Banana Wharf

I ate here speedily prior to a movie: it is conveninently close to the excellent Harbour Lights Picture House.

I find it a real pity that what little waterfront Southampton has, that is not already covered by dockyards, is effectively just a mooring bay for a whole lot of boats. So the billed 'waterfront' is just the lots of mast poles sticking up in the air.

In any event, Banana Wharf is a perfectly competent bar / pub / restaurant. The menu is varied and interesting. I had the Thai green chicken curry with basmati rice and my companion had the eastern spiced lamb with cous cous. Service was friendly and speedy - a bonus if you have a movie deadline to make.

*****
Banana Wharf

Ocean Village
Southampton
SO14 3JF

023 8033 8866

http://www.bananawharf.co.uk/

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Coco Rio

We went to Coco Rio on a gamble. Having walked past it once - it is in a back block behind the main stretch of shops on Bedford place, and in what seems to be a carpark - and noted its "African/Latino" tag, we thought it was a restaurant worth trying. And it certainly is.

Going on nothing but the location, I did lots of googling to try to find out the name of the restaurant (I did not note it down when we walked past). I thought I had a great plan by using google maps. Alas, very few restaurants cropped up on google maps, even though I was well aware the area had a glut of them. Eventually, I found it - I think by just going to a directory website and using "CTRL-FIND" and the street name.

My fellow diners were my partner and some friends visiting the UK. My partner and I emailed each other, coming to the conclusion that the prices were somewhat steep and that we would therefore bully our guests into letting us pay. My partner would do the paying, and I would do the bullying.

When I rang to book, I got a confused garble. I was a little worried when all I had given to book was my name and phone number. The person who answered the phone hung up before I could give further details. Not in a rude way, just in a distracted way. Half an hour later, another woman called me to apologise and ask for time and number of people in the group. She explained that they had just returned from holiday, hence the fluster.

When we arrived, the restaurant was very quiet - but the decor and lighting were lovely, and our hostess most welcoming and attentive. She seemed to be the owner of the restaurant, and probably the second woman that I spoke to, rather than the first.

The menu is an eclectic mix of influences: Mediterranean, African, east Asian. I'm not sure where the Latino came in, but then I am not overly familiar with what constitutes 'Latino'.

For starters, we all shared some grilled haloumi on a spicy pineapple salsa, which reminded me greatly of a favourite Vietnamese dish, char-grilled calamari, baked mushrooms and cayenne dusted calamari. I would have liked the grilled haloumi to myself - but we had decided to share. Both calamari dishes were done magnificently.

My partner had the gumbo, and I had the jerk baked red snapper. One of our co-diners also had the jerk baked red snapper, and the other had lamb chermoulla. I had some of my partner's gumbo and the conclusion was that my snapper was the better choice.

Everyone seemed to enjoy their mains, although the resounding verdict was that we should have ordered more starters and not bothered with mains. Not that the mains were not good - they were very good - but that by eating starters, I can eat so much more delicious food!

At some point - perhaps during our starter - live guitar music started up. The owners are also a little band, playing flamenco and latino guitar tunes.

Coco Rio was a wonderful find: I am pleased that there are little places like, owned by dynamic and creative people. I hope it thrives - I'll do my best to assist by eating there again and widely recommending it!

*****
Coco Rio Restaurant
18a Upper Banister Street
Southampton
SO15 2EF
Tel: 023 80227700

http://www.cocorio.co.uk/

Mister So's

This is a restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet. We had a house guest from the US of A, who was very clearly a more organised traveller than me. He had researched the areas he could possibly visit and even tended to remember details. Amazing.

In any event, late on a Friday evening and after a few drinks in a very nice pub (but which did not have an exciting dinner menu), we found ourselves in Winchester looking for a place to eat. Our house guest suggested Mister So's. It had a table spare and its kitchen was still open at 2130, so we sat down.

Mister So's is quite small. And very pink. The staff were pleasantly aggressive, but extremely competent. We ordered seafood lettuce wraps for our entree and a smattering of dishes for our mains: steamed sea bass with ginger and spring onions, lo-han mixed vegetables and deep-fried spicy tofu.

The seafood lettuce wrap was delicious. Our house guest had to leave the table to make a business call back home and we were left with his portion of seafood wrap goodness. We only just managed not to scoff ALL of it down before he got back to have some. The mains were excellent, although a little on the small side; we were nevertheless quite replete at the end of our meal.

I accompanied my meal with jasmine tea, which was very tasty and topped up whenever I asked for it to be. My co-diners had Tiger beers with great glee.

All in all, the meal was great and well-priced. Definitely worth a visit.

*****
Mister So's Chinese Restaurant

3 Jewry St
Winchester
SO23 8RZ

Ph. 01962 861234

Chan Cham

This is an excellent sandwich shop. I am prepared to announce that it is The Best Sandwich Shop in South-East England. Even though I have not eaten at that many, I doubt that any can top it. I will, of course, eat my words if I am wrong.

I invariably have the hommous and grilled vegetables on ciabatta. One day I will branch out, but I eat here so rarely that I just order my favourite. The staff are lovely and funky, and they make your sandwich on the spot - so it can be a little slow if they're busy, but you don't begrudge this once you take that first bite. They also have a great selection of drinks: I was wildly excited to see Snapple, for example, but they also stock local beverages (which are much tastier than Snapple but I don't have any fond childhood memories of beverages local to SE England).

The cafe / eat-in part also seems quite pleasant; unfortunately I only get to have take-out sandwiches because I have to go back to work. One day I will go to Chan Cham on a Saturday and take a leisurely lunch there.

*****

http://www.chancham.com/index.htm

chancham
The Old Forge
8 Merchants Place
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 1DT

Phone: 0118 958 5887

Namaste Kerala, Southampton

This restaurant is also South Indian - it is run by the brother of the chef at Kairala. We came with high hopes, and were not disappointed.

The restaurant itself could be easy to miss, if you weren't actively looking. It is wedged between a KFC and an STA travel, both of which have extensive marketing 'presence'. Namaste has a white and blue sign, above a doorway, and that is all.

Up the stairs and into the restaurant itself, is a different matter. My eyes were first drawn to the sofa and coffee table just in front of a rather well-stocked bar, serving Cobra and Kingfisher beer on tap.

We had the mixed vegetarian Kerala platter for entree: the potato and chickpea ball was delicious; the samosa only okay (I did not like the deep-fried pastry - although it was cooked very well); the pakora quite tasty but a little burnt. There was also a delicious spinach bonbon thing - spinach wrapped in pastry and deep-fried (of course): the spinach was great, but I'm not a fan of deep-fried pastry.

For mains, we had bengan baigan - eggplant curry - and meenporichathu - whole spiced fish, baked and accompanied by a red curry sauce. The bengan baigan was wonderful, but - oh! - the baked fist was magnificent. Its flesh crumbled away and was nicely flavoured with the baked on spices, and the accompanying red curry sauce complemented the spice flavours of the fish finely. There wasn't quite enough of the red curry sauve for me - but I did lather it on somewhat!

The rest of the menu was extensive: I was particularly impressed by the number of vegetable / vegetarian dishes.

Another place we can revisit in Southampton!

*****
Namaste Kerala

http://www.namaste-kerala.co.uk/

4a Civic Centre Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO14 7FJ

Phone: 023 80 22 4422

Sara's Thai, Southampton

The décor at Sara’s is odd. The evening I and my co-diner went, Sara’s window was filled with beautiful pink lilies: a enormous batch of new ones in a huge vase, and a smaller vase beside that of dying ones. Fine so far. The tablecloths were white linen, and the chairs had a burgundy bow tie. Also fine. I looked for a picture of the King of Thailand - usually an indicator that the restaurant is owned by people from Thailand - and found it. Good. We were gestured towards a table along one wall, near the door and looking out the window. On that wall were pictures of women, in various states of undress, bordering on the pornographic (although perhaps, it was merely to be ‘exotic’). I raised eyebrows and sat with my back to the wall.

Other than the décor (a sneak preview of which you can see on their website), the service and food at Sara’s are very good.

I ate there a little while ago now, so I have forgotten precisely what we ate. I do however recall our flaming seafood dish: one of Sara’s specialties. The dish was brought out in a foil animal shape, set alight: very dramatic. Its effect was altered somewhat by the waitress’ laughing explanation that the animal shape was a chicken. I suggested, given the dish was seafood, that the shape could be a flaming dragon: much more effective than a flaming chicken.

Decor does not deter us. We’ll be back.

*****

Sara’s Thai Cuisine
273 Portswood Road,
Southampton,
Hampshire
SO17 2LD
Tel. 02380 676063

http://www.sarasthaicuisine.co.uk/menu.php

Mamora, Southampton

Unless this place changes managership and chef, we will never eat here again.

I love Moroccan / North African cuisine: the spices and flavours used - cumin, coriander, cinnamon, honey, lemon - and the slow cooking appeal to me. I was therefore quite excited to see there was a Moroccan restaurant in Southampton, and its decor was quite pleasing as well: cushions scattered about the place, lamps here and there, dark wood tables.

Four of us went to Mamora to dine on a rainy Sunday evening. Initially, we were the only ones in the restaurant. I and my co-diner were the last two to arrive. The first two of our party had beers in front of them. We sat and chatted, and were ignored by the one waitress who kept disappearing into the kitchen to chat with whoever was back there. I kept trying to get the waitress' attention so that we, too, could have a beverage in front of us while catching up and perusing the menu.

After about 15-20 minutes, the waitress wandered over and asked if we were ready to order. I said "Not yet, but we would like to order drinks." Before I got to the "but" the waitress walked off. We had to raise our voices to call her back. And she did not even apologise.

Our drinks then took another 15-20 minutes to arrive, making us wonder how long it takes to grab a beer from the fridge, and pour a coke into a glass. (Well, 15-20 minutes at Mamora).

The menu was decidedly disappointing. There were the usual selection of entrees: pita bread and dips (hommous, an eggplant and capsicum/pepper dip etc). The mains were divided into kebabs, tajines and run-of-the-mill mains (baked chicken / roast lamb / steak). Under each category there were three or four dishes, which mostly sounded the same. I had the lamb kebab with couscous; each of my fellow diners had a different tajine.

All of our meals were fine - but were not worth the price we paid for them.

Service was practically non-existent. If there was more service, I would be able to elaborate on why and how it was so appalling. And if I were a generous person, I would call the service lackadaisical. Another guest of the restaurant left and called out: "Thanks for the worst dinner, ever." The waitress, and a young man who had come out of the kitchen and was loafing about beside the bar with the waitress, just laughed.

Exceptionally disappointing.

*****

Mamora

4A Bedford Pl

Southampton,
SO15 2BY

023 80333363

Kairali, Southampton

This is a fabulous South Indian restaurant in Highfield, near the University of Southampton campus.

I am writing this review some time after we ate there, so please forgive me if it's a bit vague on details.

The restaurant has a pleasant ambience: it is quite small but is plainly and tastefully decorated. On the Tuesday evening that we attended, there were a few other full tables, with laughing university folk, partaking of their meals. Lovely spice smells wafted from the kitchen. I liked the diverse clothes of my fellow diners: some in jeans and t-shirts (me, my co-diner), some in suits and ties (first table), some in even more casual gear than me and my co-diner (table beside us) and one young lady in extremely short denim skirt, frilly top and boots. She looks like she is going to a costume party, and she teeters past me twice, I think to correct her make-up. While we are eating, quite a few folk come in to collect their take-away orders. They are friendly with the staff - another positive sign.

For our meal, with have an okra curry that uses a tomato and coriander base, and (I think) a mixed vegetable curry. Both were excellent and the basmati rice was perfectly done. The flavours are spice-laden, but subtle. There is not too much oil, or butter, or salt. It is one of the better Indian cuisines that I have ever eaten.

This one is a keeper.

******
Kairala
180 Burgess Rd

Southampton,
SO16 3HH

023 80678067

Kim's Korean Restaurant, Bournemouth

I cannot find this restaurant on the web. But I know it exists, because I ate there. It sits in a row of shops near the train station and opposite a Staples and a Halfords. It is hedged in by a roundabout on one end and traffic lights on the other: cars scream past as I try to cross the road.

Inside, is a peaceful, tastefully decorated haven where the smells of cooking entice me further in. There is a large table to my left, at which a Korean family are having their meal. I take this as a good recommendation for the restaurant.

I am alone. There are a few smaller tables at which I can sit, but I hover. The decor makes me think the restaurant is a bit fancier than I expected. There are deep red wood, high backed chairs and stone tables. It is all very impressive, even if the restaurant itself is quite small (could seat perhaps 20 comfortably, 30 at a stretch).

A young woman welcomes me and gestures for me to take a seat wherever I will. I choose beside the door, and near to the family so that I can spy on them. I do like to observe other eaters. I feel it is necessary to look occupied, so I pull out my diary and begin to write in it.

The lower half of every window and the pane of glass in the door is covered with ideograph-printed rice paper. This provides me and my fellow diners with some welcome privacy from the busy street out front.

The young woman returns and asks me if I would like anything to drink. I ask her what tea she would recommend and she suggests Barley Tea, telling me that this is what Koreans in Korea always drink. I appreciate the qualifier. I order the barley tea and it arrives promptly in a lovely large teapot, with a cup and saucer.

I am still reading through the menu - I know what I want to eat but I would like to study the menu thoroughly, checking for other items I might eat in future. The decor and service has impressed me and, provided the food is tasty, I will return.

The barley tea is lovely: mild flavoured and refreshing, with a hint of muskiness.

The menu is extensive: it has all the dishes I would expect in a Korean restaurant menu and I see that it also does Korean BBQ. I take note so that I may drag friends there for a Korean BBQ dinner party. I love communal eating, and communal cooking.

I have barely closed the menu when the attentive young woman returns. She asks if I have eaten Korean food before or if I would like some assistance choosing. I wave her help away with an impatient "yes, yes" and proceed to order hae mul dol sot bi bim bap - seafood and rice in a stone bowl. On reflection, I decide her asking whether I wanted assistance was a lovely gesture, rather than being condescending, or worse, sycophantic. Nevertheless, she explains what the dish is to me. I listen attentively, feeling a bit guilty about my earlier impatience.

She returns to lay my table with silver chopsticks, spoon and fork. As she walks off I realise that I did not ask for a side of kim chi. I prevaricate about whether to call her back, and decide not to. If the dish does not come with kim chi, I can ask for some when the dish does arrive.

In quite a short period of time, a steaming bowl of bi bim bap arrives. There is lovely fluffy rice, sliced zucchini/courgette, and sea food, all topped with a fried egg. The mussels and prawns are tiny - but I hail from Australia so my judgement is skewed. The stone bowl is beautiful, deep grey in colour. As well as a bowl of chilli, three further side plates accompany my meal: kim chi, pickled bean sprouts, and boiled potato in soy sauce. I wait for the bowl to cool a little, and I pick at the kim chi while I am doing so. It is excellent kim chi, although I do not think it is home made.

An older woman comes to my table and smiles at me. She points at the chilli sauce and says: Hot. Do you eat? I smile and say yes. Then she picks up my chilli sauce and dumps the lot into my bi bim bap, picks up my spoon and fork and mixes everything together. I try not to look disappointed - I know she is trying to be helpful - but I was looking forward to doing that myself, when the bowl had cooled sufficiently that I would not burn my wrist if I was clumsy. There, she says when she is done. Now enjoy. And she smiles such a lovely smile that I forgive her.

My bi bim bap is delicious. Perhaps sea food was not the wisest choice, although Bournemouth is by the sea, the sea food (hae mul) in the dish was probably from much further afield. Nevertheless, it is tasty. The rice is perfect and each of my side dishes are great; I particularly enjoy the potatoes in soy sauce (so much so I ask how it is made: the potatoes are boiled first, and then stewed with a little bit of soy sauce).

Beside me, the Korean family is happily digging into delicious looking dishes, with gusto and laughter. One of them must be a special guest of the family: he seems to do most of the talking and entertaining. The children seem to be enjoying their meals too. I have no success trying to espy what their dishes are; the group table is on a slightly upraised platform. From the laughter, and the clickety-clack of chopsticks on bowls and plates, I know it is good.

I shall be eating here again.

*****
On St Paul's Road
Across the way from Staples and Halford's
Near the train station
Bournemouth

The Bridge Patisserie, Winchester

There is a delightful cafe in Winchester: the Bridge Patisserie.

On a gorgeous summer day, laden with groceries from a visit to the Hampshire Farmers' Market, I meander towards this cafe, stopping at Char Tea (and coffee) shop - which has not been open for any of the other Sundays that I have visited Winchester. I buy some jasmine leaf tea, and make a note of all the other wondrous teas that I have to buy. To my delight, the Bridge Patisserie does teas from Char Tea Shop.

There are two rooms to the Bridge Patisserie: the first that I see is a long take-away counter, enticing cakes on the outside window and sandwiches and baguettes inside, bar-stools and posters cover one wall and another wall is painted a deep blue; the second room is high ceilinged and bright, with simple tables and chairs and one delightful red sofa beside a red-floral-patterned-wallpapered wall. Unfortunately, the red sofa is occupied, so we take our seat at a table.

On each table were some origami flowers:-


On all walls there are French theatre prints, looking very art-deco.

I have boring black tea, and my companions have coffee. The coffee is Mozzo; I have had it elsewhere and know it to be excellent. One of my companions has coffee taste similar to mine (black, strong, no sugar) and he approves. My tea is fine, but you'd be hard pressed to do black tea badly. None of us have cake or food; I had a delicious mushroom buttie from Peter Mushrooms at the market, so I am much too full for anything else.

I will be back, however, to sample the cakes and the baguettes.


The Bridge Patisserie
20 Bridge St
Winchester
SO23 9BH

01962 890767

Just Another Food Blog

I am new to the South of England and this is my food blog, intended for reviewing eating out (and probably eating in via take-outs) in the South of England as there seems to be no one providing me with the information I want to know!

I have a few places to catch up on for starters.

I prefer casual, to fine dining (as I am frequently in t-shirts and jeans), and tend towards Asian cuisines.

Enjoy.