Brunch @ Tom's Kitchen

Tom's Kitchen
27 Cale Street, Chelsea
London, SW3 3QP
Tel: 020 7349 0202

Tom Aiken's 2nd restaurant in London, just started serving brunch in Jan 2007. It's a cozy atmosphere where tables are shared between customers and you can crash on the comfy couches upstairs for a drink or coffee. Just avoid the naked picture of a drunken farmer just opposite the bar. You have to see it to believe it - hehe.

We wanted to sample this new addition to the menu, and sample we did. Everyone got their own dish (all different of course), and we had 3 shared plates amongst the 5 of us. You'll find there are some things that are average (omelet and waffle dishes), and some things that are divine.

Definitely get the blueberry pancake. It just comes with one pancake so you can have it as a side. I just ate, but I could eat one right now. Michelle and I rave about the butternut squash, honey and sage soup. It's a big portion and rather rich so make sure you have room for your next course :). The eggs benedict that I ordered was delicious, with the perfect amount of hollandaise sauce on top of not to runny poached eggs, and a slightly buttered and still crispy muffin. Plus the dish comes with crispy bacon like we get back home in the states! Top it with one of the better cups of coffee I've had in London (Del Aziz is my other brunch favorite). With all that food, we paid around £17/person. Not to shabby.

Make sure you make reservations if you are more than a party of 2. It's best to call about 1 week in advance. If it's just you or party of 2, you can sit at the bar and eat without reservations. I heard they close their kitchen around 3pm for brunch so don't show up too late! Enjoy!

Crazy Homies and Harlem

Crazy Homies
125 Westbourne Park Road, London, W2 5QL
Telephone: 0871 0755844
Cuisine: Mexican
London Eating Review and Summary

Yes, that's the name of the restaurant - Crazy Homies. Not the easier place to get to unless you live around Westbourne Grove. Not the easier place to get a table for 6 on a Saturday night either (we waited for over an hour), but well worth the trek. They only seat normal sized groups on the top floor of the restaurant which fits no more than probably 25 people (downstairs is reserved for private parties). No worries if you have to wait. Their yummy pomegranate margaritas (strawberry looks good too), chips and guacamole will keep you occupied at the bar.

The food at this place definitely has the quality to give any Californian their Mexican food fix. Try the chicken enchilada (recommended by Caleb, and I luved!), pork tequitos, and finish off with the churros with chocolate. If you still have room after that, go next door to Lucky 7 and get yourself a super thick $10 shake :). I'll definitely be back to hang with the crazy homies.


Harlem
78 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 5RT
Telephone: 0871 0757176

There are many places you can probably head to after dinner at Crazy Homies, but with sneakers, jeans and a wife-beater on it's nice to go somewhere chill with good music. The downstairs level of Harlem charges a worthy £5 to groove around on the dance floor.

Harlem is a replica remind you (no there is no Harlem in London), and tries hard to impress with hip-hop tunes. So don't be disappointed when you see the DJ is not quite hip-hop (actually has a mohawk) and actually spins with CD's instead of real records. He tries hard to get the crowd into the flow and will start off with some top 40s to get them off their butts. You'll eventually hear some good old hip-hop tunes that get your booty shaking too.

As Joe will tell you, it gets a bit too smoky and crowded after midnight (he got to know the bouncers quite well, constantly going upstairs for air). But if you are there with friends, down plenty of passion fruit martinis (a must try), shake it, and you'll be fine!

Bodean's BBQ

Bodean's BBQ Smokehouse
Multiple locations in London: Soho, Fulham Clapham
Bodean's Website

Joe and I have drooled over this place since last Fall. Love it so much we convinced the London Transplants to have our Xmas party there in 2006. And continuing to grub grub at this place in 2007. Went back there this past Sunday to try their Famous Burnt Ends (only available Sun - Wed, subject to availability). Soo good. My other favorites are the beef back ribs and the BBQ smoked chicken burger with grilled corn on the cob. The corn bread muffins are a bit dry, so would recommend leaving room for something else. We've had our eye on the BT's brownie and ice cream :) They also have lots of specials on a daily basis.

• Tues from 6pm - Steak 1/2 price
• Mon - Fri from 5:30pm to 7:30pm - Pay the price of the time you place your order for a 1/2 rack of spare ribs
• Sun to Tues all day - 1/2 rack of spare ribs, pulled pork, and beer for a tenner
• And for the month of January, they take 25% off your entire bill, Sun through Wed
  

Lastly, if you need a place to watch the Superbowl in London on February 4th, you can watch it at Bodean's live for £25 including food! You can book a spot on their website.

Favela Chic London and Beigel Bake

Favela Chic
91-93 Great Eastern Street
Shoreditch
London, EC2A 3HZ
Tel: 020 7613 5228

One of the funnest nights in London we've had in a long while (Joe was down to party past midnight :). A fiver (£5) will get you into the door at this popular east end club, but get there before 1030pm or else you wait! The decor is what I would best describe as garage sale in a jungle. The crowed is unpretentious, and the bar staff think they are at spring break! From time to time you would see them spray water onto the crowd on the dance floor. Caiprinhas and mojitos are advertised on the bar, but go for the bottled stuff.

It took us a little bit to warm up to this place. Definitely not your typical posh club in the west end of London. You'll hear everything from Elvis, Snoop Dogg, The Strokes, and even a bit of classical music to give your dancing feet a break. But the people there are just down to party, and soon you'll be groovin' too! After closing time at 2am, head over to the Brick Lane Beigel Bake...

Brick Lane Beigel Bake
159 Brick Lane
London, E1 6SB
Tel: 020 7729 0616

Yep, that's how they spell 'bagel' in London :). Get your bagels fresh here 24 hours a day. The special that you must try is the 'beigel' with hot salt beef. It tastes sooo good after a night of partying. Be careful, the mustard is spicy!

It's kind of in the random part of town (felt like being in the East Side of Manhattan around Ave B.), but should be easy to catch a cab home after this tasty post-party snack :).

Roka

Roka
37 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RR
Square Meal Summary

Last night was date night for me and Joe. It's his first week of hard core triathlon training (aiming for and Ironman in 2008) and I get a good meal for going to the gym with him hehehe.

Thursday is busy so the restaurant was booked, but we sat at the bar made out of a large hunk of wood and watched the chef's work the Robata Grill in the middle of the restaurant. We had some delicious sake there, a sweeter variety I'll have to get the name of later.

Some say the rock shrimp tempura could be better than Nobu, but Joe and I disagree. I think I had bigger rock shrimp at Cheese Cake Factory :). But sometimes you have to give London restaurants the benefit of the doubt because I think they just have a hard time getting good/fresh ingredients.

However, the sushi was top notch (small pieces so order a lot) and the grilled black cod with miso was yum yum.

We spent about £40 GBP per person -- but Joe tried to hide the bill from me so I'm not supposed to know :). Would go back when I crave fresh sushi and good sake :)