Not a misteak

I expect you have all been dying to know how I got on at the Albannach. What do you mean, not really?

Well, it was quite a while ago and I can't entirely remember but I know it was pretty good and I wasn't disappointed by the food. I didn't much like the table we were given or the atmosphere, and the wine list was a big let-down. A restaurant serving hearty meals such as haggis, lamb shank and venison steak should offer some decent full-bodied red wine (preferably French) under £35 a bottle.

So, the food was by far the strongest point, which I suppose is fairly crucial for a restaurant! I ate a trio of cured fish for starter (mackerel pate, tea and whisky cured salmon and sardines), then the rib-eye steak with Dauphinois potatoes. The fish was amazing and tasted 'properly Scottish', while the steak was classic and unfussy in its presentation and flavours. I'd find it hard to choose something different from the menu if I went again!

Oh yeah - pudding. I can't honestly remember what I ate or whether it was nice, so perhaps I didn't have one. I suspect it was the cheeseboard, because I know I drank a lovely glass of port with it!

I'm glad I tried this restaurant and I commend the chef for the thorough 'Scottishness' of the menu. Would I go again? Hmm ... we'll see. Perhaps in the winter.

Raising the steaks again!

Hurrah! The fortnight-long, strangely-named London Restaurant Week is here! Apparently venues in Manchester and Birmingham also take part, so it's really just the 'restaurant' bit of the name that's accurate.

During this fortnight well-known and prestigious restaurants offer three-course lunches for £15 and three-course dinners for £25, usually from a set menu.

Now, I'm in two minds about this event. I like the fact that it publicises good restaurants and encourages those who don't eat out very often to try somewhere new. On the other hand, the offer isn't exceptionally good value in most cases, compared to the year-round offers available online.

For instance, I've been wanting to visit the Albannach for a while and checked the list to find that it's taking part in restaurant week. I also checked Toptable, however, to find that they're offering 50% off all food. Well, that's not restricted to a set menu and it'll work out cheaper than £25 a head, so ...

I also noticed that Lanes, on Middlesex Street, is now a Marco Pierre White grill and steakhouse. I've always liked the restaurant but found the menu quite static and the atmosphere a bit 'city'-ish, so I was keen to see whether it had changed for the better. I checked the offers and again the Toptable offer won: I booked and went for dinner last night. Now I feel that I've done my bit for London Restaurant Week without being crowbarred into paying more than necessary!

And yes, it has changed for the better. The atmosphere is far more relaxed and the menu is a meat-lover's delight - a clever mix of fancy cuisine and simple steaks and grills. I'm certainly going to keep my eyes peeled for special offers in the future.

Back in the saddle

I've been so busy lately I never did get around to reviewing the places I visited for London Restaurant Week!

I went to Brasserie Roux, for which I had fairly high expectations, only to be disappointed. It was alright - the food was nicely prepared and well cooked but was fairly unimaginative. I can't think of anything particularly outstanding about the meal itself. In fact, the highlight of the evening was the bar at the Sofitel which we visited before dinner. The cocktail menu was extensive and impressive and my vodka martini was mixed perfectly. I also liked the cute individual shaker and the plethora of delicious snacks that came with it!

My second London Restaurant Week adventure was lunch at the Cinnamon Club, not far from where I work. At the other end of the spectrum, this meal exceeded my already high expectations of this fantastic restaurant. I ate mutton with a delicately spiced onion sauce, mutton being something I had never tried before. It's sort of gone out of fashion, I suppose, but if this meal was anything to go by I'd recommend giving it a try.

I think London Restaurant Week, on the whole, is a good thing if it makes people try somewhere new and promotes some undiscovered gems. My own experience, however, made me think that I'd be better off browsing Toptable for special offers at places I already know and trust!

Some weeks are longer than others

Hey everybody: it's London Restaurant Week! Oh, except it was really successful last year, so they've actually extended it to a fortnight, confusingly.

Anyway, it started on Monday 14 April and goes through to ... er, a fortnight after that. Lots of top London restaurants are offering a two-course lunch for £15 and a three-course dinner for £25. This is about the price you'd normally pay for a special offer, set menu or Toptable deal but, from what I've heard, the menu for London Restaurant Week is usually less restrictive and better quality.

I'm taking advantage of this wonderful event twice this year. I'm going to Brasserie Roux tomorrow evening and to the Cinnamon Club next Friday. Reviews to follow, I promise!