London Restaurants | London Guide

Pancake Time at Giraffe

Rivers of chocolate, everlasting gobstoppers or candies the size of castles, Willy Wonker certainly knew how to seduce the sweet toothed.

To celebrate Shrove Tuesday, 8th March, Giraffe, the global restaurant group, is encouraging you to indulge all your sugar-coated fantasies and ‘Pimp Your Pancake’ in keeping with the day of eating, feasting and excess before Lent.

Forget ‘Pimp Your Ride’ and ‘Pimp Your Snack’, between 8th – 11th March diners will be given the chance to pimp their own pancakes, big-up theirbreakfast or super-size their sweet.

Available from 8am* until 4pm, Giraffe’s stacked American style pancakes will be served with your choice of toppings to ‘pimp’ or eat as you see fit, from just £5.95 per person. 

Guaranteed to please big and little people alike, additional toppings include everything from marshmallows to maple syrup, Crunchie to caramel sauce and Baileys to blueberries. Want to add more pancakes to your pile? You can. Order as many or as few as you fancy and see how high you can go.
Better still, pimps can win prizes. Post a picture of your pancake dish on Facebook.com/girafferestaurants via the events page and send in your recipe or method to be in the chance to win a foodie feast for you and up to five of your friends. Pictures may be posted from 8th – 20th March. Comments will be courted from Facebook fans and the King Pimp will be chosen by popular consensus by 28th March 2011. 

‘Pimp Your Pancake’ at Giraffe - srumpdidlyumptious.
www.giraffe.net
Pimp Your Pancake is available at Giraffe from 8th – 11th March 2011, from open to 4pm.
Visit giraffe.net/restaurant for full details.

London Based Pizza Lupa Voted the Best Independent Pizza Delivery Operator in the UK

The Pizza and Pasta Association have judged Pizza Lupa to be the Best Independent Pizza Delivery Operator in the UK (http://www.papa.org.uk/awards/2010/winners.shtml). The award follows several mystery shops undertaken by both consumers and industry peers. This recognition follows on from the 2008 Square Meal award for the Best Pizza in the City of London.

Pizza Lupa (http://www.lupa.co.uk), which delivers in Crouch End, Canary Wharf, London Bridge and West Hampstead areas, recently merged with Pizza Cucina. Christopher Kemper, the company’s Managing Director, is delighted that the newly revamped menu and rebrand has been such a hit with customers.

Kemper says, “We spent several weeks discussing what Pepperoni we should use, how many grams of salt should go into our freshly prepared pizza sauce, how much fresh espresso to put into our homemade Tiramisu. Our suppliers thought we were crazy. Our customers have always been very quick to tell us if something wasn’t up to scratch and so we decided to focus 100% on quality. That’s the foundation of our business. We don’t use conveyor belt ovens like the huge mass market delivery companies do. It’s a real kitchen where we prepare our food by hand, and cook our pizza in a traditional brick oven. We are also obsessed by delivering great service. If we deliver a great product, hot and on time we will succeed.”

Pizza Lupa have seen their sales increase 15% in the 8 weeks since the menu re-launch and they believe their average sales across the three sites are the second highest within the pizza delivery industry.
Kemper adds: “It’s great to win an award, especially one judged by the industry as it recognises the hard work our team puts in every single day. People congratulate me – actually this award is for our team members who make it happen.”

Due to its growing popularity and success Pizza Lupa plans to open three more sites next year. Kemper is adamant: “We will not sacrifice quality for growth – we are becoming as obsessive about training as we are about the quality of the food and the service we give.”

Pizza Lupa ordering online is available at http://www.lupa.co.uk/

 

Giraffe Restaurant Now Open in Blackheath

Blackheath residents, families and visitors now have a world of cuisines on their doorstep thanks to the arrival of global restaurant, Giraffe on Tranquil Vale. 

Positive energy exudes from the moment you enter the warm and welcoming, restaurant with the big heart. Open from morning till late, all your needs are catered for. Whether you’re catching up with friends for a quick coffee, looking for a long leisurely breakfast, a three-course meal with the family or a romantic dinner for two, Giraffe is the ideal destination.

 Located in heart of Blackheath village, the open plan, split level restaurant has been stylishly decorated in muted colours with a striking feature wall made with gold leaf and cork, as well as fretwork panels that imitate the irregular pattern of a Giraffe’s skin.

Unique chrome aero bubble lights, hand blown lamps lights, and a stunning tribal style graffiti mural of a Giraffe emblazoned with their global message ‘love, eat, live’ complete the picture. Taking a culinary tour across the globe, Giraffe’s reasonably priced menu reads like a guide to the world’s favourite foods.

Carefully crafted from the freshest ingredients sourced from favoured suppliers, there’s something to suit every taste and challenge the adventurous to try something new. Kick-start the day with a breakfast worth getting out of bed for such as organic porridge topped with honey, sunflower seeds, strawberries and bananas; a granola sundae brimming with fresh fruit; or spicy huevos rancheros – free range fried or scrambled eggs, chorizo, black beans, cheddar and jack cheese, adobe sauce, avocado and tomato salsa on a warm tortilla. 

For lunch or dinner delve into a combination of nibbles, snacks, starters and mains. Highlights include crisp fried tiger prawns with sweet chilli dip; farmers’ market vegetable burrito – filled with roasted squash, feta, spinach, mushrooms, kidney beans and Mexican green rice; handmade beef and Abbot Ale pie served with mash and gravy; or healthy winter salad made up of spiced roast pumpkin, spinach, beetroot, edamame, green beans, broccoli, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, mixed leaves and cashew nuts topped with herby house dressing. 

Deliciously tempting desserts include milky double bubble chocolate cheesecake with warm chocolate sauce; a rustic apple crumble topped with deliciously crunchy hazelnuts and oats and a winter berry compote; and a gooey, indulgent chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream - all the better when shared with a friend. 

Giraffe’s global dedication extends to drinks. Coffee is hand-crafted using the finest Arabica beans, carefully sourced from two family owned farms in Brazil and Guatemala. Roasted in the UK by their friends at Union Coffee Roasters, every time you enjoy a cup you can be assured that you are giving something back. In Brazil, this means there are now weekly food baskets for the workers whose children will now be educated at the local school. In Guatemala, coffee sales help build homes for migrant workers and develop sustainable farming methods. Teas are by Teapigs who also pledge to help the communities they work with, and there’s even Giraffe’s very own Moroccan mint variety. 

Just like the menu, the wine list is international with every bottle available by the glass. Cocktails make their mark with a combination of old school classics such as a retro piña colada and more contemporary innovations including vanilla breeze – vanilla vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, passion fruit and pineapple. 

Little ones are loved just as much as grown ups and have their very own menu complete with puzzles and games to keep them entertained. Sit back and relax as they tuck into a host of healthy, fresh dishes such as salmon fingers with mash, broccoli and sweetcorn; grilled chicken burger or a mini brunch with sausage, eggs, Heinz beans and toast. For a Christmas dinner with a global flavour, Giraffe has the answer. Their fantastic value festive menu, two courses for £15.95 and three for £19.95 is a tasty alternative to the norm; try delicious starters such as crayfish and prawn cocktail or sweet potato, pumpkin and ginger soup. Mains are equally appetising with goats’ cheese and zucchini lasagne or a double roasted crispy duck with green chilli and potato hash. For dessert, a steamed hot chocolate and cherry pudding is a sweet touch. 

Owner Russel Joffe said: “Blackheath is a lovely part of the world with lots of character. We are delighted to be able to takeover this gem of a restaurant and look forward to bringing Giraffe to locals.”

Giraffe
58-62 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, London SE3 OBN
T: 020 8463 9155
www.giraffe.net

Family feast out at newly launched Sitaaray Sundays

Sitaaray, one of the capital’s most unique Indian dining concepts, featuring delectable dishes against the colourful backdrop of Bollywood, has launched Sitaaray Sundays.

Providing an irresistible day out for families or groups of friends, Sitaaray Sundays presents a special Sunday Brunch unlimited menu for just £22.95 per adult, with children under 12 eating for free! And if that wasn’t value enough, families can enjoy free parking at the neighbouring NCP Car Park. 

Choose from a selection of meat, fish and vegetarian kababs before exploring a variety of well-known and authentic curries. At Sitaaray, every dish on the menu is marinated or infused with fresh herbs and spices, grilled and then brought fresh to the table by the experienced chefs. The mouth-watering dishes featured on the menu include Malai Chicken Tikka (Creamy cheesy cardamom flavored chicken morsels); Adraki Paneer Tikka (Grilled Indian cottage cheese spiced with ginger and green chillies); and Dal Makhni (Buttery black lentils simmered overnight, finished with tomatoes, ginger & cream). These will be served at diners’ tables along with a selection of popaddams, chutneys, salads and accompaniments including fresh Naan, Parantha and Peshawari Naan. 

Enjoy a lazy brunch with family or friends from 1.00pm all the way till 8.00pm at Sitaaray and don’t miss taking the kids to see the wonderful performers and bustling street markets that Covent Garden has to offer. To add an extra special touch to the Sitaaray experience of Indian culture, families will be entertained by the restaurant’s very own talented magician! Diners can also benefit from free car parking as Sitaaray is offering guests up to four hours complimentary parking at NCP Drury Lane (entrance from Parker Street) when dining on Sundays, allowing for plenty of time to enjoy lunch then experience all the wonders of Covent Garden. 

Located in the heart of London’s Theatreland on Drury Lane, Sitaaray (Hindi for ‘stars’), combines the very best of authentic Indian cuisine while celebrating India’s other great export – its cinema. The restaurant is set against a stunning cinematic background, celebrating 75 years of Indian cinema. Sitaaray’s colourful décor is dominated by posters and photographs of film legends from Indian movies. Diners can enjoy iconic Bollywood song and dance sequences during dinner as they are played on screens all around the split level restaurant. 

Website: www.sitaaray.com
Address: 167 Drury Lane Covent Garden, London WC2B 5PG
Tel: 020 7269 6422

New Restaurant, The Bowler, Opens on Wandsworth Common

A new bar and restaurant called The Bowler has just opened on Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common.

It sounds from the press release that there are plenty of nightly activities planned.  Bellevue Road is a lovely location and I hope that the locals will embrace this new addition to the neighbourhood - please comment if you have checked it out already.

With its eclectic bar, cosy Snug – perfect for a Book Club meeting or other têtes a têtes – and Bowling Room formal restaurant, it is the perfect place to eat, drink and be merry.

Those people looking to discover whether it should be Chardonnay or Shiraz need look no further than the monthly Wine & Food Matching evenings on Mondays at The Bowler. Let Head Chef Paul Ribband and wine expert Olivier Marty take you on a culinary journey filled with festive flavour with their tailored three-course gourmet menu and hand-selected accompanying wines available for just £50 per person.

Tuesday nights will see a full house courtesy of Poker Night. Players of all abilities are welcome to try their hand, with beginner’s tables as well as more established groups. Buy-in is just £10 and winner takes all – are you feeling lucky?

However, nobody can keep a poker face on Wednesday nights when they find out about Steak Night which will offer spectacular cuts which have been hung and marinated to perfection under the chef’s watchful eye. With some of the best meat on the market – and not just beef steak – at mouthwatering prices, you won’t want to miss out.

Meanwhile, there’s no better reason to gather the girls together for a good night out on Thursdays for Ladies Night where they can enjoy 2 for 1 on cocktails all evening. With an extensive menu to suit all tastes it’s the best way to ease your way into the weekend.

The Bowler Bar really comes to life on Friday and Saturday nights, when live musicians add a soundtrack to the evening and the bar stays open until 2am, whilst those looking to beat the Sunday blues should check out the regular Comedy Night where the laughs come cheap at just £5 entrance.  Acts performing change weekly, check out the website or subscribe to The Bowler on Twitter and Facebook to find out more.

Evening activities aside, The Bowler is proving popular with families keen to take advantage of the family-friendly facilities including a secure play area and specially designed kids menu. 

Throughout December, Father Christmas will be keeping the kids entertained and spreading festive cheer from his grotto at The Bowler. Children lucky enough to bag a slot with Santa won’t leave empty handed – with balloons and gifts up for grabs as well as a photo with the great man himself. Extra Christmas spirit comes courtesy of festive face-painting and a specially-designed seasonal menu. Meanwhile, parents can relax with a warming glass of gluwein at the bar! Find Santa on weekday afternoons between 1-4pm from 6 December until Christmas. Visits by appointment only.

Overlooking the greenery of Wandsworth Common, the bar & restaurant is ideally placed to cater for any occasion be it an informal coffee morning, a family Sunday brunch, a romantic dinner à deux or a night out with the girls. So make sure you visit The Bowler and banish those Winter blues!

The Bowler can be found at 20 Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common

Tel: 020 8767 1858; Email: info@the-bowler.com

www.the-bowler.com

 

Big Easy Restaurant in Chelsea offers special Thanksgiving Menu

In all its star spangled glory, the Big Easy is celebrating with a special Thanksgiving two-course menu from just £19.95.

Taking centre stage is roasted breast of Norfolk turkey with giblet gravy, chestnut stuffing, green beans and candied sweet potatoes with toasted hazelnuts, all accompanied with homemade cranberry sauce. Followed by, a deep breath, and a choice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream or pecan pie with vanilla bean ice cream.

A live band from 8:30pm guarantees a spot of toe-tapping while a fantastic wine and cocktail list is sure to please. Like an old pair of your favourite jeans, there’s a laidback familiarity once you step through the doors of the capital’s best-loved American restaurant. Set over two floors, Big Easy is all about home-style cooking, family, friends and live music – where better to spend Thanksgiving?

Opening Times: Sunday-Thursday: 12 noon – 11:15pm, Friday-Saturday: 12 noon – 12:15am

Big Easy
332-334 King's Road
Chelsea, London SW3 5UR
T: 020 7352 4071