Chiquito

I am easily annoyed by little things. I had a reasonably good experience at Chiquito, but finding their address details has me all annoyed. I just want an address and their website did not provide it. Why do web designers not think about the useability of the site? Chiquitos web-design is horrid.

There, rant over.

I went here with a few friends, for a catch up dinner. We ordered the ultimate combo, to share between the five of us. I don't know why I order these starter combinations of fried goodies. I don't like them. They were perfectly fine for what they were - the chicken pieces were quite tasty - but they don't give me great hope for the rest of the meal. The corn on the cob was particularly disappointing; it was overcooked and therefore soggy and tasteless.

That aside, the rest of our meal was quite nice. I had chilli beef tacos and the staff were perfectly happy to accede to my request for a side of guacamole to go with my tacos, without charging me any extra for it. I cannot now quite remember what my companions had, but they seemed reasonably satisfied.

Service was fine. Nothing to commend, but no excoriating rants either. Admittedly, they may have left us well enough alone because we were clearly hellbent on nattering to each other. And they kept us well lubricated with drinks.

I can't rave about the place, but for a night out with friends and a reasonable meal, Chiquito is all right.


*****
Chiquito

Ironside House
Canutes Pavilion Car Pk Ocean Village
Southampton
SO14 3TN Get Directions

023 80231505

http://www.chiquito.co.uk/

Orange Rooms

I like the Orange Rooms.

I have only been here when it is quiet - Sunday evenings, workday afternoons and, recently, workday lunch - so I do not know what it is like when filled with people.

It has a pleasant ambience in decor of orange and brown, but it does feel odd to be inside what is ostensibly a night-time place, during the day. Very little daylight gets in. There are however comfortable retro sofas and arm chairs, as well as benches and tables and tall stools. Myriad choices of seating.

For lunch, I had a steak sandwich. The bread was delicious: soft granary bread with a great crust. The steak inside was tender and juicy, although all sliced up rather than being one slab of steak, so the steak kept falling out while I was eating. I was a little disappointed in the fries, not that they weren't crisp and well-cooked, but because they were fries, which are so much less satisfying than chips. I feel as if I am munching on crunchy, deep-fried air when eating fries.

My fellow diner's meals all looked great: the burgers, especially, were quite generous and seemed to defeat their eaters. The small serve of nachos was actually quite a pretty decent serve. Naturally, I helped my co-diner by sneaking some corn chips from her plate. They were quite bland although the guacamole was good.

I was surprised, when we got our bill, to discover that my full fat coke was complimentary with the meal, as was anyone else's soft drink with their meal. A bonus, making the meal pretty good value.


*****
Orange Rooms

1-2 Vernon Walk
Southampton
SO15 2EJ
023 8023 2333

http://www.orangerooms.co.uk/
Food Menu

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

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