Larissa "the sweary one" G.'s Profile

Delicious fake Jewish deli food
+ Menu of exclusively gin-based cocktails
+ Daily specials
+ Super cute server*
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My new favourite restaurant

*He better be there next time, or I'm dropping a star.

This new restaurant-slash-basement-bar drew the attention of many passersby as I stood outside waiting for my companion on an early Wednesday evening. Sitting on a corner, Dabbous' enormous windows provided unrestricted views into the ground-floor dining area - with all its plain tables set attractively and with a single tea light. No one had been seated for dinner at the time, which made the restaurant's minimalist decor stand out in sharp relief.

When we entered, the greeter said hello to us immediately. We asked if she had room for 2, and she replied that the restaurant was fully booked (curious since it was completely empty at the time) but that we could eat and drink in the bar. This is where I'd inteded to go anyway, so I was undettered. The greeter showed us the menu of bar snacks and particularly recommended the 'chicken wings'.

We headed downstairs to a bar that reflected the minimalist decor or the restaurant, though with perhaps a darker, more industrial vibe. We perched ourselves on two of the stools at the bar, where the bartenders greeted us immediately and handed us cocktail menus.

The menu had 6 or 7 pages of drinks, including some classics alongside some truly unusual options like beer cocktails. The bar food was limited to 1 page, which was unfortunate considering some of the options weren't to everyone's taste (one featured cavier and another, black pudding).

Over the course of the evening, we consumed 8 cocktails (combined, not each - who do you think I am?) and ordered the olives, cashews, 'chicken wings' and 'steak sandwich'.

The olives and cashews were thoroughly enjoyable albeit ordinary. The 'chicken wings' were not wings at all, and instead 5 less-than-bite-sized pieces of fried chicken served with a mayonnaise-based dipping sauce. Delicious, but  tiny for the £4.95 pricetag. The 'steak sandwich' wasn't a sandwich. I might go so far as to describe it as an open-faced sandwich, as it was slender slices of medium-rare steak perched atop some greens, caramelised onions and a single slice of toasted bread. Again, tasty. But far too many pieces of the steak had chewy bits, and the portion size was surprising given its cost of £14.95.

For the most part, the cocktails ran at around £8.50 a go, which is pretty par for the course in Zone 1. While they didn't amaze me, I didn't mind paying for and drinking 4 of them in a single session. Take that as you will.

The service was always friendly, helpful and attentive.

Overall, I liked Dabbous. I'd choose it over plenty of other establishments in London. But, then again, I wouldn't choose it over others, even if restricted to the immediate area (Fizrovia/Noho). Although, one thing can be said about its spacious basement bar - it would be great for groups.

I got a coffee at the Sacred Carnaby Street shop once - a long time ago - and wasn't at all impressed. So much so that I'd avoided consuming coffee at any other Sacred outlet, even when it was convenient to me. For example, when a serious cup of coffee could have seen me experiencing my own little hell on earth (Christmas shopping at Westfield) with aplomb rather than tortured, uncaffeinated resignation - I still abstained from patronising Sacred.

So I don't know what it was that made me decide to stop in to this Sacred, located at the back of Stanfords bookshop's ground floor. Maybe because it was accessible directly from street level at the Floral Street entrance to Stanfords and I just so happened to be walking by. Maybe I think everyone deserves a second chance.

Actually, I'm lying - it was because Monmouth over in the Seven Dials was closed for a refurb and I was desperate.

Anyway, Sacred occupies a tiny space at the back of Stanfords, and its chairs were all filled with middle-aged tourists drinking tea. Not a great sign. I persevered. Three young girls attended the espresso machine and till. Also not a great sign. I persevered yet again.

And, honestly, I'm glad I did. The macchiato I ordered was excellent. A strong, naturally sweet pull with any bitterness being tempered by just a cut of perfectly frothed milk - this is how a macchiato should be.

I certainly wouldn't come here as a coffee-shop destination. But if the espresso is as consistently excellent as it was the other day, I wouldn't hesitate to pop by for a takeaway brew from time to time.

I bought a potted mini cactus in January for £1.

You can't really argue with that.

Totally legit challah.

I can't help but think Beigel Bake is better, though. This is for no reason in particular, I assure you. With two nearly identical old-school bakeries selling nearly identical things within two shopfronts of each other, you've just gotta pick one or the other and pledge your unwavering custom to it.

I picked Beigel Bake.

For the record, I didn't buy the aforementioned challah, so my conscience is clear.

Also, bacon goes surprisingly well between two buttered slices of this delicious, Jewish loaf. Go figure.

Nike? Puma? Calvin Klein?

KANGOL???

You can tart them up by putting them in shipping containers, but they're still high street stores.

And a bit weird at that. What kind of self-respecting Shoreditch hipster would be caught dead wearing a Kangol cap? I mean, really. This is not 1998 and you are not Samuel L Jackson. There are no snakes on these planes.

Boxpark, I can only hope that Shoreditch will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger.

I've never eaten the food here like the previous reviewers, so I can't vouch for Tompkins' quality in this department. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't so good, if I'm honest.

But I can tell you what I have done. Drink. I have done this often at Tompkins, in fact. I have had 1 or 2 on occasion. And I've also drunk myself to oblivion on other occasions.

You see, the Tompkins is convenient and comfortable. It's big. It has loads of comfortable seating. It has a full bar and some interesting beer on tap. It's a little bit posh because of the Canary Wharf vibe, but it's far enough away from Canary Wharf to not be teeming with dickbags.

Also, it has a nice outdoor area. Best use this only in the summer, though. I've used it in the not-summer without any sort of outerwear and had to get my beer coat on and fast (see ref to 'oblivion' above).

When my colleagues suggest drinks after work, it's always Tompkins. It can only ever be Tompkins.

When someone wants to meet up at a bar in Soho, my immediate suggestion is Graphic.

This isn't because Graphic is particularly hip or its drinks are particularly good or its clientele is particularly fashionable or even because it's a particularly enjoyable experience.

No, this is because it does everything competently.
-It's spacious
-It has comfortable couches*
-It has a vast cocktail menu and skilled bartenders
-It does food
-It has table service**
-It serves booze in paint tins
-If you've got ££££, Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet will sing 'Gold' for you***

Also, the fact that it's a gin bar helps. I love gin.

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*If you can snag one.
**Although that table service will cost you 12.5%, which annoys when all you're doing is drinking cocktails.
***This is not a joke, people.

An East-London outlet for independent designer wear, the Laden Showroom won't disappoint if you love your threads.

Local designers fill little cubby holes in this bijou Brick Lane shop, making London fashion accessible to all. Whether you're looking for a tea dress or something more haute couture, the Laden Showroom's got you covered. The designers are young and burgeoning, so the costs are low.

This place is one of my London loves. And any London fashionista who's never heard of the Laden Showroom is no fashionista at all.

So shockingly bad.

But I'm a sucker for a booth and a milkshake.