Restaurants

Bringing the Big Apple to Edgware is the lofty claim of this new grill restaurant. Dishes are named after New York landmarks, with Madison Avenue lamb cutlets or Broadway beef cubes; for vegetarians, theres a Staten Island vegetable burger, Central Park portobello mushrooms or an Empire State salad chargrilled veg, presumably piled into a suitably towering stack. But is the food authentic? On our visit the kitchen was finding it hard to deliver orders together, but produced a succulent corned beef sandwich (layers of thin slices instead of the thicker salt beef) and hot and crispy fried chicken. Ralphys is a good place for families with children; theres something for everyone (with the possible exception of those watching their waistlines). You could have a juicy steak salad with capers and mixed leaves, or a hot dog with corn cobs and chips. The chefs also do a mean chocolate pudding, with gooey sauce oozing out. Ice-cream and milkshakes are, of course, parev so expect colour rather than flavour. Ralphys is a stones throw from the long-established, non-kosher B&K Salt Beef Bar. In this area, which has a growing observant community, it should do well.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008