Coffee Enquiry XLIX: Tap Coffee

You know, you're going along, you think everything's all right and all of a sudden you get that tap

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Mango”)

The other day while doing some errands I stopped by Tap Coffee in Fitzrovia. Not sure why but their shops are quite appealing to me, all the time I pass by they are inviting me in to indulge with coffee, maybe is the black facade with the huge number (No 114) and no mention of the name.

Coffee Time

3 Locations around London with the same feel and offer, a relax place to share a coffee while catching up with friends.

I got a macchiato and my better half a Flat White. The coffee was a light body with mild bitterness. Modest citrus acidity, some chocolate and tobacco notes.

Abstract Latte Art

Beans: Tap Coffee

Espresso Machine: Nuova Simonelli

Score: 3/5

Decent cup of coffee, lovely cutlery, and inviting place

Tap Coffee

Coffee House

Approx Damage: £5

Area: Fitzrovia

Borough: Camden

Twitter: tapcoffee

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Burger Wars Episode LXXXIX: The Bobo Experiment [BurgeReview]

This jacket has completely changed my life. When I leave the house in this, it's with a whole different confidence. Like tonight, I might've been a little nervous. But, inside this jacket, I am composed, grounded, secure that I can meet a social challenge

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode "The Jacket")

I found out about BOBO Social thanks to a friend that came visiting. The menu is based around burgers, hand made daily, changing regularly the beef and the wood they use. Premium beef supplied by premium butcher Flock & Herd, and burgers cooked in a Kop Charcoal oven that burns coal and wood to give their distinctive flavour

The Place

My choice the Debauchery, Wagyu and rare-breed beef, ogleshield cheese, confit shitake, and truffles

The burger

The verdict, probably the best burgers in London these days, they are perfectly cooked as specified, attention to detail, and full of flavour

The damage, £20 for only the burger

The conclusion, a superb burger, BOBO is doing all things right, highly recommended, perfect score!

BOBO Social

T: 0207 636 9310

Burger Place

Approx Damage: £30pp

Area: Fitzrovia

Borough: Camden

Twitter: BoboSocial

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Mexican Brunch

Well, Mr. Peterman, I've got a really good idea for a hat. It combines the spirit of old Mexico with a little big city panache. I like to call it the Urban Sombrero

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episodes “The Foundation”)

I went the other day for Mexican brunch at Mestizo. During weekends this Mexican Restaurant has an all you can eat buffet style brunch. The food is the real deal, nice flavours and tasty, and the good thing is you can mix and create your own tacos or quesadillas, also don’t forget to try their traditional pozole or birria.

Taco Time

If you like Mexican cuisine go and try it, just a warning it’s authentic and traditional Mexican cuisine so no Tex Mex. Make sure before leaving to try one of their tequilas, they have an award winning collection with more than 160 bottles.

Mestizo

T: 020 7387 4064

Mexican Cuisine

Approx Damage: £23pp

Area: Camden Town

Borough: Camden

Twitter: mestizomx

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Burger Wars Episode LXXVI: The Cheesemas Strikes Back [BurgeRewiev]

Ho Ho Ho Ho! A racing car set! Those are assembled in Taiwan by kids like you! And these Coleman pigs, they sell it at triple the cost

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Race”)

I’m back again in Byron to get their new special. The traditional Triple Cheesemas burger, second year in a row, and they bring it back to the menu until January 2. This time I visited the Goodge St. restaurant. Similar to their other sites, same formula, a nice place with a yellowish atmosphere.

The place

Yellow stripes

Inside

The Triple Cheesemas brings two 6oz patties, American, Monterrey Jack, and Emmenthal cheese, onion, lettuce, pickles, and a spicy sauce.

Happy Cheesemas

The verdict, the new Cheesemas is really nice, good flavours, lovely spicy sauce, good crunchiness from the iceberg, juicy burger, the only downsize is that I had some issues with the bun as the bread collapsed half way thru.

The damage, 11.95 quid for the xmas special

The conclusion, a nice burger, glad they brought it back, minor issues with the bun but no show stopper. Have to say the burger is quite big for Byron standards. I will give the Holiday special 8.5 in my scale.

Burger Time

Double with Triple Cheese

Byron
T: 020 7580 6000
Burger Joint
Approx Damage: £19pp
Area: Fitzrovia
Borough: Camden
Twitter: byronhamburgers

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Hirata Buns and Rock n’ Roll

Aaah! Aaagh! Aah-aah. Oh, oh the humanity! Aaagh! 

Newman (Seinfeld episode “The Pothole”) 

This is definitely the year of Taiwanese buns. The Taiwanese street food, kind of a burger, popularised in NYC by David Chang’s Momofuku it’s surely but slowly coming their way into London. So when I heard that chef Ross Shonhan opened a spin off of it’s successful ramen bar Bone Daddies I Couldn't resist to visit as soon as I could.

The place in Covent Garden

The menu of Flesh & Buns is focus on the Hirata buns, basically the New York City version of the Taiwanese street food. The place is in a Basement nearby the Seven Dials. Noisy as his big brother Bone Daddies, but not as dark playing with white bright colours, and industrial lamps. 

F&B

Bar

Long Live the Communal Table

Not all in the menu are buns they also have nice starters going from rolls to prawn tempura. We went for three different small plates, first oysters, they were nice and fresh, little spicy kick thanks to the jalapeño dressing, and lovely touch of coriander. 

Oysters

Moving on we got the soft shell crab, it was amazing, perfectly executed, the jalapeño mayo to dip was at the right spicy level and not too rich which was perfect, I definitely loved soft shell crab. 

Crab time

The last starter was fried squid, beautiful, it was crispy and perfectly executed, good spicy level, touch of pepper and lime. 

Squid

Then to the main show, we got the braised pork belly, buns are DIY, it was amazing and fun creating your own bun. The pork belly was cooked perfectly, nice touch of the mustard miso, messy and yummy. 

DIY

Extra buns just in case

Making my Hirata

Ready to eat

To wash down the buns there is a selection of sake. We got the sparkling specialty, Mio sweet and cold sake with hints of vanilla. They should call it Spake the Sparkling Sake.

Sparkling Sake

To end the lunch we decided to have our own bonfire. S'more includes a small Asian kind of cute bonfire to melt marshmallow and prepare a biscuit with the green tea chocolate they provide. The marshmallow, green tea, and chocolate sandwich/biscuit is amazing, I have to say it was the highlight of the day, and remember I’m not a sweet tooth, again fun and tasty. 

Fogata

Campfire

Getting Ready

Burning the marshmallow

S'More

The place is perfect, excellent food, great service, nice music, I would recommend stop reading and head to Covent Garden for some Hirata Buns.

Flesh & Buns

T: 020 7287 8581

Asian Cuisine

Approx Damage: £37pp

Area: Covent Garden

Borough: Camden

Twitter: FleshandBuns

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Coffee Enquiry XX: Lantana a Brunch place on Charlotte Place

She invited me up, coffee's not coffee, coffee is sex! 

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Phone Message”) 

It has been a while since my last brunch, so I decided it was about time to cross a name out of my breakfast London list. The place I decided to go was Lantana, another successful Aussie place that opened in 2008. A small two level place with just a couple of tables al fresco, open seven days a week, same owners of Salvation Jane in Moorgate/Shoreditch. 

The place

My view old family picture

The place was completely packed for brunch, after waiting for 10min we got sits downstairs. I went for the ham hock, with chorizo, roast peppers, baked beans, spinach, poached eggs, and a chili cornbread. All in all it was nice, the spicy cornbread was, as well as the chorizo and beans combo, the downside was the eggs that were overcooked. 

Ham Hock

Halloumi and Black Pudding

Marisol got the salt beef hash with poached eggs, fresh spinach, and smoked tomato relish. The dish was ok, the eggs again where way over, the yolk wasn’t running, so no happiness, overall it missed a toast or some sort of bread to come with 

Salt beef

Now let’s talk about the coffee. I had big expectations as the Aussie places characterize by good coffee. They are using Square Mile beans. The coffees come with their latte art touch, and if you asked them about the coffee they gladly explain everything. 

Red Brick

I got a macchiato and a flat white, both top marks, I don’t recall liking so much Red Brick seasonal blend.

Flat

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Beans: Square Mile

Score: 4/5 

Macchiato

Really good coffee and not too bad brunch place. Stop by for a cup of coffee if you’re around.

Lantana

T: 020 7637 3347

Breakfast / Coffee

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Fitzrovia

Borough: Camden

Twitter: lantanacafe

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