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Restaurant Spy is Expanding! Join Us!

Restaurant Spy is Expanding! Join Us!

With more listings, more articles and more interviews, Spy is expanding its reach over the next year.

We are looking for Spy staff reviewers in every part of the UK to cover restaurant openings, restaurant review requests and the like. The work is unpaid BUT occasional complimentary meals will be offered in exchange for reviews. If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at m@restaurantspy.com Please put the subject matter as "Spy staff enquiry".

By m at 29/05/2008 - 14:35 | add new comment | read more | 135 reads

Baskerville Hall Hotel, Clyro Court, Hay on Wye, Powys, Wales HR3 5LE

Baskerville Hall Hotel, Clyro Court, Hay on Wye, Powys, Wales HR3 5LE

Clyro Court, Hay on Wye, Powys, Wales HR3 5LE

'Dr Mortimer looked strangely at us for an instant, and his voice sank almost to a whisper as he answered:

'Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!'

As you take your seat in the baronial dining room of the Baskerville Hall Hotel it is not hard to see where Conan Doyle got his inspiration for 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' from. The huge windows give a fine view of lowering forest-covered cloud capped hills. The magnificent ceiling is dominated by a huge chandelier. You approach the hotel through an avenue of overhanging trees and the entrance hall is dominated by a huge double staircase. Exactly as Baskerville Hall is described in the book. The coat of arms over the door is a wolf's head.

By Harry at 28/06/2008 - 02:14 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | Review | Traditional | Wales | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 69 reads

The Hind's Head, High Street, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AB

The Hind's Head, High Street, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AB

High Street, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AB

A sunny Friday in May and what better way to spend a lunch date with the wife than a trip down the M4 to Bray. Even at 12.00 we just about managed to squeeze our poor ''little'' Honda in between the Bentleys and Porsches vying for car parking space in this oh so perfect Thames side village. We popped in to the restaurant/pub and booked a table for 12.45 and then strolled the lanes of wisteria clad cottages to pass the time. The Fat Duck opposite was filling up and outside shiny suits with mobile phones and spiky hair were taking a last gasp fag.Having glanced at the menu I was glad to have chosen Heston's more down to earth options at the Hind's Head. Having spent much of my career on the technical side of the food industry, blowing liquid nitrogen into soup cappucinos, and the like held no attractions for me.

By m at 23/06/2008 - 16:35 | 2008 | Approved | Berkshire | Modern British | Review | ££££/$$$$ | add new comment | read more | 106 reads

Wagamama, Chapelfields, Norwich

Wagamama, Chapelfields, Norwich

408 Chapelfield Plain, Chapelfield, NR2 1SZ

Norwich on Saturdays is busy, as is any city of comparable size. So I can only assume that this is what accounted for the severe lack of decent service displayed to me at Wagamama in Norwich.

With a Japanese 'healthy eating' ethos, Wagamama is set out in a canteen/refectory style. Waiting staff take your order and scribble numbers on your paper placemat, I suppose to remind them of who's having what, as the tables have no numbers and orders are electronically delivered to the kitchen via a handheld device.

By BadOtter at 23/06/2008 - 11:44 | 2008 | Families | Norfolk | OK | Other Asian | Review | ££/$$ | add new comment | read more | 54 reads

Exclusive! The Market Trader Reopens With Aspiring Chef

The Market Trader, at 50 Middlesex Street near Aldgate, London, is to reopen as a gastropub. Formerly a pub serving Thai food, the ground floor will be open in the next few weeks, serving basic pub grub.
However, owner Glynn Roberts is looking to bring in Pablo Scalise as Head Chef for a more upmarket eaterie on the upper floors. Pablo has an impressive CV - The Angelic, The Eagle, Hope and Anchor, The Priory and went on to spend time in the kitchens of River Cafe, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage restaurant and...The Fat Duck. Quite a lot to live up to, but with his past pedigree, this could be one to watch...

By BadOtter at 20/06/2008 - 13:52 | add new comment | read more | 53 reads

The Buxhall Crown, Near Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 3DW

The Buxhall Crown, Near Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 3DW

Buxhall, Near Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3DW

A stalwart of local dining, this charming 17th century pub has seen some recent changes, not just with the owners but the menu also. With vast views over the fields of Suffolk, The Buxhall Crown is well known in the local area for hearty pub grub alongside more contemporary British cooking. It boasts of seasonal cooking from local produce, a point which new owner Wayne Felgate was quick to mention on our arrival. "We've bought four lambs this week - I can see them from my window. I haven't the heart to name them. Besides, I've got dibs on one of the racks!" he says. At least the lamb is more local than the beef, which is sourced from Scotland...Still, mustn't grumble...

By BadOtter at 17/06/2008 - 15:05 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | British | Review | Suffolk | £££/$$$ | add new comment | read more | 94 reads

Sankey’s, 39 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN4 8AA

Sankey’s, 39 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN4 8AA

Sankeys, 39 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN4 8AA

Things did not start well for our spur of the moment Saturday lunch (14th June 2008) at Sankey’s in Tunbridge Wells and did not improve much as the meal progressed. The fixed price two or three course menu displayed outside looked reasonable value, “available every day from 12 to 3”. But after checking the waitress said it was only available on weekdays. Never mind, the sunny terrace was inviting and we decided to stay anyway. The waitress brought menus, but apologised that today’s had not yet been printed (the fish had only just been delivered) and explained the alterations to yesterday’s printout. I ordered fish soup followed by crab, salad and chips. It was the fish soup that I had been looking forward to on the fixed price menu. My wife chose the brown shrimps in mace butter followed by plaice.

By TopCat at 14/06/2008 - 23:35 | 2008 | Kent | OK | Review | £££/$$$ | 1 comment | read more | 133 reads

Service Charges - You Decide!

The culture of 'tipping', especially in these tight financial times, is often a bone of contention with many diners. The average 12.5% added to your bill can seem a bit steep, especially when one factors in a bottle of wine or two. A good meal for two plus a decent bottle can often come to £70 or more - and then you are expected to add a further £8.75 for service? Quite often, the waiting staff will do no more than bring food to your table and bring the bill. I would expect something a little beyond delivering my food from the kitchen if I am to pay for the privilege - sometimes I'd rather go to the kitchen myself and collect my meal!

By BadOtter at 13/06/2008 - 08:06 | General Discussion | 2 comments | read more | 158 reads

La Matelote, Boulevard Sainte Beuve - 62200, Boulogne-sur-mer - France

La Matelote, Boulevard Sainte Beuve - 62200, Boulogne-sur-mer - France

Boulevard Sainte Beuve - 62200 Boulogne - sur - Mer

This was our second visit to La Matelote in Boulogne, on a slightly damp Friday lunch time in early June 2008. My wife an I had not booked and even though our previous visit was nearly a year ago we were recognised and welcomed like old friends by the Maitre d’, another character from French central casting.

Situated opposite the Nausica Sealife Centre on the sea front, parking was free and plentiful -English seaside resorts please take note. The restaurant is traditional, warm, welcoming and comfortable. Teddy Bears and ceramic chickens on display show that this establishment to be completely unstuffy, contradicting the first impressions conveyed by the formal layout and very correct service.

By TopCat at 12/06/2008 - 23:10 | 2008 | Ambience | Approved | France | French | Review | ££££/$$$$ | add new comment | read more | 106 reads

Manicomio Opens City Branch

Continuing my City round-up, Chelsea Italian restaurant Manicomio is to open a branch in Gresham Street, close to Bank. No news on whether a deli will be attached, but it will be interesting to see what kind of ambience they can achieve here, considering their Duke of York Square branch does well from its summer terrace.
The executive chef at the new, larger restaurant will be Tom Salt (current head chef at the original), while Jay Fernandez (ex Nicole's) will take the reigns as head chef.
The three-story site was formerly an ancient Roman roundhouse, which explains why the top-floor bar will be called Roundhouse. The ground floor will serve takeaway and breakfast from 7 AM, while the main restaurant on the first floor will be open for lunch and dinner.

By BadOtter at 12/06/2008 - 11:19 | add new comment | read more | 70 reads