Time Out Eating & Drinking Awards 2009
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Anonymously reviewed by Time Out's panel of expert judges
Updated: Wed Sep 16 2009
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Best New Restaurant | Best New Italian | Best New Cheap Eats | Best New Gastropub | Best New Bar | Best New Local Restaurant | Best New Café | Best New Design | Best Spanish Restaurant | Best Spanish Wine List
Best New Bar-
WINNER: 69 Colebrooke Row
69 Colebrooke Row, Islington, N1 8AA
This bijou bar’s the creation of Tony Conigliaro, familiar to keen-eyed cocktail hounds for his work at the likes of Isola, Roka and Shochu – and Camille Hobby-Limon, who runs the much-garlanded Charles Lamb pub a couple of streets away. 69 Colebrooke Row is tiny: with just a handful of tables, supplemented by a few stools at the bar, it may be smaller than your front room, and it’s clear that David Collins was not involved in a multi-million interior design. But it’s already become the destination of the year for cocktail cognoscenti. A molecular drinks-maker who works with perfumists, scientists, sommeliers, distillers and designers, Conigliaro has his own high-tech laboratory above the bar. There, he experiments with elixirs, aromas and essences, to craft a stunning collection of cocktails, all priced at £7. The Wild Strawberry Bellini coaxes strawberry flavours from incongruous ingredients, while the Consulate – a mix of El Dorado rum and sherry– is an expertly crafted twist on a classic. The bar also has its very own Cognac, blended specially to complement the Spitfire cocktails. To eat, there are aperitivo nibbles of choice meats, cheeses and other Milanese munchies. Entertainment consists of regular ivory-tinkling, singers and, for the discerning, occasional cocktail seminars. But for all the excellence of the drinks, it’s the little touches – impeccably dressed staff, handwritten bills, tall glasses of water poured from a cocktail shaker – that elevate this lovely little enterprise from the pack. Read more
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RUNNER UP: Lost Angel
339 Battersea Park Road, Battersea, SW11 4LF
On the site that once was Dusk, Lost Angel is a sister to the nearby Lost Society, but has a more relaxed, boozer vibe. Service is friendly and the range of drinks covers most bases, from local ales to new-fangled cocktails. Food is pub grub by day (steak on ciabatta), a bit posher in the evening (ballotine of foie gras with red onion confit and toasted brioche). Read more
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RUNNER UP: Callooh Callay
65 Rivington St, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AY
A Shoreditch bar that’s far removed from the lager and loud music norm. This handsome Lewis Carroll-inspired bar has well-made cocktails, and is heavy on unusual and obscure spirits but with its fair share of classics. There’s also a selection of lovely by-the-glass wines, and Meantime beers or Weston cider should keep the beer and cider sippers sweet. But it’s the whimsical, mad hatter decor which is the real draw. Read more
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RUNNER UP: Portobello Star
171 Portobello Rd, Ladbroke Grove, W11 2DY
This formerly scruffy old boozer was for years one of the last hold-outs against progress along the Portobello Road. That’s all changed, as the new Portobello Star is now a cocktail haven, but the real selling points are the friendly, enthusiastic staff and their interesting take on drinks old and new. There are DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, and the place has a feelgood, local vibe. Read more
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Best New Restaurant | Best New Italian | Best New Cheap Eats | Best New Gastropub | Best New Bar | Best New Local Restaurant | Best New Café | Best New Design | Best Spanish Restaurant | Best Spanish Wine List-
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18 comments
Lola Rojo, is not bad but nothing on Carmen at Clapham Common.
Lola Rojo is not really spanish. it is catalan. They do rices for British taste that do not exist in Spain, portions ae tiny, the atmosphere is depressing. It is miles away from the real thing you will find in Spain. It just shows how terrible Spanish food is in London. Sad "taste" of things.
Glaring omission in Best Spanish - Barrafina. Judging by the queues and all great reviews, including in Timeout and by its readers.
Confused by those who don't think Princi is not cheap? Fairly large portion of pretty good pasta or salad is £6-7, which is probably the most expensive thing in there. Pretty good tasting food and nice looking place. Pretty good value for money if you ask me. Ok, it's not as cheap as your local sandwich shop or greasy spoon, but come on. How cheap is cheap eats suppose to be?
I was disappointed with the Spanish Restaurants winner too. I frequent Tapas Variadas on Northcote Road, just metres down the road from La Rioja. The food is much more value for money (try the huge seafood platter for only £9) and the lovely little restaurant, quaint. I ve been to Lola Rioja, and found the atmosphere a little pretentious and the food overpriced for what you are given.
I agree that the "Best Cheap Eats" selection is pretty disappointing this year. I always relied on Time Out to help me discover real gems, not restaurants which have been well advertised and, quite frankly, aren't exactly groundbreaking discoveries.
Re Albion at the Boundary: good for brunch but not "cheap" (I'd go to E Pellicci any time instead! that's authentic and cheap). Not so good if you fancy well cooked comfort food: my cauliflower cheese was so crunchy that I had trouble cutting through it. I didn't even manage to finish it, incredible really as I was (a) extremely hungry and (b) in dire need of said comfort.
Please, Time Out, don't let us down next year!
the thing is that pretty much everywhere in london is a rip off.
you want value for money? go to capitan corelli in battersea park road. real italian as you could find in italy 30 yrs ago in small towns.
Great food, cakes to die for and a good cup of coffee. It's hard to beat The Fleet. I go there regularly, the foods always delicious, there's plenty of seating and there's always a buzz about the place , the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed certainly not lacking!
It is worth trying Harwood Arms! Great food (delicious soup as a starter) and friendly service, although a bit on the pricey side. Funny how everyone looks like they just left their houses in Westport, CT. Bocca di Lupo continues to be my favorite so far!
I found both Giaconda and Boundary rather disappointing. Great ingredients no doubt, and competent kitchen skills, which makes it even strager as to why the end result in both was a bit flat. Not sure the British 'food revolution' has helped much - people cook more and better, restaurants cook less and simpler, and thw two have ended up meeting in the middle somewhat. Do i need to spend £18 for someone to grill a chop for me?
And why 2 specifically Spanish categories?
I'm very sorry timeout, but Giaconda Dining Rooms was a massive disapointment to me. Difficult to create atmosphere in such a small space and food capable, but not exciting. I took my partner for his birthday having read the reviews on this site and had to apologise to him halfway through the meal... Maybe I missed something.
I have two things to say about these results.
Firstly 39 Colbrooke Row is a terrible little place full of cheap furniture and dirty toilets. Yes the barman is great and the cocktails fun but it's not fun spilling half of it on a wobbly table.
Secondly - Albion Caff Bakery - Christ Almighty, if these cakes are good I would not like to taste a Time Out rubbish-rated example. These may have to be some of the worst cakes I have ever eaten. YUK.
Come on Time Out, you are not exactly surprising us and encouraging us to grab our coats and scarper to a new exciting gem. Yawn!
Agree with Princi not being cheap. Maybe if you wanna eat three raviolis (and get a not-so-kind look when you ask for cheese)...
I agree with Anthony. Princi is not cheap!!
The Harwood is my local and, in my view a well deserved winner. IIt's a great mix of quirky and traditional english food....and always beautifully cooked and presented:)