Categories
Breakfast/Brunch London United Kingdom

Mallow

Ambiance
4/5
Service
4/5
Food / Drink
4.3/5
Overall (4.0)
4/5

Visited for Brunch / Lunch on 5/29/2022

After our experience at Mildreds the night before, we were delighted to find Mallow! With the similar blue and window pane aesthetic that Midreds Soho had, it was hard to miss. It’s located right next to a huge outdoor market, which was packed with locals and tourists alike. Definitely something to check-out after dining if you’re into that sort of thing. As for Mallow, in similar fashion to when we walked up to Mildreds, the place was packed and there was a wait for a table (we arrived around noon). However, after a few moments, the host mentioned that we were able be seated at the bar right away (if we so chose), which we did.

The ambiance & decor of Mallow is a quirky casual vibe with fun light fixtures, blue colors and generally friendly staff. Our server as a bit curt at times, but since we were sitting at the bar, which faces into the kitchen, we were able to have a few great conversations with the chef, sous chefs and general manager! All were very friendly and happy to talk about the food, history of the restaurant, or anything else. We actually had a nice chat about what notes I had taken and that this blog post was forthcoming! It’s not often you have a GM notice you’re documenting the experience and comment on it. So, to me that means they are taking note to ensure their patrons are taken care of. That said, I did take some points off in Ambiance because the restrooms were quite untidy – picture overflowing trash and things scattered about – and that is usually a reflection of something else going on in the establishment.

Similar to Mildreds, the Mallow menu can be found online.

They also have a robust wine list if you’re interested in some bubbles or wines with your brunch

The entree I selected was the Full English (I mean I was in England, how could I resist). The full english comes with: scrambled tofu, baked beans, flat mushroom, home fries, grilled tomato, sausage, and sourdough toast

Presentation was excellent – doesn’t it look appetizing?! Looking at this picture now that I’m home it makes me crave it again!

  • The Maple Baked Beans were by far the tastiest thing on the plate. They were *packed* with flavor. My mouth is still watering. I believe they must’ve marinated for quite a long time, that was such a tasty hearty mouth-filling taste. 
  • Tofu Eggs: I usually struggle with Tofu eggs, because they just leave you wanting eggs. Unfortunately here, that was also the case for me. They were a bit salty and missing pepper.  
  • The grilled tomato was well executed and with a sprinkle of salt on top, the flavor was punched up to where it needed to be. 
  • The grilled & marinated mushroom was perfect. Nice umami flavor, great texture (chewy and not rubbery), no complaints
  • The vegan sausage was interesting. The link was made from, (I believe) quinoa and sage, which provided a coarse texture. While it was definitely fried in oil, it was missing the punch of flavor like the beans and the mushroom had. I didn’t quite care for the link.
  • Home fried potatoes were just how I like them, crispy outside and melt in your mouth inside.

Buttermilk plant chick’n sandwich was ordered by one of my friends and I was allowed to try it too 🙂 It came with cacio e pepe mayo, peperonata relish, brioche bun, and fries.

The faux chicken was perfectly crispy and delicious. There was a really nice vegan mayo on the bun that accompanied the chicken well. It made me want more than one bite!

I will warn you that to enjoy this tasty sandwich, be prepared for a bit of a mess! The sandwich does fall apart as you make your way through it, but it’s worth the mess as the patty with the sauce was done extremely well.

Fries are also crispy, so for a person like me who loves crispy it’s perfect! If you don’t like crispy fries, well you may be sorry, but I’m a happy camper :p

Our other friend ordered the carrot dill haricot patty & aubergine burger (phew, what a mouthful!). The patty & aubergine (eggplant) were grilled nicely and accompanied by two sauces: harissa and tahini all on a brioche bun. It was also served with the crispy fries. She had no complaints (aside from mentioning she doesn’t like crispy fries like I do) so we agreed to disagree on that. In terms of the burger she said that it was ‘tasty’. She also ordered the Blueberry Prosecco, which she loved (and ordered another of)!

Overall, the vibe of Mallow was similar to Mildreds, but a bit more casual, relaxed, and perfect for catching up with friends. I appreciated talking with the chef and GM and also the food. I recommend and would return.

~Jeremy

Categories
Dinner London United Kingdom

Mildreds Soho

Ambiance
4.5/5
Service
4.5/5
Food / Drink
4.5/5
Overall (4.5)
4.5/5

Visited for dinner on 5/28/2022

My friend and I found ourselves in London (we flew in for a few nights to see a show) and were open to trying anything out for dinner. So, when we checked-in to the hotel, we asked the concierge where we should eat. We were looking for a cute spot that was vegetarian friendly and were told ‘hands down’ to try Mildreds Soho, which was near to where we were staying. The concierge tried to call us in a reservation as we were warned it was usually busy, but couldn’t get through. So we decided to freshen up and chance it by walking-up. Spoiler: we got in 😉

Streetside view of Mildreds

We arrived around 7pm and it was definitely busy. The wait time for a walk-in was about 40 minutes (it was Saturday night). So, I gave my number and we went and caught a pint nearby while we waited. Honestly, the time flew by and I got a text saying the table was ready before we were finished with the pint!

Inside bar (there is no seating)

We arrived back and were seated by the host to a table near the front of the restaurant. The back portion of Mildreds looks to be where the main dining area is, which was full of plants and radiating chatter. The ambiance of Mildreds is fun & classy. There is body positive artwork on the walls (think hand sketches of bodies, boobs, etc.) but nothing lewd. Just nice and artful amongst a lot of plants. There are only tables in the front (no bar seating), so you’ll definitely need either a reservation or to wait like we did to get in. 

Mildreds Menu

The Mildreds menu is all online (https://www.mildreds.co.uk/menu/all-day/), so if you’re curious you can check it out in advance. Our server Steven was so nice and talked us through each dish and was very helpful with suggestions, particularly when it came to the entrees. Having Steven’s help was great though, because the definitions of the entrees don’t quite give away what you’ll get! That is always part of the fun of vegan/vegetarian places like this, but it is nice to know you’re on the right track.

Tokyo Highball and Kalamansi Margarita

We ordered two cocktails to start, unfortunately the appetizers came about 15 minutes before drinks (likely because it was a busy Saturday night), but when they came we enjoyed them. 

The tokyo highball – roku gin, sake, artisan yuzu tonic, cucumber

It was nice and refreshing. The cucumber was a new twist.

Kalamansi margarita – el tequileño tequila blanco, cointreau, kalamansi, sage, citrus caviar. So cute and delightful, with a frothy top!.

Artichoke Panelle

We ordered three appetizers to start. The first being the roman artichoke panelle, which came with a ‘sicilian herb chickpea fritter’ and roasted pepper pine nut cream.

The artichoke was well cooked, very soft and buttery. The chickpea fritter really tasted like a delicious block of cheese! It is incredible. Both my friend and I really liked the chickpea fritter (aka faux cheese as we named it) mixed in the red-pepper sauce.

Hummus & Pita

Next came the hummus, which was made with apricot harissa chickpeas and came with two slices of pita.

The Hummus was nice and creamy! Inside of the hummus was a bit of a spicy chili sauce, but my friend (who said and I quote ‘is a sissy with spice’) said she could easily handle it. 😂

Sweet Potato Fries

Once we saw that there were Sweet Potato Fries on the menu, we couldn’t pass them up. We were not disappointed! They were phenomenal, so crispy and salty – if you’re a sweet potato fan, these are for you!

Entrees:

Amba Chick’n Kebabs

First we decided on the amba chick’n* kebabs. The menu stated they came with mango marinated plant chick’n, salada, pickled red cabbage, red shaata. We liked the kebab! And the yellow cream sauce was a nice add, as the kebab needed a little sauce to go with it, but the flavors were nice and savory.

Mercimek Kofte

The next dish was the mercimek kofte, which was a quinoa based dish with lentils,  beets, grape herb freekeh, tahini cream, and shredded carrots & cucumbers.

This was a hearty and fresh dish. It complimented well with the kebob, which was a savory and saucy dish.  

Dessert:

Caramel Cookie Cheesecake with Blueberry Coulis

The dessert menu peaked our interest for quite a few things! We decided on two, the first of which was the caramel cookie cheesecake with blackberry coulis. It came with caramel popcorn on the top. The cheesecake was bright and buttery – the caramel shone through in all the right ways. The blackberry coulis provided a nice balance – definitely our favorite of the two desserts

Butterscotch Banana Bread

The other dessert we ordered was the butterscotch banana bread. It had miso butterscotch on the side along with salted caramel ice cream. This was a very soothing dessert. It gave us comfort and really reminded us of home! It was essentially a deconstructed banana bread. So, if you’re looking for something fun & new – go with the cheesecake. If you want something soothing before bed, go with the deconstructed banana bread 🙂

Espresso Martinis

Since we were planning to head out on the town after dinner, we ordered ourselves a couple of espresso martinis! The martini’s were made with sapling vodka, tia maria, cointreau, and of course fresh coffee. They were terrific and perked us right up! The espresso beans on top were a nice touch. So, if you need a pick-me-up definitely grab the espresso orange martini.

Overall, I can see why Mildreds has such a reputation (and so many locations). Our experience was a super delight! I can’t wait to go back again one day. Once we figured out they had a sister restaurant (Mallow) we needed to give that a try for brunch the next day, which you can read the review here

~Jeremy

Categories
Las Vegas Lunch Nevada United States

Wazuzhu

Ambiance
4.5/5
Service
5/5
Food / Drink
4.5/5
Overall (4.6)
4.6/5

Visited for Lunch on 8/2/2022

Japanese style restaurant with a friendly and inviting atmosphere from the moment I walked in. The color scheme is one of comfort: think gold and maroon. Surrounds you with warmth, even though you’re still inside the casino.

Place setting upon arrival

In walking up, they asked if I had any dietary restrictions right at check-in and took note of my name. So, when my server (Taylor) came over, he greeted me by name (which was fun) and offered some suggestions based on what I provided to the host. 

Throughout the lunch, Taylor was so nice, fun to chat with and engaging! As a solo diner he really made the experience a delight.

A clip of the Vegan Menu

The veggie/vegan menu is well rounded; drunken noodles came with a very high recommendation! But, I was warned it is a little bit larger of a portion, so since I was not too hungry, I opted for Seaweed Salad to start and I got a few rolls.

Seaweed salad

The seaweed salad was nice. Perfectly crunchy with sesame seeds. It had a nice texture and sauce, and was not heavy.

Rainbow Roll and Vegan Eel Roll

I ordered two rolls, the Rainbow Roll and the Vegan Eel Roll.

Rainbow Roll

The Rainbow Roll was very fresh, almost like a salad in sushi form. Crunchy veggie top, refreshing! I’d say if you got a salad, you likely don’t need another fresh entree, so this one could be one to skip.

Vegan Eel roll

Now, the Vegan Eel Roll is one of the best vegan rolls I’ve ever had! Texture was so fun. Crispy top and onion inside. The sauce on top is sweet and tangy, so by itself you have almost a sweet roll, but once dipped in the soy sauce, it becomes a sweet and tangy roll. It’s a really nice balance, specifically with the braised tofu on the top. It’s not often you have restaurants push their limits with vegan rolls, so I was thoroughly impressed. Definitely would suggest.

Overall, with the pleasant service, tasty foods, and willingness to accommodate any patron, I’ll say this was a wonderful meal and service experience. Definite recommendation from me!


~Jeremy