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

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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

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Ottolenghi what happened?

What? What is nice? Trying to fill the void in your life with flour and sugar and egg and vanilla? I mean, we are all unhappy. Do we have to be fat too? Not you Becky, I know you have a slow metabolism. I don't want one more piece of cake in my office!

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episode “The Frogger”)

I used to love Ottolenghi café/restaurant, the cakes were amazing, salads lovely, and other treats always up to the mark, everything in a colourful display that salivate your mouth immediately you see the array and always too many options to choose from. Therefore, most of the times I’m in Notting Hill I end there getting something, but on my last visit I’m sad to say it backfired. We got a selection of sweet tarts and cakes and coffee, not sure what happened, if it was we were at the end of the day and the staff was in a hurry or the cakes were days old but everything was not right.

Coffee & Cake

Cakes were chewy, and not exciting, and the coffee don’t get me started! It was probably one of the worst coffees I have ever had in London. What’s going on? Can’t you afford to train the staff to get a decent cup?

I hope it was a one off, and next time I experience the same quality I have during all these years.

Ottolenghi

T: 020 7727 1121

Mediterranean cuisine

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Notting Hill

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: ottolenghi

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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

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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

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