Afternoon tea @Sketch, Conduit Street, W1

[tcm]

This place is reguarly slagged off for being hideously overpriced. But what the heck, it is near Bond Steet. Also, that's for the main restaurant, whereas there is a brasserie and tea shop too.

I went there for afternoon tea. I hardly ever have afternoon tea, cos it a bit stuffy in the hotels and 15-20 blimmin quid each. Sketch is a nice alternative. It's a big regencyish town house, with rooms on several floors. It has been decorated in arty style, without spoling the original interior fabric of the place, quite fun. Frexample, there an effect on a staircase as though someone has had a disaster with several gallons of chocolate sauce, but you can walk over it. In the afternoons, you can eat in the brasserie straight ahead, didn't seem a fortune, or (what we did) turn right into the drawing roomish tea shop. Rather fabulous display of jellies even better-looking than cakey shops in france. We ordered coffee. Bit worrying that the paper napkin handed out by the very artified youg chap had a mobile number scrawled on it. But it turns out that they all have the number of reservations printed as though written in felt pen, phew. Oh yes, the coffee saucers are strange shapes. Also, no problem having a fag er i mean a cigarette. Coffee and jellies and sumink else can't remeber 19 quid, and then had a look around the other rooms. 19 quid in 45 minutes is a reasonably low rate of spending for the area, much better than going to a shop with swmbo. Also, a nice experience, and i have spent more on tickets to similarly arty places with no refreshement at all. You can sit on the chairs covered in rubber that looked as though they have been moulded into the wall in the entrance hall. Recommended. If you are incredibly scruffy in gardening clothes, they wil assume you are a film star.

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[xcw]

Is this the same place that today was voted worst value restaurant in London?? (see Evening Standard) To be fair they were commenting on dinner not afternoon tea!

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[tcm]

Yes yes, that's the place. As I say , probably better for trendy afternoon tea, not yeehah £300 each dinner.

Other places rec'd are:

- Bank, in aldwych recent new menu much improved.
- le Deuxieme, long acre, specialy for pretheatre 15 quid 3 course do
- Incognico on shaftsebury avenue near cambridge circus is fab for Satruday lunch £12.50 for three courses cooked by michelin chefs. yes, plonky wine at £10also fine.
- newly fixed-up Grill room at savoy, not cheap, but very clever food.



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[jhr]

Also J. Sheekey, St Martin's Court.

Owned by the same people as the Ivy but not as many media luvvies, and possible to book a table before the next millenium. Still feels special.

Good seafood, and not that expensive. (Well, relatively).

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[tcm]

Re: Sarastro, Drury Lane

this is a hilariously decorated place, gothic art meets gay theatre lunacy. Food is good value and not at all nouveau or fussy or incredibly skillful, but you ordered a fish and there 's a fish, and a big one too, honest enough and monster portions so no need for starters. 4 of us ate and drank for under 100 quid at dinner. The loos are decorated with art. Well, porny sketches i suppose. Good fun.

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[jhr]

Re: Sarastro, Drury Lane

Never been there, I'll have to try it. I love restaurants with quirkily-decorated interiors and am still in mourning for the late, lamented Boulestin in Covent Garden - though my wallet has learned to live with the loss.

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[tcm]

Re: restaurants with intersting interiors

Sarastro is probably the most mad in London.

But the most spectacular restaurant I have been in is in Paris , Le train Bleue, inside and up the steps of the gare de Lyon, spectacular firezes of all the places to which you can travl in the great age of steam trains and ships. It's now a french national monument. On the way to the restaurant tho, you may worry it is all a windup and you wil opnly find a burger joint. Which in london, wd be tru.

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[tcm]

Re: restaurants with intersting interiors

Sarastro is probably the most mad in London.

But the most spectacular restaurant I have been in is in Paris , Le train Bleue, inside and up the steps of the gare de Lyon, spectacular firezes of all the places to which you can travl in the great age of steam trains and ships. It's now a french national monument. On the way to the restaurant tho, you may worry it is all a windup and you wil opnly find a burger joint. Which in london, wd be tru.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.le-train-bleu.com/page1.html>http://www.le-train-bleu.com/page1.html</A>

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[bob_tyler]

1. How much water alongside at LWS?

2. Lat & Long for waypoint please.

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[Mirelle]

Afternoon tea, Bond Street, W1

Grade 1 listed building, perfect service, peace and quiet, lots of room, no hassle, Pds 2.10p

Now I know my Club fees are worth it!

Does this qualify me as Boring Old Fart of the Year or as The Spirit of Resistance to Rip Off Britain?





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