Coffee Enquiry XLVIII: Iris & June

The catering hall screwed up! The wedding is delayed until June. It's like a stay of execution

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Friars Club”)

Iris & June is an artisan coffee shop in the heart of Victoria. Their statement is to make and serve an awesome coffee cup. They serve also a bit more food than the regular coffee shop, with their menu changing frequently.

The Place

I was impressed by the amount of people having business meetings in the place, plenty of laptops, iPad presentations, and even some taking calls. There you have it cafes are becoming the new meeting rooms of millennials, bring me a flat white and keep it quiet as I have a call with a China supplier.

Macchiato Time

Beans: Ozone Coffee Roasters

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Score: 3/5

We got a macchiato and a decaf cappuccino, strong coffee, a bit too much on the bitterness, long aftertaste, some chocolate notes, and no latte art for the small cup. The decaf was a bit more balanced but similar tasting profile.

The scones are to die for!

Iris & June

Coffee Shop

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Victoria

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: IrisandJune1

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Indian Farewell

I can't believe we went all the way to India for a wedding

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Betrayal”)

The other day we had another farewell dinner for a couple really close to us. They invited us for dinner in one of their favourite places, Chor Bizarre in Mayfair. The restaurant is a quite distinctive Indian place with Décor inspired by the Thieves Market, and featuring traditional cuisine.

Sharing some dishes

As usual we got a bit of everything, sharing is the best option for Indian cuisine.  Great traditional flavours, so if you’re around give it a try, food is nice and decor is superb.

Chor Bizarre

T: 020 7629 9802

Indian Cuisine

Approx Damage: £40pp

Area: Mayfair

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: ChorBizarreUK

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P for Paddington or Pearl Liang

In a Chinese restaurant? Do they take money?

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant”)

We went some time ago to say goodbye to good friends that left London and now are living in Bogota. As a farewell party they chose to have lunch and drinks at Pearl Liang. Great opportunity as I love some Chinese from time to time, and had never been there before.

Hello Paddington

A traditional Chinese restaurant a couple minutes away from Paddington station.  Good flavours, nice dim sum, and traditional executed dishes. Typical décor and atmosphere.

You can't escape without having special Fried Rice

Recommended if you’re around and looking for some Oriental cuisine.

Pearl Liang

T: 020 7289 7000

Chinese Cuisine

Approx Damage: £30pp

Area: Paddington

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: PearlLiangUK

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Coffee Enquiry XLVII: Taylor Street Baristas

I can't take it anymore! She's driving me crazy! I can't sleep, I can't leave the house, and I' here, I'm climbing the walls. Meanwhile, I'm dating a virgin, I'm in this contest, something has got to give!

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Contest”)

I went a month ago to a meeting in Mayfair and immediately saw the chance to try Taylor Street Baristas. They won best coffee in Mayfair in 2012 and 2015 so I was really looking forward to it. 8 coffee shops spread around London and now you can get their coffee beans delivered to your door.

The place

I got a nice toasted bacon muffin and a Flat White. Their espresso is Rika Rika from Papau New Guinea, the coffee had complex flavours, strong with deep and long aftertaste, and some chocolate notes.

Coffee Time

Beans: Taylor St

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Score: 5/5

Lovely place, quiet and simple decor, good service, and they seem to have some sort of loyalty competition that looks quite nice for their regulars or coffee freaks. They have been migrating to their own roasted coffee from previously using Union beans, and Mayfair has already completed the switch.

Taylor St Baristas

T: 020 7629 3163

Coffee Place

Approx Damage: £10pp

Area: Mayfair

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: tsb_mayfair

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Italian Tapas in Victoria

Venetian Blinds

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Red Dot”)

A couple weeks back I went to TOZI an Italian tapas restaurant in Victoria. Venetian concept with modern look, great service, and interesting menu. We went for a bit of everything in the menu, a couple woodoven pizzettas and a piadina, then we move for some fritti starters, and finished with pasta and some grilled & baked meats.

Black Truffle Time

Probably not the first Venetian Italian tapas, but TOZI gives great execution, and classical Italian flavours specially the buffalo ricotta ravioli with black truffle. Recommended if you're near by the area, like they say in Venetian Cin Cin and Bon Apetito!

TOZI

T: 020 7769 9771

Italian Cuisine

Approx Damage: £40pp

Area: Victoria

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: ToziRestaurant

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