Week Fifteen: 34

Week Fifteen

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Please note that you can now subscribe to this blog very simply by submitting your email address into the box at the top right of your screen.  Then your weekly dose of articulately well written literature will arrive directly to your mailbox while you're sitting at work or at home without doing a thing.  Your prayers have been answered.

 Back to the blog and it was only the one place this week and it saw the return of the financier (Dad) who kindly took myself and the brother (Joe not Fred who is currently in Australia) to a lovely establishment in Mayfair.  In other news this week, we also saw the globally celebrated birthday of the Partyman which I celebrated by having a house party rather than going to a new place.  Surprising decision by myself but a cost effective decision.  Good week nonetheless.

  Special guests this week: The Financier and Joe Gravestock.

Summary of 34

Name: 34

Type: Restaurant

Location: 34 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London, W1K 2HD

Website: http://www.34-restaurant.co.uk

Date Visited: 16/4/14

Price: Ask Dad (I have a feeling pricey)

Rating: 4.6/5

Review

  
  The financier was back in London to take me out for a birthday meal which meant another lovely dining experience out with limited cost.  When I say limited I mean free.  Luckily the Financier is fully on board with the blog and had organised for a new place for dinner.  34 was the venue of choice.   Interestingly 34 is owned by the same people who do the Ivy (haven't been there yet Dad by the way), so the quality was always going to be high.

 It was a drink at the bar first while we waited for my brother to arrive who was running late.  I decided to mix it up this week rather than ordering the crowd favourite Becks and went for a new Scottish lager called Schiehallion which was brilliant.  Would definitely drink it again so if you ever come across it, I would give it a try.

The financier with the menu.  No accidental selfie this time.  N.B. Photo taken and uploaded at his request

  When the brother finally arrived, we sat down at our table and ordered our food.  For starters I went for the rillette of duck and foie gras with toasted brioche.  Didn't have a clue what it meant but I like duck so I went for it and lucked out.  It was effectively duck pate which was delicious and went down fantastically well with the toasted brioche.  I cannot tell you how glorious the brioche and the pate were together, not forgetting the beer (leave it).

Three Gravestock's.  Shame Fred wasn't able to come...Lazy (witty)

  For the main I decided to order something different after some well documented criticism from avid readers that I only ever order burgers.  Admittedly ordering a medium rare steak isn't too adventurous but it came recommended and it was exceptional.  If you're wondering what steak it was, well it was the USDA beef fillet of course with béarnaise sauce sides of greens, chunky chips and onion rings.  Tasty. 

  One of the great things about this restaurant was the service.  It was the best I have had for many a year in a restaurant.   Some people may argue that I can be susceptible to an occasional whine about things if I am not too happy.  I feel that is fairly unjustifiable but the good news was that this place kept me quiet and happy.  Difficult things to do.

  34 was well staffed so there was always a waiter on hand if you needed anything.  Also when they came out with the food orders, they always put it in front of the right person every time without having to ask who's order was who's.  

  That sounds a little confusing and odd but what I trying to say is that every time you go to a restaurant the majority of waiters will come to your table with the food orders and ask 'who ordered the medium rare steak? Who ordered the spag bowl? Who ordered the burger with good bun consistency?'  At this establishment there is no need for that as the waiters remembered everything.  They even remembered it was my birthday from when the financier booked it on the phone earlier in the week.  A touch of class.

Shame they thought I looked 34...

  Was it the best meal I have ever had? Probably not, but it was definitely up there and the service was second to none.  A much appreciated meal, thanks again Dad, and when we ordered dessert the restaurant also added a nice touch to my dessert as you can see from the photo above.  Easily pleased? Maybe.

Superb restaurant.

Poem Advice

I recommend 34 in Mayfair
if you want a bite to eat
The foods good but expensive
and the service you cannot beat




  Not an incredible host of new places I'm afraid but if you are only going to do one, you better do it well.  Don't forget to subscribe, it only takes a minute to do.  Shameless promoting.

Thanks again for reading and hope you all had a great Easter (Cringe).

  

See you next week fans

X

Follow me on Twitter @jackgravestock

Week Fourteen: Roadhouse and Jak's

Week Fourteen

  What a truly superb week of new places this was.  Only two to report but both were fantastic and I highly recommend either to anyone.  One was a lad’s meal at the Roadhouse in Covent Garden with the other being a birthday meal for Bex Murphy at the cleverly named Jak's.

  Special guests include: Hayter, Dico, Kroegs, Jake, Goldy, Lefty, Oli Grove, Arthur, Tariq, Breester (the organiser), Anna, Flick, Jagger, Malak, Webby, Jordane, Nix, Tedstone,and of course the birthday girl Bex Murphy.

  

Summary of Roadhouse

Name: Roadhouse

Type: Late night bar / American Diner

Location: The Market at Covent Garden, 35 The Piazza, London, WC2E 8BE

Website: http://www.roadhouse.co.uk/

Date Visited: 09/04/14

Price: Best value for money meal ever

Rating: 3.7/5

Review

  I tell you what, if you have a taste card and you enjoy beers or cocktails then make sure you get down here midweek for one hell of a feed.   This place nails the American diner theme with it being underground, has live music (or so I am told as none was playing on the night), dark lighting (always works in my favour) and a great atmosphere with the background music set at the perfect volume to ensure that you can hear yourself speak and yet avoid the awkward silence moments you can get if the music isn't loud enough. You know what I mean

  The service I am afraid was absolutely woeful.  It took them an age to serve us drinks, the food didn't arrive for a good 45 minutes after ordering and when the desserts were ordered that took a further 45 minutes to arrive.  We got there at seven o clock and were under strict instructions from the establishment that we would have to vacate after 90 minutes.  By the time we finished desserts and the bill arrived it was almost 10pm.  To long in my books.  Maybe because we had the 50% off taste card we were not their highest priority.  

 That said the food was fantastic.  We had a great range of tasty starters and then for the main I went for the Works burger (fancied a change).  This burger was the best I have had in 2014.  Big statement.  The bun had no trouble at all and what it had packed inside was glorious with the burger cooked to perfection and crumbling away upon the bite.  In other words it was bloody awesome.  Dessert was ok.

Charlie went solo on the platter for two.  Professional Rugby player this guy.

  The best part of all this was that for a starter, a main, 4 beers (midweek drinker!?) and a dessert came to £12/£13 each. Unreal value for money.  On closer inspection they did miss off the desserts on the bill, the drinks were 2 4 1 and the taste card got you 50% off all the mains.  Even so that is exceptional.  The place looked like it was going to kick off long into the night and my people on the ground tell me it's open until 3am  all week long.  In effect this bar, which reminded me of the bar from the Sopranos has got everything.  Everything apart from good service (Oh snap).

The Roadhouse table of good looking lads

Summary of Jak's

Name: Jak's

Type: Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar

Location: Jak's Kings Road, 553 Kings Road, London, SW10 0TZ

Website: http://www.jakskingsroad.co.uk/#/jaks/

Date Visited: 12/04/14

Price: Very decent

Rating: 4.7/5

Review

  Due to the well chosen name for this establishment, I was already thinking positively before arriving.  However no bias was needed as this place, big statement to follow, is the best new place I have been to this year.  The place is situated underneath Embargoes and is where Public used to be.  It is once again underground and it is sort of split into two rooms.  One room is the restaurant and the other is the bar area and they are both of substantial size.

  We were here to celebrate Bex Murphy's birthday and had a table for 17 in the middle of the place. There were only 5 guys and 12 girls so there were few complaints from the guys and the 5 guys there all had electric banter so the girls were chuffed to.  Once a few glasses of wine (oh stop it) had been drunk it was time to go up and choose your food, which is already cooked and displayed buffet style.  My kind of style and I can tell you that you are spoilt for choice.  I went for my usual safe bet which is the lamb shoulder and accompanied it with an excessive amount of mash potato, green beans (you've got to be healthy eh) and some broccoli.  It wasn't the smartest looking plate of food but it worked. One person commented that it looked like a school dinner.  Who has lamb shoulder for school dinners? We were in Fulham so maybe that comment isn't too alarming.

The table of exceptional banter at Jak's

  After dinner was wolfed down there was more wine, jagerbombs, champagne and various other alcoholic beverages (do you guys drink, oh my god you are so hardcore).  Now one of the great things about this place is that yes you do sit down and eat your food but once that's done you are able to get up and mingle around the table without feeling like it’s a bit weird as everyone in the place does it.

  What really added to this place was that the inside decor was great, it was big open space giving it a good atmosphere and there was some decent live music involving a very serious looking drummer and a chilled saxophonist.  Now I usually hate live music because it usually means you can't hear yourselves think and involves shouting all night (Durrell Arms on a Friday night for instance) but once again Jak's had come into their own as it was the perfect volume so no complaints there.

Not much I can say here about our good friend Tom Goldwater

  The bill arrived and came to £50 each.  That is fantastic value for money considering we had a good amount of food.  Don't even get me started on the amount of drinks we had. (WHEY!!! PARTY ANIMALS!) To be fair Alex Jagger was falling asleep while standing up (impressive effort), Breester couldn't stand straight and was swaying from side to side while unsuccessfully claiming to be dancing and the birthday girl Bex was finding it difficult to speak with her sentences making no sense. 

  After the bill had been settled it was time to move next door to the bar area to bust some moves and crack on with the rest of the night.  The music in there was decent and the wait for drinks wasn't bad so again no complaints.

Highlights of the evening included Malaktos having a irrational fear of toasts (the raising glass action rather than the bread), Anna being scared of potatoes (a bit of a mental fear that one), spotting David Ginola and Ugo Monye on a night out together?!?, the smoking area being in a cool courtyard, the food of course being decent and the biggest highlight of all....was the whole night itself (Soppy git).

Malaktos' worst nightmare.  Good arty photo this.

 Why not a 5/5 I hear you ask? No cloakroom, the place wasn't quite world class which gets you that coveted 5/5 rating and it is only open until 12.30 which is a great shame.  

 Inspired name for an inspired place.  Best place yet.   

Poem Advice

In the tourist Covent Garden
Wanting drink and meat
Then the roadhouse is for you

The value for money you can't beat

Jak's the great named restaurant
The best place I've been this year
Great food, lots of drink, good atmos
Well priced so do not fear.




    

  Only two places it may have been this week but I have to say they both were fantastic.  Next week sees the return of the financier who will be desperately trying not to do another accidental selfie.  More importantly it is the Partyman's birthday which is celebrated globally.  Thanks again for reading guys always appreciated.

See you next week fans

VIVA LA BLOG!

X

Follow me on Twitter @jackgravestock

Week Thirteen: Hollywood Arms, Lost and Co and Le Bistrot Pierre

Week Thirteen

  

  Week thirteen did have its unlucky moments but luckily I was able to get three new places in.  It was over to Fulham on the Friday night and then on Saturday night it was a return to Stratford-Upon-Avon for the mother's birthday.  Such a good son.

  Special guests this week include: Pyatt, Breester, Tedstone, Bex Webb, Oli Grove, Arthur, Lefty, the brother, the mother and Bunny (it's what I call my grandma....will explain later).

Summary of Hollywood Arms

Name: Hollywood Arms

Type: Gastro Pub

Location: 45 Hollywood Road, Chelsea, London, SW10 9HX

Website: http://www.hollywoodarmschelsea.com/

Date Visited: 4/4/14

Price: Can't complain but probably will 

Rating: 3/5

Review

  

  I have to say this is a very tricky place to review as it has a lot of things going for it but there is also a hell of a lot wrong with it.  Hollywood arms is in a grand old building, with nice high ceilings and lots of original features (bit of estate agent patter for you there).   The company was decent as Webby had come to visit so it was webby, tedstone, Oli, Pyatt, Arthur, Breester and myself having a bite to eat. 

  Upon arrival, to the waiters credit, he came straight over and asked me what I would like to drink.  I replied with, 'Becks Vier' (Standard) for which he proceeded to tell me that they didn't serve any.  Not a good start.  They did have a Peroni which was a good save so things were back on track.  This was as good as the service got I am afraid.  It really did let this place down as they really weren't on the ball at all.  However in all honesty my burger was pretty spot on.  The bun held it's consistency which as you all know is incredibly important in delivering a pleasant burger experience and ensuring that the knife and fork remain as spectators. 

  I think one of the main reasons for the poor service was that all the waiters were dressed as civilians. This proved incredibly problematic in trying to pick out the waiters when trying to order another drink or the bill.  How can you pick out a waiter who is dressed in jeans, a checked shirt and loafers? It's the standard Fulham boys look.  Fez dress code I call it.

  Due to the poor service and the fact the toilet attendant liked to pat you on the back and rub your shoulder while going to the toilet doesn't help its rating.  However the food, the company and the place itself is good so it gets a solid 3. 

This is the gang in Durell Arms where we went after the Hollywood Arms.  Don't know what I'm doing with my phone.

Summary of Lost and Co

Name: Lost and Co

Type: Bar

Location: 160 Putney High Street, London, SW15 1RS

Website: http://www.lostputney.co.uk/

Date Visited: 4/4/14

Price: Normal

Rating: 3/5

Review

  After the Hollywood Arms our party moved on to The Durell Arms to continue our night.  When this place closed it was time to go home so Lefty and I decided to get a night bus back to our home in Tooting.  Unfortunately the inevitable happened and both our phones ran out of battery so we had no information of which bus to get.  We gambled and it didn’t pay off as we found ourselves in Putney desperately searching for another bus to take us back to Tooting.  Wiser men would of got a taxi but not Tom and I.  We were lost (no pun intended) and we were walking into bars and pubs in Putney desperately searching for an Iphone 4 charger.

  I am not going to review every pub I went into for under a minute but the Lost and Co had the much-coveted Iphone 4 charger.  While my phone was in DJ booth charging, me and Lefty had a beer at the bar and observed the activities happening in this bar.  Everyone in this place were completely hooned but throwing some questionable but impressive dance shapes.  There weren't many people in this place considering it was 2am on a Friday night.  Anyhow the beer was fine, the music was ok and the staff very friendly so I can't criticise.  Would I come here for a night out? No is probably the answer but if you had a good bunch it'd be ok.

  Once twenty minutes had passed and the phone was back operating it was time to leave and catch the right bus.  We left the venue to a pleasant farewell from the friendly bouncer and then decided we should get a taxi instead.  So in all it was a pretty pointless visit and a waste of time.

Lefty, his incredible beard and I lost in Lost and Co. (Humour)  

Summary of Le Bistrot Pierre

Name: Le Bistrot Pierre

Type: French Restaurant

Location: Swan's Nest, Bridgefoot, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 7LT

Website: http://www.lebistrotpierre.co.uk/locations/stratford-upon-avon

Date Visited: 05/04/14

Price: Ask Bunny (all will become clear shortly)

Rating: 3.5/5

Review

  Saturday had arrived and it was time for Stratford Upon Avon's favourite son to return home.  Yes I had returned to Warwickshire for the mother's birthday.  It was time to go out for a fancy dinner for the occasion and so Bistrot Pierre it was, with my mother, Peter (mums bf), Joe, myself and Bunny (my Grandma).  

  Before I go onto the important review I must address the question on all of your lips.  Why do you call your grandma Bunny? The reason is because when I was a young sprog I couldn't pronounce Granny and instead pronounced it as Bunny.  This now results in all of our family (trendsetter even at that age) calling an 80 year old lady Bunny.  It is rather strange and does get weird looks from the public.

  Anyway to the meal and I have to say the place is pretty decent.  Honey roasted chorizo for a start....tasty.  Calamari was the next course which was a bit of a let down as the batter fell apart so I had to use my knife and fork while eating battered squid.  Absurd. 

  The main was delightful as I had the lamb shoulder but it did lack a bit of sauce so it was a little dry but still very tasty.  Never been a dessert man so we skipped that and got the bill.   Despite forgetting Mum's present she had a delightful time.  I did get her a card and I turned up so she was pretty chuffed.  Before you criticise me she has now received her birthday present.  Top son I am.

  Back to this place, I had to say it is a good french restaurant and we were served free champagne because my brothers Joe and Fred (Shoutout to him in Australia) used to be waiters so we got special treatment.  To conclude, service was on the money, food was tasty and Bunny paid.  Result.  If you are ticking the tourist box and visiting Stratford-Upon-Avon's which is the birthplace ofWilliam Shakespeare's then come here for dinner.

This weekend was also time to say goodbye to the family home as Mum has moved out and is moving to Devon.

No witty sarcastic comments here.  Just a tearful goodbye.

Poem Advice


The Hollywood Arms,

has lots of good and lots of bad

The groping toilet man

was creepy and made me feel sad

Lost and Co,

was a very fitting name

They had a charger

so I was glad I came

Back to Stratford 

to dine at Bistrot Pierre

I'm the famous guy in this town,

Not Shakespeare, so there

  

 Sorry about that heinous poem.  I think it’s my worst to date.  The truth always does read badly but nevermind we try again next week.  Thanks again for the continued support fans and I am looking into getting a subscribe button so you get it sent directly to your email every week once this piece is published.  Your prayers have been answered.  Any techies out there wishing to help me please do get in touch on this.

Oh and its a week away to my birthday.

See you next week fans

X

Follow me on Twitter @jackgravestock

Week Twelve: Twickenham Day - Duke of Cambridge and Alexander Pope

Week Twelve

  This week was all about gearing up for the big one on Saturday. It was the huge old boys get together at Twickenham to watch our former school in the NatWest Schools Rugby Cup Finals. Bit of a mouthful but you get the idea. We had Warwick School representing in both the Under 15 and the Under 18 finals so there was a huge crowd present.  I would say at least 4 thousand people and we were all seated in the shaded West Stand (good to avoid that beaming sun). The Under 15's won but the Under 18's unfortunately did get stuffed by an impressive Dulwich College outfit. Cracking day out though and good to see some old faces.


  Special Guests include: Warwick School past and present. Notable mentions - Josh Beebee, Brynne, Will Matthews, Tom Maynell, Ryan Mccrickerd, Jonnie Kerr, Ed Gillespie, Lucy Tedstone and of course my biggest fan (Chris Hazell).

Summary of The Duke of Cambridge

Name: The Duke of Cambridge

Type: Pub

Location: Kneller Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 7DT

Website: http://www.thedukeofcambridge.co.uk/

Date Visited: 29/03/14

Price: Not expensive

Rating: 4.1/5

Review

  Another cracking little establishment I have had the pleasure of visiting in recent weeks. Now as I was saying earlier every Old Warwickian had come to watch the school play in the two finals. Between the two finals there was around 2 hours to kill so a watering hole was desperately needed.

  Luckily one kind parent had hired out this whole pub in which only Warwick fans were allowed in. Spot on.

  The atmosphere here was buzzing, the beer garden/car park was overflowing with blue and white shirts and the weather was b-e-a-utiful (Bruce Almighty reference if unsure). Could they nail this set up anymore? Without question.  The establishment had a barbeque outside serving burgers and hot dogs. Fanbloodytastic.

  Without sounding like one of those hippy energy healing therapist types, the vibe was great. Everyone was on great forms and the drinks were going down beautifully (When are they not whey!). Only slight critique if I have to give one is that the bar was a bit small so the wait was fairly horrific but what can you expect if you have around a thousand people (slight exaggeration) cramming into a 100 person capacity pub with only 4 bar staff. You do the math.   I think I just got angry with myself there.

  Back to business, I have given this place a high rating but I do believe the occasion and the company was the main reason for the great experience so I'm going to be cautious to not go too high.  Do any of you care? Probably not.

  Well if you do and if you are looking for a boozer near Twickenham and you are bored of the Cabbage Patch or you’re coming from the other direction, then I would suggest giving this place a try.

Here are the Warwick fans. Told you there was a lot.

Summary of Alexander Pope

Name: Alexander Pope

Type: Gastro Pub

Location: Cross Deep, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 4RB

Website: http://www.alexanderpope.co.uk/

Date Visited: 29/03/14

Price: Pricey....too pricey for my liking.

Rating: 1.9/5

 

Review

  What on earth were we and the notable mentions (see start of article) thinking coming to this establishment after all the rugby had finished at Twickenham. Why would we come here? Josh Beebee, the quick to criticise blogs friend, was the answer. He sold it to us as a highly recommended pub called the Pope's Grotto (interesting name). As you can see from the above it has changed names to the Alexander Pope.  First faux pas.

  Second was the fact this place advertises on its website as being ‘just a short walk away from Twickenham Stadium.’  Wrong, wrong, wrong and just downright lies! This place is a good 30 minute walk and is predominantly uphill. What added insult to injury was walking past the Cabbage Patch where the place was over-packed with old school boys.  Surely we should stop here and catch up with old chums (playing up to private school rhetoric).   No was the answer, this determined group continued to trudge on to highly sought after  Pope's Grotto.

  We finally got to the 'promised land' and were greeted by no-one. The place was dead with no atmosphere which did lead to the one positive of having many tables free. We were able to sit round a large round wooden table (who gives a) and were able to have a good old chinwag which was nice as it had been a while since some of us had seen each other.

  However the place charged a lot of money (forget exactly as it had been a long day but I know that I was grumbling about it) for a pint and then to add insult to injury my Iphone predictably ran out of battery.  Iphone’s quite like myself just can’t last on all dayers.  To make matters worse the place had no Iphone 4 charger which I told a confused waitress would cost her a few points.  It was time to leave.

  That said I would actually come here on a different occasion e.g. you were fancying a pub lunch on a Sunday hangover. Do not come here after watching the rugby at Twickenham...few people do and practically no one would ever consider it an option.

The Popes Grotto does have a cool Glass Perspex box on the outside of it for some reason

Poem Advice

At Twickenham for the rugby,
Wanting to drink some beers
Duke of Cambridge is a good shout
Reminiscing with old peers

Once the game has finished
And you’re wondering where to go
Do not hitch hike to Popes Grotto
The journey’s long and slow.


  Not much to sign off with at the end here folks.  Just to say unlucky to the Warwick School Under 18’s in the final and well done to the Under 15’s.  To warn you devoted readers/fans/those who I force to read, that we have hit April which as you all know is the Partyman’s birthday...big things ahead. Happy reading

See you next week fans

X

Follow me on Twitter @jackgravestock