Santa Maria takes Chelsea

How do you solve a problem like Maria?

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Phone Message”)

If you like pizza you have to go to Santa Maria period. It’s by far the best pizzeria in London I have tried. Authentic Neapolitan pizza, ready within 10 minutes of ordering, and great service.

Pizza Time

I had the chance to visit their second place in Chelsea, and I was over the moon to corroborate they have not drop down the quality of their pizzas or the service.

I don’t need to say anything else, other that if you’re around go and try one of their delicious authentic pizzas.

Santa Maria

T: 020 7384 2844

Pizzeria

Approx Damage: £20pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: SantaMariaPizza

---

---

Some Japanese Tapas in Chelsea

Well, Jerry, they're Japanese. I mean, that TV you watch, that sushi you eat, I mean, even that kimono you wear. Where do you think all that money goes, hmm?

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Checks”)

One of my latest restaurant visits was to try Kurobuta cuisine. They are an Izakaya UK version, this is a Japanese concept where people get drinks and share small plates, pretty much their tapas concept. What began as a pop up now has three locations in London with the kitchen rule by Nobu’s ex Head Chef Scott Hallsworth.

Darkness and Neon lights

We embrace the concept and went for different dishes, with some highlights such as the beer-grilled beef with wasabi salsa, the Wagyu beef sliders, and the Kurobuta pork ribs. Probably the most anticipated hit and miss was the pork belly steam bun, sadly it didn’t hit the mark.

Not as good as expected

The promise Japanese food with a western twist. Lovely food, but a bit pricey.

Kurobuta

T: 0207 920 6442

Japanese Cuisine

Approx Damage: £60pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: KurobutaLondon

---

---

Bagel takes Chelsea

All right! Toss me an apron, let's bagel!

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The strike”)

The other day while I was in Chelsea & Westminster Hospital I spotted a new bakery. B Bagel Bakery Bar specialises in bagels or as the East Londoners will say beigels. Traditional bagel recipes, bagel with your favourite fillings, and different types of bagels for take away is what you will find. On top classic cafe menu, with salads, soups, breakfast, hot drinks, and smoothies.

The place

Decent flavours, different fillings options, the service a bit slow, best thing was choosing different bagels to take home. If you love bagels now you have a nice option in this Chelsea café/bakery. Coffee though not that good even with a nice Rancilio espresso machine.

Bagel Time

B Bagel Bakery Bar

T: 020 7351 2931
Bakery/Cafe

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

---

---

Burger Wars Episode LXXXVII: A Chelsea Local [BurgeReview]

Oh, get the swordfish. Best swordfish in the city. The best, Jerry

Kenny Bania (Seinfeld episode “The Soup”)

The other day we ended in The Phene, a lovely venue in Chelsea with multiple spaces, including a pub style bar, a nice conservatory dinning room, a private dinner first floor space, and finally an amazing beer garden.

Time to eat

We got the salt and Schezuan pepper squid for starter, really nice good heat. Also the gazpacho, texture was a bit odd but good flavours.

Squid

My partner in crime got a beautiful swordfish, great flavours, perfectly cooked, really nice execution. I decided to go for the Phene Burger.

Burger Time

An Angus beef burger, Blacksticks blue cheese, bacon, and chili jam.

The verdict, the burger didn’t stand the expectations. The patty was completely overdone, they mentioned they cook them medium, but it was well done, completely dry. The bacon addition was nice, the cheese was missing in action.

The damage, 18 quid for the burger and fries adding the blue cheese and bacon

The conclusion, the burger was a disaster, such a shame as the rest of the food was quite nice. It might have been a bad day, I would stay away from the burger, just go for whatever else is in the menu. I will have to give them a poor 5 over 10 just for the bacon that was meaty and lovely addition otherwise could have been a 3.

The Phene

T: 020 7352 9898

European Cuisine

Approx Damage: £40pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: The PheneSW3

---

---

Burger Wars Episode LXIV: F for Foxtrot and G for Gordon

“It's cleavage. I couldn't look away. What am I, waiting to win an Oscar here? This is all I have in my life” 

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Shoes” 

My last stop searching for the greatest burger in London took me to Gordon Ramsay’s British Bistro in Chelsea. Foxtrot Oscar offering a classic menu using seasonal produce. Small and cozy place with black and white pictures in a burgundy dim light ambience. 

The place

I couldn’t resist having the bone marrow, superb, a classic well executed. Every ingredient as it should, shallot comfit, a touch of Parmesan, panko crust, with a parsley, caper and lemon salad. Marisol went for the beef carpaccio, potato salad, and lemon vinaigrette. The carpaccio was nice, and the potatoes gave an excellent addition. 

Marrow

Carpaccio

While waiting for my burger we shared a really nice Viña Real Rioja. The Foxtrot cheeseburger, with smoked streaky bacon, mushroom relish, pickled gherkin, and triple cooked chips. 

The Foxtrot Cheeseburger

The verdict, it was unbelievable, great flavour even though it was cooked medium, as they want to make sure the cheese is completely melted. The bacon gives a nice smoky flavour, the brioche bun is wonderful, and the cheese was completely melted in deed 

The damage, 15 quid for the burger and chips 

The conclusion, great burger, nice balance, amazing flavour, I would have prefer it a bit more juicy but it was quite good. The chips were nice but probably the weakest link. I will give it a 9 in my scale. Highly recommended if you’re in Chelsea 

Burger time

Close up

Almost forgot, Marisol got the 35 day dry aged Cote de Boeuf with watercress and béarnaise sauce. I had a couple bites and it was perfectly cooked, great execution, amazing flavour. 

Cote de Boeuf

Great bistro the food and the service were excellent.

Foxtrot Oscar

T: 020 7352 4448

British Bistro

Approx Damage: £60pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: foxtrot_oscar

---

View Larger Map

---

Tom where is the Kitchen

Two locations in London one in Chelsea the other in Somerset House. Tom’s Kitchen a British brasserie using UK suppliers serving comfort food by Michelin starred chef Tom Aikens. My visit was to the Chelsea place. Noisy even when it was not at full capacity. The decor wood rustic tables, white tiles walls, and B&W pictures of Tom’s suppliers. 

The Place

Literature

Inside

I arrived for brunch, ordered an orange and carrot juice while ran through the menu. The decision was easy a Full English. Really nice, fresh ingredients, the sausage had a nice flavour, the twist of the dish probably was the fried bread that was great, it was so good I ordered another piece. Black pudding had good flavour but a bit dry if you ate it alone, but in combination with the egg and mushrooms played quite nice. The eggs where perfectly cooked and outstanding, basically the hens that produce the eggs are specially fed with grass, herbs and cereals laced with sun-drenched maize, resulting in a more intense yellow yolk and great flavor. 

Full English

The Full English was excellent, great execution, I found myself in the kind of situation where you start to freak out when your plate is coming to an end as you want more and more. 

Satellite view

Coffee time

Finally, to end my brunch I got a macchiato. Nice strong coffee perfect to wake you up, made on a La Marzocco espresso machine, no latte art, and beans from Illy. 

Double macchiato

Love the mirrors

Kitchen reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Apology”

Melissa: What are you doing?



Jerry: I found a rough spot on the kitchen floor, I thought I'd polish it up with this belt sander I have here

Melissa: No, not that. Why are you naked?



Jerry: I thought naked is good



Melissa: This isn't good naked

Tom's Kitchen

T: 020 7349 0202

British Brasserie

Approx Damage: £30pp

Area: South Kensington

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: TomsKitchen

---

View Larger Map Get Directions View Bird's Eye

---