Verandah Restaurant, Galle Face Hotel, 2 Galle Road, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka

It's a little tough to review a buffet but I'm going to give it a shot as Chennai and Sri Lanka seemed to love doing them. 

Here goes the first one: 

Verandah is a sea-front restaurant in the Galle Face Hotel, which has been around since 1864. 

The hotel still retains it's Colonial charm but parts of it need a little TLC. 

The staff at Verandah are a bit hit and miss; some of them went above and beyond the call of duty, whilst others were unable to wipe the disinterest from their faces. On average, they understood what customer service actually means, and they delivered it. Something I sometimes feel that we've lost in the West...especially when faced by a hormonal teenager getting arsey over a soup order. 

The breakfast buffet at Verandah didn't stand out against any other hotel, apart from in one category: hoppers/appam. If you are particularly smiley with the Appam Man he'll cater a few of them to your taste. The way my family likes to eat them is with a little coconut milk and jaggery/karupatti (cane and data palm tree sugar) cooked into them - it's a classic. 

The dinner buffet offered a varied selection of cuisines, most of which were meat friendly. The veggie friendly ones that I tried were...insipid. Put it this way, I went all the way to Sri Lanka to have over-steamed veg and mash...I could specify flavourless mash but I think insipid covered it. 

There were a few local options on the menu, like pittu and string hoppers (idiyappam) but frankly, my mum makes it better. 

Price: Approx. £15.00 per person 
Veggie Friendly: 2.5/5
Food: 2/5
Service: 3/5
Atmosphere: 4/5 (despite being close to the sea it was still a little stuffy, hence not a perfect 5)

Moro Restaurant, 34 - 36 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE

Had I written this review soon after going, it would have been scathing. 

As it's been a few weeks, and I've had time to dull the pain of this expensive mistake...scrap that, it's still going to be scathing. 

My starter was a yoghurt soup...it tasted as bad as it sounds. Actually, the first few bites are great, after which, you career into nausea. Now, I don't mean that the taste became bad, but yogurt is a substantial food item...heated, spiced yogurt is a lot for even the strongest of stomachs to take.  

The one vegetarian 'option' for mains, was a Mixed Vegetable Mezze platter of ... I have no idea, it looked like someone had thrown left over sides onto a plate and served it to me. I despise this...I'm vegetarian, not devoid of good taste...or good sense.

The taste would have been mediocre had it cost me £6.00, but for the whopping price that I paid it was just not worth it...ok, I thought it was bad. In fact, I was so disappointed that I think I was crying a little bit in my mouth at each bite.

T-Rexes were split: the lamb received some positive feedback, whereas The Boy and Wimbledon described the pork as something they would have made better. Judging from the Mezze slop, they were probably right. 

The only consolotions: if you like trendy then you too can go there and be too cool for school, the setting was perfect and the staff were great; even more so when you consider that they were catering for a party of 10. 

Price: Approx. £550 for 5 x bottles of red, 10 x 3 course meal and service charge.

Veggie Friendly: 1/5

Food: 2/5

Service: 5/5

Atmosphere: 4/5

The Cut Bar & Restaurant, Young Vic, 66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ

I had forgotten to give Curly Red a pair of boots I owed her, so we met up at Waterloo and ended up having dinner at The Cut Bar & Restaurant, in the Young Vic. A place just a stones throw away (by a shot putter) from the station...neither of us had realised this in the past. D'uh! 

It was unanimously agreed that the atmosphere was surprisingly great! 

For a place that is essentially for theatre goers, either before or after a show, it remained busy throughout and the atmosphere was thick with good vibes. Maybe it's just because the majority of people are there for a night out, so everyone is in good spirits. 

The only gripe, the food wasn't amazing. That being said, the prices related to the food - middle of the road prices, middle of the road taste. 

Cheese or chocolate are generally winners for me, but the deep fried goats cheese at The Cut inspired nothing but indifference in my belly, the Vegetable Tian is not served warm unless you ask and the sticky toffee pudding was initially served with a random chip in it! Luckily the waitresses were so attentive that they sorted it out before we had a second to complain. 

In fact one member of staff was so on the ball, that she reminded me of a friendly velociraptor lurking on the periphery of my vision, waiting to ask me if she could get me anything else. 

Price: Approx. £42.00 for 1 x mulled wine, 1 x 125ml red wine, 2 x mains, 1 x dessert and service charge.

Veggie Friendly: 3/5

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 5/5

Atmosphere: 5/5

The One Under, The Links, St. Andrews, KY16 9JQ

This is how macaroni and cheese should be done!

This restaurant was yet another example of just how wonderful the food in St. Andrews is. It truly is a treat for the senses.

Mentioned above is the macaroni. I should add that it wan't mac and cheese in the classic sense. Think, a classier, less cardiac arrest inducing version of the dish.

The T-Rexes around me were very satisfied too. They ordered everything from red meat to fresh fish and were very vocal about their enjoyment of each dish.

The only thing that I could fault, would be that the restaurant was a little empty, and as it is connected to a hotel it doesn't quite escape that stark, hotel feeling.

Also, they were playing Westlife <cue raspberry sound>.

Price: £75.75 for 2 large glasses of Chenin Blanc, 5 x mains, and service charge

Veggie Friendly: 4/5

Food: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Atmosphere: 2.5/5 

The Doll's House Restaurant, 3 Church Square, St. Andrews, KY16 9NN

Presentation and fragrance and flavour, oh my! 

In fact, they were so strong in all three categories I kept eating even though both brain and stomach were begging me to stop. 

I ordered a delicious tomato and red pesto pasta - it was divine. 

As was the sticky toffee pudding...and the bread...and butter...and ice cream...and chocolate pudding...

For frequent visitors to the area, or locals (though, I'm sure you are aware of this), The Doll's House and it's sister restaurants (The Glass House, The Grill house, The River House) operate loyalty schemes so don't forget to ask about a card. 

Price: Approximately £160.00 for 1 bottle of white wine, 5 x three course meal and service charge

Veggie Friendly: 2/5

Food: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Atmosphere: 5/5

Mitchell, 110 - 112 Market Street, St. Andrews, KY16 2PB

I've often spoken about dim lighting and Mitchell fell firmly into the 'too dim for my liking' category. That being said, it does produce a lovely, intimate setting even if it does mean that being able to properly see your food is a little tough.

We ordered vegetarian antipasta to start: hummus, sun dried tomatoes, bread galore and it was fairly tasty to boot.

Unfortunately, there was only one veggie main on the menu: Baked Ratatouille and Bean Casserole, which they had run out of, leaving me with goats cheese salad and bread...I'm not a huge fan of salad for mains. I'm also not a huge fan of restaurants running out of their one vegetarian option.

That being said, the standard of the food is fresh and prepared to a decent standard. The taste doesn't hold a candle to other places in St. Andrews, but we'll get to those later.

Price: Approx. 81.00 GBP (I'm in India there is no pound sign on this keyboard) for 1 bottle of sauvignon blanc, 1 large glass of red, 2 x starters, 1 x side, 3 x mains, 1 x dessert and service charge

Veggie Friendly: 1/5

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 4/5

Atmosphere: 3/5

Peak View Tea Room, Buxton New Road (A537), Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire, SK11 0AR

The current debate raging through my disproportionately small head: is whether to write this review, or not. 

You see, I love this Tea Room so much that I don't want to tell you about it. That way, I can keep it all to myself and other Maccites that know it...and ramblers that stumble upon it after an exhilarating hike. 

However, after a serious (and slightly psychotic) chat with myself about the perils of selfish behaviour, my better senses prevailed. 

You need a car to get there, and it's worth calling ahead if you're a party of 3+ as despite being out of the way, it gets busy. You'll understand why as soon as you walk in. I loathe to tell you this, but upon entering this cute little building set amongst rolling hills, you're greeted by a warm fire and a table full of fresh, home made desserts. 

After you reorientate yourself and realise that you have neither stepped back in time, nor fast tracked to heaven, take a nice long look at the table of heaven/cakes...it's all the same to me. 

The staff are always very friendly, and willing to offer any assistance if you can't identify what the cake is simply by looking. 

My favourite would have to be 'Death by Chocolate' served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Actually, my favourite is the 'Chocolate Fudge Fake'...served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. No wait, my favourite is the 'Victoria Sponge Cake'...or 'Apple Crumble'...or 'Carrot Cake'...or...ok, I love all the cakes!

I've eaten lunch there a couple of times,vegetarian options are limited but not obsolete. The food is simple, traditionally English and hearty. I should also mention that the portions are very generous!

If I'm being honest though, I don't go there for lunch, I go there for the cakes...I'm sure you figured that out. 

Price: £75.00 for 8 x drinks, 1 x starter, 5 x soup, 2 x mains, 8 x cakes/dessert and service charge.

Veggie Friendly: 2/5 for savoury, 5/5 for desserts some of which are gluten free

Food: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Atmosphere: 5/5

Alderley Edge Restaurant, The Alderley Edge Hotel, Macclesfield Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7BJ

If I spend too long on this post, it will make me hungry for food that is currently not near me. With that in mind, I will keep this short. 

3 AA Rosettes, PHENOMENAL food, a vegetarian menu as varied and impressively cooked as its meat counterpart, incomparably incredible service and a beautiful conservatory style, open yet intimate, setting.

Our party ordered everything form steak, to cheddar cheese croquettes, all presented as stunningly and delicately as they taste. 

The restaurant was full, but the acoustics were such, that you could hear yourself think. 

Back to the food for one last mental romp, the desserts are nothing short of heaven. Even with no hint of chocolate on the menu on the night we dined, which for a chocolate lover is madness, they knocked me out for six every time. 

I'm beginning to salivate...go for yourself and you'll understand why. 

Price: Approximately £350.00 for 8 x drinks, 8 x 3 course dinner and service charge. 

Veggie Friendly: 5/5

Food: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Atmosphere: 5/5