishes were divine and presented beautifully.

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By the time we were done with our starters, our waiter brought us some Am Berg (2017) white wine. It offered a rich mouth feel that lead to soft fruits and orange zest on the palate.

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Secondly, I had some cold soup of cucumber and avocado which was mouth-watering.

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Thirdly, I had some trout from Lake Ammer and it was definitely my favourite course. It was cooked to perfection and accompanied by a cream of potato and parsley, smoked egg yolk, eggplant caviar and riesling foam.

My husband had some Fillet of Ox from the “Allgäu” with marrow crust and sauce of shallots accompanied by some green beans with bacon. He loved it as it was flavoursome and cleared his plate in no time.


Lastly, it was time for some dessert. I am quite adventurous so I ordered some Pfistermühlen surprise. It was a mixture of breakfast granola with berries and 2 sorbets. It was delicious!

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My husband ordered a variation of elder flower which was based on wild berries and ice creams. It was scrumptious.

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Overall experience:
Our meal at Restaurant Pfistermuhle was the best meal we’ve had whilst in Munich. All dishes were delectable and presented beautifully whilst service was flawless and attentive. If you would like to experience some great Bavarian dishes with a modern twist then I would definitely recommend it – I am sure you will not be disappointed!

Address:

Pfisterstraße 4,

80331 München,

Germany

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Our dinner at Brasserie Chez Fritz in Munich, Germany

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As some of you probably know, I was in Munich with my husband to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. We’ve had lots of meals but there were only two that stood-out in terms of traditional German restaurants. Today, I would like to tell you about our experience at Brasserie Chez Fritz.

Location:

Brasserie Chez Fritz is located on a quiet, residential road – Preysingstraße which is just a short walk from Wiener Platz. You can get there easily by public transport.

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Atmosphere:

Brasserie Chez Fritz has a traditional décor and an informal atmosphere. Diners are able to select their seats in a cosy restaurant or on an open patio – perfect when the weather is nice and sunny.

The waiter that attended our table couldn’t speak English so we had to translate the menu on Google Translate but he was friendly and attentive so I cannot complain. We later realised that there were some other waiters who could speak English so if you decide to visit you should definitely ask for someone who you can freely communicate with.

The menu:

The menu at Brasserie Chez Fritz doesn’t offer its diners typical German cuisine. Instead you can experience a selection of mouth-watering dishes with a French cuisine twist.

To start with, I ordered some smoked salmon which was served with a fennel salad whilst my husband had some pulled pork accompanied by an apple salad. Both starters were tasty and presented nicely.

For my main I decided to have a fish of the day – cod on a bed of some perfectly roasted potatoes and samphire. It was mouth watering and the flavours were exquisite.

My husband had a flank steak served with artichokes, beans and a tomatoes chutney – ‘sauce fritz’. The steak was tender and cooked to my husband’s liking.

After our mains, we decided to have a dessert. I decided to have some crème brulee whilst my husband went for some refreshing sorbet which was served with strawberries. Both of our desserts were delicious.

Overall experience:

We both had an enjoyable dinning experience at Brasserie Chez Fritz. It was one of the best meals we had in Munich and I would definitely recommend it.

Website:
For more information and to book visit:

http://www.chezfritz.de/

Address:

Preysingstraße 20,

81667 München,

Germany

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

After-work tapas at James Cochran’s restaurant

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As you all know I am a massive foodie. I work in the City of London (near Monument) and I always enjoy discovering hidden-gems where I can unwind after work. I recently visited EC3 restaurant by James Cochran who received 2 Michelin stars at The Ledbury. The restaurant was names in Fay Maschlers top 10 restaurants of 2016 and James Cochran definitely deserves this as he is an excellent chef. I was impressed by his tapas menu which I experienced after work a couple of weeks ago.

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Atmosphere: 

James Cochran’s restaurant has a very casual atmosphere. It has a modern decor with a few paintings and a vibrant, bright yellow chairs adding some chic to its interior. Its guests have an option to pop-in for some drinks or sangria which are served at its 16-seat bar in front of the restaurant or to have a meal / tapas. The restaurant also offers take-away menu.

Location:

James Cochran EC3 restaurant is located in the heart of City of London. It is just a few minutes walk from the Liverpool Street and Aldgate stations and easily accessible if you are travelling here by tube or bus.

Menu:

James Cochran offers its dinners original Scottish and Jamaican influenced dishes that are made from fresh, regional produce. During the summer, the restaurant offers its dinners tapas style dishes. There are 13 dishes to choose from and they are perfect for sharing with your friends or loved ones. I really like tapas as sharing food stimulates conversation and is great for any occasion. I was accompanied by my husband and we ordered 6 dishes between us:

  • pork kromeski served with peppers and mayo

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  • lamb kromeski with marmite mayo

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  • hackney n’duja Scotch egg

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  • Jamaican jerk buttermilk chicken

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  • smoked cornish mackarel with some picked fennel, pepper puree and coriander crumb

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  • smoked salmon with some apple, cod’s roe, radish, chorizo crumb and basil oil

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All of the dishes were tasty and delivered different culinary experience. My favorite were the pork and lamb kromeski – amazing croquettes dipped in batter and deep fried. The restaurant is also known for its hackney n’duja Scotch egg – it was top notch and had just the right ratio of meat to egg to crispy exterior. In addition, we both really enjoyed one of the restaurant’s signature dishes – the famed Jamaican jerk buttermilk chicken -it’s fragrant and had a perfect balance of heat, sweet and savory flavors.

The portion size of the dishes we ordered was just the right size to share between two of us. What appealed to me was that all of the dishes were reasonably priced so I will definitely return to try their A La Carte menu during the autumn.

Address:

19 Bevis Marks,

London

EC3A 7JA

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Pauline

Vietnamese meal at Pho & Bun in London, UK

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Do you like oriental cuisine? I definitely do. During my honeymoon, I visited Vietnam with my husband and I was really impressed by how beautiful the country was and how friendly its’ citizens were. I like going out and discovering different restaurants so this Monday, I visited Pho & Bun for a dinner with my husband.

Atmosphere: 

Pho & Bun offers authentic Vietnamese food in a casual setting that will make you feel as if you’ve stepped foot in Vietnam.

Location: 

Pho & Bun is located in central London on the popular Shaftesbury Avenue which is a few minutes away from the Tottenham Court Road & Piccadilly Circus stations. It is also around a corner from both Chinatown and Soho. It is surrounded by many West End theatres, shops and tourist monuments so it is a great place to go to for a lunch or dinner if you are nearby.

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Menu:

Pho & Bun offers its dinners great selection of authentic Vietnamese street food at a reasonable price. There are 2 menus to choose from:

  • A La Care
  • 5 – courses tasting menu

We decided to order from the testing menu. Firstly, we selected 3 starters each to share.

  • Fresh summer roll with tiger prawn;
  • Pork & crab spring roll;
  • Mango salad with tiger prawn;
  • Chilli salt and pepper squid;
  • Sticky honey chicken wings;
  • Honey glazed spare ribs.

All starters were tasty but my favourite were the honey glazed spare ribs and pork and crab spring roll.

Secondly, we ordered our mains. I had some honey glazed BBQ pork with vermicelli. The dish was a combination of delicious pork, fresh vegetables and noodles seasoned with different herbs and spices.

A0BD95CE-9B3F-417C-B5AA-5B5E7C7A2934My husband ordered some Bun Sa Lemongrass beef rump steak with vermicelli.

We found both of these dishes really filling and tasty. I would recommend them especially when you are hungry as the portion size was really generous and we finished about half of our mains.

Lastly, we ordered some desserts. I had some mouth-watering pandan & coconut panna cotta whilst my husband decided to have some homemade soft yoghurt ice-cream. I love desserts and they were both delicious.

Overall experience:

Pho & Bun offers a range of original Vietnamese dishes with a  twist. The service was quick and friendly, atmosphere was casual so this restaurant is perfect for a casual dinning experience with your friends or family. What’s more, the restaurant is reasonably priced and our 5-course tasting menu was only £27.95 per person. I would definitely visit again!

Address: 

76 Shaftesbury Avenue,

W1D 6ND,

London

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Pauline