T.E.D. Restaurant, Kings Cross, London

HONESTLY’S VERDICT
In a word: Delicious
Food:  Really tasty dishes with a focus on seasonal, local and ethically sourced produce. Deservedly in Opentable’s top 100 restaurants in the UK for 2014
Service:  Effective although a little bit stretched at time
Presentation:  Nice simple décor, great colour palette, with pretty things to catch your eye. Simple unfussy food styling
Ambience:  When it’s busy, it’s really buzzy…great for a boozy supper with friends, not so for a romantic meal for two where you struggle to hear each other talk
Location:  A 3 minute walk from Kings Cross station.  The restaurant helping to lift the reputation of Caledonian Road, the southern end at least!
Value for money: Not too bad at just under £40 a head for two courses of really delicious food and a glass of wine. However, I’m still miffed at paying £14 for an entrée-sized Winter Salad, which has left an unpleasant taste in my mind
Worth a visit?:  Yes, for the delicious local and ethically sourced food and booze, just chose wisely!

TED Restaurant at the King’s Cross end of Caledonian Road is a great new-ish offering in the centre of town. Caledonian Road doesn’t have the greatest of reputations food-wise, however, It’s just a stones throw from King’s Cross station and on the better end of the road where cute little café’s have been popping up in recent years; Drink, Shop, Do and Pattern Cafe.

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Patiala, Souk al Bahar, Downtown, Dubai

HONESTLY’S VERDICT
In a word:  Shiny!
Food:  Tasty Northern Indian delights cooked up with love by Chef Sanjay
Service:  Great
Presentation:  Deco-wise sleek with Indian features.  Food-wise nothing extraordinary
Ambience:  Rather quiet, definitely relaxed with some chilled background tunes
Location:  Souk al Bahar
Value for money:  Justifiably expensive for a really good quality meal
Worth a visit?:  Yes, a delightful personal dining experience and perfect for a romantic meal for two

I’d heard about Patiala after receiving an invite from Rebecca at ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller to their media launch way back in February of 2013, and  four months later we decide it was about time we dinned at Patiala in the very capable hands of Chef Sanjay Bahl.

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Mezza House, Downtown, Dubai

HONESTLY’S VERDICT
In a word:  Shisalicious
Food:  Fresh and tasty authentic Levantine dishes
Service:  Could have done with a little more soul
Presentation:  Loving the presentation of food on copper & wood, against the modern Arabic feel to the interiors
Ambience:  Buzzing, social and smokey
Location:  Dine in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa
Value for money:  It’s reasonably priced
Worth a visit?:  If you love shisha and Levantine cuisine, then this is the place for you.

I was invited to Mezza House by White Label Media to test out their Iftar dishes prior to the start of Ramadan.  This was another trip into the semi-known for me, I’ve done a few iftar feasts in my time in Dubai and tasted some Levantine cuisine curtsey of my trip to Zaroob.  Mezza House promises a unique dinning concept with ‘Soulful Levantine Cuisine’; a taste of the best of traditional dishes from Syrian, Palestinian, Lebanese and Jordanian created by chef and owner, Nasser Zuhour.

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