Qype: Garlic & Shots Ltd in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

I went here in a large group last Friday and I have to say I left thoroughly underwhelmed by Garlic and Shots.

They serve 101 types of shot - which were a lot of fun, along with bottled beers and wine. We also tried the garlic beer - but as another reviewer mentioned this is just a glass of normal beer with chopped garlic added. A few people tried it but couldn't bear to drink more than a sip.

In terms of shots I tried the bloodshot (tomato, garlic, chilli and vodka), chilli vodka (pretty spicy as expected), and instant margarita (all the ingredients of a margarita in a shot glass). The shots are £2.50 each - although don't try and order from the "bar" at the front of the restaurant as I did and got told off.

Food wise, as a starter the garlic bread was the probably the best I've ever had.

The main dishes however were a major disappointment. The Swedish/American influenced dishes such as the garlic burger, or Swedish sausage with garlic mash would have been pretty tasteless were it not for the vast amount garlic added to every part of the dish. One of our party was so disgusted with his main the he took one bite and left the rest.

The waitresses and other members of staff seemed really unfriendly and we didn't feel welcome.

We managed to rack up a £40 bill each - but I didn't feel we got a great deal for this so would say it represented poor value for money.

We had been considering heading to the downstairs Goth bar afterwards, but after finishing the meal decided we really didn't feel like staying any longer.

I might go there again for a shot or a few drinks, but not for food.
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Qype: Piccolo Cafe in London

London

Nice coffee and sandwich shop that seems to have only opened recently. Either that or I just didn't notice it for two years - quite possible as it is very tiny at about 6 foot wide and 12 foot deep, fitting in under the railway track running from London Bridge to Waterloo.

Coffees are really good. A large latte will set you back £1.50 - cheaper than Nero, or Costa but just as good in my opinion.

Sandwiches are good too, but perhaps are let down by a limited range of fillings. There are about three small tables - so not suitable for a large group, but there is plenty of outside seating across the road if it's a nice day. Sandwiches prices are in line with the other sandwich shops in the area.
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Qype: Riva in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away

Riva is a reasonably good sandwich shop on Borough High Street.

The inside is drab, although there does always seem to be seating available.

For a takeaway lunch they serve a range of sandwiches hot or cold. Also wraps, several hot dishes, and salads are available with a range of soft drinks, coffees and fruit. Average prices for the area.

Certainly not exceptional, but not a bad choice either if you need a takeaway sandwich and coffee for lunch.
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Qype: Reds in London

London - Restaurants

Reds is a fairly decent bar/restaurant in between Putney mainline and East Putney tube stations. Its location makes it an excellent meeting point.

The bar area is dimly lit with pretty modern interior, filled with
plenty of tables and chairs.

At the front is a decking area allowing you to sit outside, although the views of the upper Richmond road aren't ideal.

Happy hour runs from 4pm till 8pm (or is that 7pm, the signage is slightly confusing?) Monday to Saturday, where they offer 30% off all draft and bottled beers, making it one of
the cheapest places to drink in Putney during those times.

I haven't tried the food since it became Red's a few years ago from former incarnation La Pief.

Recommended for meeting friends after work. Wouldn't stay there for the whole evening though as it seems lacking in atmosphere.
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Qype: Mexifresh in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away

Mexifresh is a Mexican takeaway and basic cafe style restaurant. I've been ordering takeaways for many years, and keep coming back due to their use of high quality ingredients and reliable service.

I personally stick to the burritos, which are available in a number of flavours - then you chose between vegaterian, beef chili or chicken.

My usual order is the large chicken Americana burrito-and I normally have enough left over for lunch the next day. They used to serve steak as a filling but sadly this has been dropped from the menu-I will have to lobby them to try and get it back!

Several excellend salsas are available, served with home made authentic nachos-nothing like the Dorito style chips you but in the supermarkets. In my opinion the best salsa is the Calexico (which is not as hot as its three chili rating suggests).

Other dishes include tacos quesadillas, taquitos, and a salad served in a massive tortilla - sounds odd but is actually very nice.

They can also deliver Ben and Jerrys ice cream, Oreos, and Mexican or Spanish beers.

They also have another Mexifresh in Wimbledon, although I've never been there or ordered from it.

I terms of going there to eat - it's very basic, and more like a fast food joint, so you wouldn't go for a night out or date. It is reasonably near the river so getting food to takeaway and eating on the bank of the Thames is a nice option on a sunny day.

All in all I'd say this is the best Mexican takeaway in South West London - recommended if you like Mexican food.
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Qype: Pizzas sr1 in Bologna

Bologna

Great little Italian restaurant. They don't just serve pizzas, but this was what we had for our main course, after an Insalatona salad to start with.

I has a delicious Calzone with both ricotta and mozzarella cheese. My fiancée had Capriccios, which she described as the best pizza she'd even tasted, and my brother's Quatro Stagiono was also excellent.

There are a couple of different areas for seating, but we opted for seats in the arcade area - which offered attractive views of the piazza and surroundings. They seem to have more extensive seating downstairs and inside (and also some sort of nightclub in the adjacent building) but since it was lunch and a nice day we didn't explore these.

The bill for a beer, water, shared starter, bread, main and coffees came to €24 each.

Highly recommended place for authentic Italian at reasonable prices.
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Stack overflow hits 10,000 questions

Qype: Bulls Head in Richmond

Richmond - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Wow – what a great location for a pub! We were lucky enough to get a seat overlooking the river Thames, which was a lovely way to finish our Sunday afternoon. Great range of real ales (also cask mark certified), and friendly bar staff.

Sadly when we visited their Sunday lunches were off the menu as they had a problem producing the gravy. Instead I had the beef and ale pie with mash potatoes and vegetables (£8.95), and my fiancée had the lamb shank (£11.50), with mash. The lamb shank was pretty good (I was allowed a bite) although it did seem to be served with a large amount of brooth which did not look appetising. The beef and ale pie that I had was really stodgy and pre-processed. In fact I ended up leaving a lot of it behind (which is very unlike me).

I would like to come back and visit to try the Sunday lunches again if I’m every in the area, simply because of the wonderful country/riverside location.

Definitely recommended for drinks. Food wise – ask what they recommend on the menu before ordering.

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Here is a great post telling you how to fine tune your set up:
Standby setup using powercfg

Qype: Capital Kebab House in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away

A great place to get a late night snack close to Waterloo station. Very tasty range of kebabs, but also other takeaway food such and burgers, chips etc. Pretty efficient service and reasonable prices. They have a seating areas round the back although I’ve never used this.

Strangely, every time I’ve visited this place the police have been here – not because there’s been any trouble, but because they are also buying kebabs and chips! I wonder if they have some sort of deal worked out with the owner?

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Qype: Putney Leisure Centre Cafe in London

London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Pretty average sports centre cafe and nothing special. But if you are feeling hungry after a session in the gym or swimming pool then it'll hit the spot. They stock a range of sandwiches, biscuits, soft drinks, burgers and chips, and quiche. Reasonably priced.

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Qype: The Limes in London

London

This place is a real find! This recently renovated stall makes bacon, egg, and sausages sandwiches freshly to order in a choice of sandwich, roll or (my favourite) the soft french stick. The previous stall was starting to look a little shappy, but the new one is a great improvement.

There used to be a little sign explaining the history: that there has been a sandwich stall on this spot (which is the end of the number 14 bus route), since the late 19th century. Presumably they also had supplies for the horses back then.

A hearty bacon and egg in "French stick", with grilled onions and mustard will set you back £2.60.

Also available are coffees and teas, cakes and a range of other cooked snacks such as hamburgers. No seating next to the hut, but there are benches nearby. Perfect for picking up a Saturday morning breakfast when your fridge is empty. There is also another newsagents hut next door, where you can pick up a pint of milk in additions to the newspaper.

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Qype: Jolly Gardener in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

The Jolly Gardeners is one of my favourite pubs in Putney. It has a funky décor: a mixture of old tables and sofas mixed with modern decorations and art. A range of board games are available to play, as well as an old fashioned table top arcade game.

The serve a range of great beers such as Budvar, Sierra Nevada, Fruli, and also a range of real ales. The food is good, but more fancy than some other local pubs. An excellent place to enjoy a Sunday lunch, they also serve a breakfast fry-up for only £5.

The atmosphere varies greatly: during the day it’s generally fairly quiet, but on some evenings they have a DJ, or one of the themed nights. Whatever is on I always seem to have a great time, and the other patrons seem pretty easy-going too. I once visited on a wintery evening around Christmas they has a Caribbean Christmas theme, with a steel drum band, grass skirts and cocktails – pretty off the wall but really fun.

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Qype: Union Theatre Cafe in London

London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

£1.70 for a latte and a hot bacon bagel? A great deal! Perhaps not the best quality of either, but still very tasty and for the price you can’t really complain - I often stop by on the way to work.

This place has a kind of hippy hangout feel to it, and is comprised of a little sheltered area with the counter and a bunch of old tables and chairs, next to the railway arch and entrance to the Union Street Theatre. Flowers and artwork decorate the inside, making it a popular haunt in both the morning and evening.

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Qype: Waitrose in London

London - Food & Drink - Supermarkets

Waitrose is, in my opinion, the best supermarket in Putney.

They have a bakery, fresh fish counter, fresh meat counter and delicatessens all on site – which for a small supermarket is really good. The nearest Asda for example (which is about four times the size) does not have a fresh fish counter at all. The range of fruit and vegetables is excellent, and all from reasonably local sources.

An extensive wine department can be found at the back of the store, which is better than some dedicated local shops like Threshers. The staff are all very helpful, and will even make wine recommendations.

Some complain that Waitrose is expensive. However, if you compare like for like products Waitrose is actually very competitive. But they don’t sell any lower quality or value products, so if you do go here for every shop then it will end up costing more. They also don’t have as many special offers as some of the other supermarkets.

Fresh flowers are located at the front of the store if you are looking for a gift, and they also have a reasonably large magazine section.

I find the isles in the store are wider than other supermarkets, which results in a less cramped shopping experience. The tills are always well staffed, so you never seem to have to queue for very long if at all. They will validate your parking in the Putney exchange car park if you spend more than £10.

An added bonus at the weekends is that a talented violinist often busks in Putney Exchange, who you should be able to hear while you’re shopping or queuing.

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Qype: Cappuccino in London

London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Not a very glamorous café, but one that serves reliably decent coffee, sandwich or a fry-up. Situated on the Upper Richmond Road close to the high street, this has been around since before I moved to Putney over 5 years ago. Friendly staff and a fare amount of seating make this an acceptable choice of place to eat. Sandwiches and coffee are a fair bit cheaper than nearby Café Crimson or the other high street coffee shops. Let down by the drab decor, I would prefer to takeaway rather than eat in.

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Qype: Piccolo Bar in London

London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Very speedy little coffee shop attached to Putney station. They really know their target market here, and if you’re in a rush to get to a train they’ll whisk you up a pretty decent £1.30 latte in about a minute. They also serve sandwiches, pastries and the like. If you opt to sit down a small surcharge will apply. There are only a few tables to sit at including those outside. A good value for money choice for a coffee and a snack.

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Qype: Mango Tree Indian Restaurant in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away - Indian

The Mango tree sits tucked away on Redcross way, only a couple of minutes walk away from Vinopolis, Borough Market and the Thames. The restaurant only opened about a year ago, but I’ve been visiting many times since then.

Compared to some of the other Indian restaurant locally, the Mango tree has a more attractive, and modern interior, with leather seats. The glass front to the restaurant lets in plenty of light during the daytime. Relaxing modern music with an Indian influence plays in the background (similar to Talvin Singh, although the waiter claimed it wasn’t).

The staff are really nice and welcoming, and every time we go back they treat us like old friends, although I have no idea if they actually recognise me or not!

The menu is pretty big and includes many of the standard dishes you find in most Indian restaurants, but have a look at the specials section for the real treats. My only criticism is that on my last couple of visits I’ve ordered lamb dishes and found the lamb to be too tough. Other dishes on offer have been much better. The flavour of the sauces are excellent. Prices are about average for this area, with main course curries costing around £7, specials £10.

Small chocolates and a hot towel are provided on paying the bill.

Check out my review of Mango Tree Indian Restaurant - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Southbank Tandoori in London

London - Restaurants - Take Away - Indian

A traditionally styled Indian restaurant on the cut. I think the curries here are great, and well priced. The range of food on the menu is pretty standard, but everything is well prepared with a lot of flavour.

Beer wise they serve both large bottles of Cobra, or the cheaper draft Kingfisher.

Not the biggest restaurant around, but the manager is very good at finding a way to fit you in. On my last visit in a group of 9, the manager somehow fit us in straight away without a wait (the restaurant appeared full beforehand).

In fact the service here really stands out; they are both friendly and prompt. They even remained friendly when my colleagues were trying to start a competition to see who could eat the most lime pickle. This would be my number one choice for a curry around Waterloo.

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Qype: Evans Cycles in London

London - Cars & Bikes - Bicycles

This must be one of the smallest Evan’s cycles they operate, but it still manages to fit in a fair range of different bikes and accessories. They also have a workshop, but you will generally need to make a booking a couple of days in advance. I’ve found the staff here to be really good – better than at some of their other stores. When I had a repair done here recently, it actually cost less the original quote because they’ve been able to repair rather than replace parts – I pleasant surprise.

For a larger range visit their store on the cut (only 5 minutes ride away by bike), but if you just need to pick up that extra bike accessory or get a repair then this is a convenient choice.

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Qype: Livebait in London

London - Restaurants - Seafood

Livebait is a delicious fresh fish and shellfish restaurant on the Cut in between Southwark tube and Waterloo station. They provide a normal al a carté menus, but also between 12pm and 7pm a set menu catering for the pre-theatre crowd. This offers either 2 courses for £14.50 or 3 for £18.50, but you have to choose from a much smaller selection than the a la carte menu.

On our last visit, we shared rock oysters for a starter, and then I had a Mexican Tuna steak with guacamole and sour cream for a main. An unusual combination but one that worked very well. We also had a desert and a bottle of wine and the bill was about £60 for both of us. Not the cheapest of restaurants, but the quality of the food is very good and I would say represents good value for money.

The restaurant is cleanly decorated with tiles and modern fixtures, and has a lively atmosphere. The service was polite and friendly. Note that there is a small cover charge of £1.75 added automatically to your bill, but this does include fresh bread and smoked salmon pâté.

Highly recommended if you like sea food.

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