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Written by Carinne Geil Botta

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scotland
Thamel (Edinburgh)

by Carinne Geil Botta

Popped in to Osteria Vibrato on a whim the other d

Popped in to Osteria Vibrato on a whim the other day. This highly-anticipated restaurant by Charlie Mellor and sommelier Cameron Dewar was heaving despite being just a week old (fortunately they reserve space at the bar for walk-ins). Already it feels like this has the makings of a great London restaurant, along with its bohemian Greek Street neighbours (also it’s fabulously, if dangerously, close to Termini, Three Sheets Soho and Henson’s bars, amongst others, though Kevin the bar manager here can make pretty much anything on request - ingredients permitting - including a Campari Shakerato and an excellent martini).

You’ve got to love the simple honesty of a slab of aged ricotta doused in premium olive oil to open proceedings (though note the bread isn’t free - there’s a £3 cover charge). A couple of refinements needed in the cooking perhaps (the tagliatelle with courtyard ragù, at just shy of £30, was a little dry) but it’s early days; at least the service was attentive and friendly on this visit, so they’ve hit the ground running on that front. Vibe-wise it feels like it has elements of Brutto, the live piano of Arlington, maybe the rusticity of Trullo, perhaps a soupçon of The Dover. Anyhoo, a promising start and booked to return while actually there, if that’s anything to go by
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#osteriavibrato #soho #foodstagram #newrestaurant #londonrestaurants

Blowing away the February cobwebs at Brutto with a

Blowing away the February cobwebs at Brutto with a supremely comforting bowl of peposo (beef shin and peppercorn stew slow-cooked for several hours), with roast potatoes on the side for double-carbing, followed by a Martinez at The Prince on Old Street (such a great bar)
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#farringdon #goodtimes #comfortfood #londonlife #enjoyyourself

A Covent Garden old school double bill to brighten

A Covent Garden old school double bill to brighten up February: starting at Rules for Negronis made to Brian Silva’s recipe and a trio of martinis in the winter garden followed by J. Sheekey for scallops, cheese soufflé, roasted fillet of cod and delicious sole meunière
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#coventgarden #fish #seafood #londonrestaurants #moreismore

Noizé never fails. A recent return to this Fitzro

Noizé never fails. A recent return to this Fitzrovia restaurant that just quietly does its thing and to a consistently high standard. And while the menu regularly changes it’s great to see new signature dishes of theirs becoming a fixture, such as the sole fritters with jalapeño, now as crucial to the full Noizé experience as their gougères with a martini, and Comté with a glass of Jura at the end. In between, a fresh and vibrant salmon dish (cured and in mousse form) with a blood orange dressing, and loin of venison with radicchio, beetroot, venison ragout (not ragu) and a luxurious jus. Excellent wine choices by Mathieu as always and very friendly service. Just so delightful every time.
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#fitzrovia #wheretoeat #foodgram #toplondonrestaurants #frenchrestaurant

Ah, back to Larry’s Bar after the Lucian Freud e

Ah, back to Larry’s Bar after the Lucian Freud exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, and this drink is in honour of Freud’s friend, the “Francis Bacon Orange” - like the artist it’s bold and a tad controversial, being a riff on a Negroni Sbagliato with Papa Salt gin, Disaranno, El Bandarra Al Fresco for more bittersweet complexity and a champagne foam. Delicious. Good to be back here - always worth a stop for light refreshment
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#nationalportraitgallery #negroni #instadrink #cocktail #cocktailbar

Over to Paris and the exceptional Cypsèle, which

Over to Paris and the exceptional Cypsèle, which opened towards the end of last year. Located on Île Saint-Louis, which is better known for its Berthillon ice cream shops and faux brasseries, Cypsèle offers something far more ambitious. It also has an interesting backstory: this is Marcin Król’s debut restaurant and was originally going to open in north-east London. And what a debut. A fabulous tasting menu including Brest oyster with blood orange granita, turbot with hazelnut oil and lentils, quail with bone-marrow-soaked breadcrumbs and radicchio, céleri à la Bocuse, wine paired by sommelier Quentin Loisel…

“I liked how soulful the plates were, how clearly we were eating the food Król wanted to cook… I am already plotting my return visit”

Link in bio for the full review (comme d’habitude) or head to palatemag.co.uk

✍️📷 Review and photos by Rachel Naismith
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#cypsele #paris #parisdining #parisfood #restaurantreview

Continuing our new reviews for February with Chorr

Continuing our new reviews for February with Chorrito, a cantina and hot sauce producer in Edinburgh which is “serving some of the best Mexican brunch plates up north, and possibly, the whole of the UK.” Pictured here are the chilaquiles rojos (a veritable mountain), huevos rancheros and LA biscuit tacos. Delicious!

Link in bio for the full review or head to palatemag.co.uk

✍️📷 Review and photos by Daniela Toporek
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#edinburgh #mexicanfood #cantina #foodie #foodgram

February is here, and while it may be the Tuesday

February is here, and while it may be the Tuesday of months, at least January is now behind us. Of course this means we’re back with some new reviews! This month our long-form reviews include Mexican brunch cantina Chorrito in Edinburgh and the fantastic Cypsèle in Paris (which has a very interesting backstory). But first, it’s time to see what La Palombe in Kensington is all about…

La Palombe is an unassuming French bistro just opposite the Design Museum and a few doors down from its sister restaurant, the legendary Il Portico (also handy for bars like Amaro and Sprout if you’re looking for an aperitif or digestif in the area). With its Périgord tones of walnut and truffle, and flattering candlelight, it’s a lovely pared-back space with food to match (under the direction of Jake Leach, formerly head chef at The Ledbury). Pictured here are the venison croquettes and burnt leek mayo, confit duck with celeriac and chicory remoulade, confit Cumbrian pork belly with Jerusalem artichoke and potpourri of crackling, and freshly-baked madeleines.

Link in bio or head to palatemag.co.uk in your browser for the full review and our other new reviews
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#lapalombe #restaurantreview #kensington #foodgram #frenchfood

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