Kimchee - Korean cuisine

After 5 + City pig Summary

Snapshot
Cuisine:	Korean
Price:	£20 per person; Mains start from: £6.90
Healthy:	Yes. Portion size is large and dishes are not oily.
Tasty:	3/5
Address:	71 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6EA
Opening times	Mon-Fri: Lunch 12pm-3pm; 5:30pm-10:30pm; Sat: 12pm-10:30pm; Sun: 12pm-10pm
Eat in/Takeaway:	Eat-in
Recommended dishes & drinks	Jap Chae, Bulgogi, and Soju cocktails.
Vegetarian dishes	Yes
Loyalty card	No
Website	http://www.kimchee.uk.com/

Lunch Analysis

I have been to Kimchee 3 times now and have enjoyed it every occasion. It is a place where you can have a quick casual meal with friends after work.

Main courses start from about £6.90 but if you want to eat the oriental way then you can try a lot of dishes by sharing.

Kimchee is a contemporary Korean restaurant and is well suited for newbies to Korean food. However, it is also suitable for fellow Korean lovers as the food is cooked really well. Although, it appears modern looking, with the large black interior and sophisticated designs its food brings the Korean traditional dishes and some modern influences.

We tried some of the Korean Barbecue meat dishes such as Bulgogi (marinated beef) which was not cooked  in front of us as you would expect in traditional Korean restaurants but already prepared for us. The beef is flavoured well and not too sweet.

The Jap Chae was delicious and generous in portion despite it only being a side dish. Although not traditionally Korean, the seafood udon was cooked really well with the wok taste still left in your mouth. I also liked the fact food was served piping hot! A must for oriental style food.

A more traditional dish is the hot pot bulgogi which is a beef stew with thin glass noodles and cooked with large red dried dates. This is an important ingredient to give the beef a delicious sweet taste.

One should also try the soju cocktail (Citrus Kiss) as this is like a Korean version of vodka in cocktails which makes the meal very complete. However, the taste is lighter and smoother than vodka.

                                                                Hot pot Bulgogi

                                                                  Bulgogi

                                                                 Jap Chae

                                                                Namul

Pa Jeon

                                                         Seafood Udon

                                                                  Tea

                                                  Citrus Kiss soju cocktail

Conclusions

o    Contemporary and stylish looking restaurant

o    Great Korean style cocktails and drinks

o    Delicious variety of Korean dishes

o    Many choices even for fussy eaters

o    Value for money (Approximately £20 per person with drinks.)

                                                                        

The Telegraph - British pub food

Summary

Snapshot
Cuisine:	British pub food
Price:	£16 per person including service and soft drinks.
Healthy:	Portion size is large and generally most food dishes are high in calories but there are healthier options like the grilled fish dishes.
Tasty:	3/5
Address:	11 Telegraph Street, City, London, EC2R 7LL
Opening times	Mon - Tues 12pm – 9pm; Wed – Thur 12pm – 10pm; Fri 12pm-9:30pm
Eat in/Takeaway:	Eat-in
Recommended dishes	Fish and chips
Vegetarian dishes	Yes
Loyalty card	No
Website	http://telegraphmoorgate.co.uk/

Lunch Analysis

The Telegraph pub is located on a side street in Moorgate area. I was excited about having a pub lunch for once as I haven't had one in a while. It is a large sized pub with good lighting and oak furniture. I remember it gets busy here very quickly and so arrived at 12pm for lunch on a Friday.

Going with typical tradition I opted for fish and chips while my colleague opted for the healthier option of grilled salmon and sea bass. What makes this place so great, is the ample space that makes it have a laid back feeling.

It is already packed by 12:30pm on a Friday with City boys and girls drinking at the bar or already tucking into their Friday lunch. I think like them, it is not so easy to find a pub in the city that is spacious, clean and serving hearty British food.

The menu has a wide selection of traditional British pub food and some healthier options. The prices for lunch appeared a little steep as I recall my fish and chips were £13.50. I think the average price in the City of London is about £9-10. However, what seems pricey is made up for in the portion size and the quality of the dish.

My fish was cooked really well. Crispy beer batter but lightly coated and plenty of fish. Chips were chunky and rustic looking paired with smooth mushy peas. Even I struggled to finish the dish as it was a very generous portion. Similarly, the sea bass and salmon was well cooked - not over or under cooked. We left the pub with satisfied faces as service was good and efficient.

                                                  Beer battered fish and chips £13.50

                                         Grilled Salmon and sea bass with bubble and squeak £13.50

Vapiano - Casual Italian dining

Summary

Snapshot
Cuisine:	Italian
Price:	£6.10- 9.10 average lunch price without drinks.
Healthy:	Depends on the dish chosen – e.g. pizza and pasta dishes are high in carbs.
Tasty:	3/5
Address:	Vapiano London 2, 90B Southwark Street, London SE1 0FD Tel: 020 7593 2010
Opening times	Mon-Fri: 11am- midnight; Sat: 12pm-Midnight; Sunday 12pm -11pm
Eat in/Takeaway:	Eat-in
Recommended dishes	Scampi pasta dish and pizzas
Vegetarian dishes	Yes – Salads, pasta and pizzas
Loyalty card	No
Website	http://www.vapiano.de/ (See website for other branches and more details)

Lunch Analysis

Vapiano is an Italian international chain across Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and USA.  In London, it has 2 stores, one in Oxford Circus and the other in Bankside.

Colleagues invited me to lunch to try out Vapiano (Bankside) as they raved to me how brilliant this place was. This is not a sit down and we will serve you type of place, one must make a firm decision if they would like the pizza, salad or pasta option for lunch.

I found myself, queuing at the pasta queue before even realising there were different queues.

Whilst queuing at the till, the chefs are in front and are doing two jobs, taking your orders and then cooking right in front of you. I ordered the pappardelle pasta with the “Scampi” which is prawns, tomatoes and vegetables.

The quirk is that you can choose which pasta dish you fancy and they choose the pasta you want to match it e.g. spaghetti, linguine or fusilli can be chosen etc.

He then asks if chilli or garlic can be added etc whilst adding these while cooking your dish.

Although, I found this interesting and was satisfied the chef was attentive to cooking according to my tastes, I did not find standing there waiting for my food to be fun. Admittedly, I was surprised how quick the food was made as in about 10-15 minutes my pasta was ready!

By that time, I already had a lot of cooking aroma settling in to my clothes as a result of being so close to the chef and kitchen. (Please bear in mind, I was standing in the pasta queue, from what I saw at the pizza queue is that you order and then take a buzzer alarm and sit down.)

The actual cooking time was so speedy, I was anxious to know whether it was all cooked. However, whilst waiting in front of the chef cooking away, it was obvious why it was so quick. All the pasta had been pre-cooked and the toppings were all ready for the chef to throw in. All sauces had been pre-made and most of the dishes are quick stir fry like pasta dishes.

The efficiency is also down to different food options served in different queues and again it was a like a canteen but a more posh version.

Finally, I sit down and take my first bite and was impressed the flavours were fresh and tasted light. Sometimes, pasta can be very heavy and for a lunch it will send you straight to snooze status!

The sauce was tangy and the prawns were fairly big and firm still. The pappardelle was firm and not soft. On the down side there could have been more prawns thrown in the dish as at a cost of £9.10, it was not generous in the toppings.

My colleagues had pizza and it looked very tasty. I have yet to try but the base looked light and crispy and toppings fresh as well.

Conclusions

·         A quick and casual/modern style lunch with a lot choice in pasta.

·         The menus are the same throughout the day.

·         A lighter Italian dining experience.

                                         SCAMPI: king prawns, tomatoes, fresh vegetables

         PESTO CON SPINACI: spinach, pesto cream sauce, tomatoes, mozzarella

                                                                         Tiramisu

 

                                        

Hummus Bros

                                                     

Summary

Snapshot
Cuisine:	Lebanese
Price:	£6-7 average lunch price without drinks.
Healthy:	Yes. (Although, hummus is still considered a high calorie type of food.)
Tasty:	3/5
Address:	St Paul’s branch: 128 Cheapside, London EC2V 6BT Telephone: 020 7726 8011
Opening times	Monday-Thursday  11am-9pm Friday                     11am- 4pm
Eat in/Takeaway:	Eat-in and take-away
Recommended dishes	Chicken with hummus and pita bread.
Vegetarian dishes	Yes – Salads to mushroom/beans hummus
Loyalty card	Yes.
Website	http://www.hbros.co.uk/ (See website for other branches and more details)
Note	Delivery is available. See website for details.

Lunch Analysis

Hummus Brothers is a chain across London selling exactly what you are reading hummus if you don’t already know.

Selling hummus as a main seems very odd but cleverly it is dressed as a main dish by adding in other ingredients such as chicken or beef with hummus or mushrooms and many other toppings.

The hummus is smooth, creamy and thick and the pita bread is very tasty and goes very well. I wasn’t convinced when I first came in here as hummus really wasn’t on my mind as a lunch option. However, having tried the lovely soft pita with hummus it is delicious. Having opted for the chicken and hummus it really is a great combination.

It might be seen as expensive for lunch for what it is but it is not an everyday lunch option unless you love eating hummus every day!

The fresh mint and ginger lemonade is a very refreshing option that I tend to opt for which complements the meal very well. The mint helps to digest.

The St Paul’s branch has a few rows of seats and window seats for eat in diners if you fancied a break from the office.

Another refreshing option besides a sandwich for lunch.

                                                  

                                                  Hummus with chicken – regular £6.20

                                                   Hummus with chunky beef – regular £6.50