Cuba de Asia - St Martin's Lane, London

Rating: 3.8/5

After much hype by a friend we decided on this place to be the starting point of a girl's night out. It was definitely the best part of the evening! It's in a hotel so is not easy to spot but as you walk through the ultra modern and spacious lobby you reach cuba de asia. The room is beautiful with dim lighting, bright surfaces and bookshelves all lined with books. 

We were starving and my mouth started watering as I went through the menu. As far as mains go there aren't that many options for a veggie main course. Actually there's only one. Press here for the menu and some exotic sounding food porn.

The restaurant operates a 'sharing' policy so you're meant to be sharing several dishes between you. This worked for us, despite me being the only vegetarian in the group. We were starving and everything sounded mouth watering. We started with some noodle boxes which was a delicious little parcel. You get two parcels per portion and they're quite generous portions for a starter (plus plus). I then had my marinated tofu. It was good and the tofus were massive but I feel like they were a little on the bland side. I think it could have done with more marinade which was drizzled beautifully on the plate yet it wasn't enough for my large pieces of tofu. Another possible improvement might be to have smaller (but more) tofus? I'm no chef so maybe it was just me. I also had some plantain fried rice with avocado salad which was a perfect accompaniment. I sampled some more rice from other people and thought it measured up as well. We finished our meal with mexican donuts which were very naughty and very tasty. They were small cinnamon donuts with butterscotch inside and out.

We were stuffed and satisfied and had the friendliest waitress. We had a variety of cocktails (while most people sipped on wine) which were light and refreshing. Overall, I would recommend it as the food is well cooked, and there was enough around the main course to keep me happy. The setting is beautiful and the staff are attentive. My main critique is the lack of vegetarian main dishes, and that the one option available doesn't really stand out. Yet you could still have a mini-feast with the sides and starters so might make it back one day. This place is smart, so get some heels on and be prepared for that cheque when it comes.

Sushisamba - Heron Tower, London

Rating: 4.5/5

I've been meaning to go to Sushisamba for ages and I finally got the chance when my boyfriend messed up other dinner plans leading to what I could only imagine to be an upgrade.

The staff were very helpful and managed to get us last minute seats, which is impossible because this place is always booked up. Now I know this is about food but that elevator ride is worth a mention as it added to the overall experience. It's not for the feeble hearted as you are taken up in a glass elevator so that you get to watch as a glittery London falls away under you.

It's beautiful up there, the decor is refined and elegant yet you are instantly comfortable. I find this is a difficult combination for restaurants to achieve. We ordered our food and unfortunately the waiter made a mistake and forgot half our order but that did not detract from the excellent service we received in the restaurant. He was very apologetic and we eventually got all our food so I would stick to the staff are wonderful here.

Now to the food, it was delicious. Really well cooked, great quality. We kind of shared, apart from some fishy makis. The veggie maki was beautiful with a little surprise for anyone who tries it inside, the mushroom tobanyaki had so many delicate flavours coming through (mushroom and coconut as you've not had it before) and the rice was fluffy. The padron peppers were average which was a shame as they had a lot to compete with. We got a mushroom platter as a sorry for the misunderstanding which were a yummy addition to the meal.

Cocktails pre-dinner were dangerous as they went down easily and left us both light headed. We stepped out onto the bitter cold terrace while waiting for food and took in one of the best views of London. Why didn't it get 5/5? Maybe if I try more of their food it'll go up in my estimation but at the moment it's not quite sitting as one of my favourites. Definitely worth a visit though, or two....or five.




SUSHISAMBA

Bone Daddies - Peter St, Soho, London

Rating: 0/5

After watching a Japanese show I thought this place with rave reviews might be worth a visit, especially as it was round the corner from our show.

We got ourselves settled and it took 5 minutes for my anticipation to die. After a quick look at the menu I had a bone to pick with Bone Daddies. Where were they hiding the token vegetarian dish? So I asked a member staff (who were quite nice and friendly to be fair) about if there were any veggie dishes. She explained to me that if I ordered one of their dishes without the chicken it became 'kind of' vegetarian. Umm...excuse me? Well the noodles will still be swimming with the seafood.

First of all, please get a clue about what 'vegetarian' is. Second of all, even burger and lobster (where I was NOT expecting any shape or form of vegetarianism as it's quite clear what's on that menu) managed to accommodate me. I think the waitress took pity on me. Now ramen and vegetarian isn't too much to ask for is it?

Disappointing that places still believe that quality food doesn't include vegetarian food. We left very swiftly and didn't really sample any 'kind of' vegetarian dishes. A big fat zero for vegetarians everywhere.

Brindisa At London Bridge

I love this place so so much: 5/5

I'm so glad that this is just literally next to my flat as I am in love with this Spanish tapas place. Hands down best tapas I've had outside of Spain. It makes me wish I took photos to show everyone how lovely the food looks.

The dishes are simple and taste authentic. I've been a few times and they have enough options to keep a vegetarian happy. Spinach with pine nuts and raisin, padron peppers, country bread with alioli, mushrooms in truffle oil. Leave behind the patatas bravas and veggie paellas. The food is beautifully seasoned and the ingredients fresh and flavoursome (possibly due to its close proximity to Borough Market...but that's another post, another time). There's even more for your carnivorous friends, and I've taken a few, who have fallen for this tiny restaurant.

The place has always been busy and bustling, this doesn't seem to bother the laid back staff. No reservations so you might have to wait it out at peak times, which isn't so bad with a Spanish wine at hand. The only thing I can say about the price is that I also seem keen to hand my money over at the end of the meal.


For more details (I can't vouch for the other branches):

Hello there yummy tapas

Kabbana - Manchester, UK

Star rating: *****

One of the Northern Quarter's curry cafes my sister had discovered Kabana, a run down take out looking building and thought I should try it.

Now it looks like a take out on the inside too but the delicious, authentic meal was a far cry from the deep frying meals of a take out. You can feast like a king here. We ordered a cheesy naan bread, two lentil dishes and a vegetable bhuna (the menu changes daily).

We had our orders taken and set about finding seats at the busy lunch time. The clientale was made up of mostly men, just out for a quick bite in the middle of a working day and strangers sat side by side on the rows of tables available.

We managed to find our own table, each table had its own jug of water and had a chat till our food arrived. The chef had taken the initiative of taking out one of the lentil dishes and adding a 60p chappatti instead. He said if we still wanted the lentils he'll get us another one. He was very right, we didn't need the extra lentil dish and were glad for the extra bread.

The cheese naan was delicious, infused with other spices in it, the lentil and the vegetables were both mouth watering and we'd licked the plates clean before we could stop.

All for 8 pounds.

This is a cheap and delicious restaurant. It closes at 5 or 6 so is more for lunchtime or an early dinner. It's one of a kind food was some of the best I'd ever had.

Sapporo Teppanyaki - Manchester, UK

Star rating: ***

As a young member of the new millennium it feels wrong to admit this, the thing is even though I've had a my share of decent Japanese meals I'm not the biggest fan of the cuisine everyone seems to love.

The restaurant was lovely, the staff were great. My food, was like what I expected, not suitable for vegetarians.

They tried. I had my tofu starter, I find that tofu can be either cooked yum or yuck. The chewy, flavourless tofu was more of the latter. There was a wonderful dip, some garlic-y one that I loved and dipped everything in. We got chips (always good) and some vegetables all made in front of us. I got extra chips as I failed to catch them in my mouth (they flip them at you and you have to do a sea lion impression).

My aubergine thing was in a sauce too sweet and oily. Maybe my ordering was off.

Despite my unsatisfactory eating experience the dinning experience was wonderful. The novelty of having your food made in front of you doesn't wear off (I've been to may share of places around the world) and the atmosphere was relaxed and cosy. Everyone else enjoyed their food and mine was adequate I suppose.

If you're looking for sensational vegetarian bites this might not be the place, but if you want to have a fun, light dinner you'll know where to go.

Jerry's Diner - South Beach, Florida

Star rating: **

On our way to another place but caved and went into this huge diner. It was cold, the staff varied from lovely to moody.

I had some vegetables in a fried sandwich thing and onion rings.

This is the place for a buttery, artery clogging meal. I was greasy for days afterwards (and yes, I did wash my hands).

The menu is huge though and I'm sure there's a lot more on offer but my too greasy reflex was warning me to stop.