Make It Happen Events

Sketch: The Library

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:20:29 +0000

Sketch a destination venue if ever there was one – 2 bars, 2 restaurants & 1 private members club – and as funky and classy as can be. My hosts and I dined in The Library restaurant on the 1st floor which is a stunning environment, in fact everything that followed was stunning – the six course tasting menu paired with Deutz NV champagne, 2008 Puligny Montrachet, 2005 Cote Rotie and an unknown but delicious sticky. The sweet course is worth a mention as we were served 5, yes 5 that is no spelling mistake, small puddings!

Book Now: 020 7659 4500

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 5/5 Absolutely stunning (even the bathroom)
Food: 4/5 Excellent
Wine: 5/5 Puligny Montrachet is my favourite white
Service: 5/5 Exceptional
Value: 3/5 I have a feeling it was very expensive (thanks MT!)
Visiting Again? Yes please

The Wine Library

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:29:20 +0000

The Wine Library is a gem of an eatery a stones throw from London Bridge tube. The wine cellar offers over 400 beautiful wines which you can purchase and take off the premises or [ay a £7.50 corkage on and drink in their ‘restaurant’. The eating area is very informal with bar stools and counters alongside tables and chairs. The food is a self-service buffet table with cheeses, charcuterie, cornichons, pickled onions, pates, humous, pork rillets, breads and biscuits. This is very highly recommended particularly if your guest/host likes wine.
Book Now: 020 7481 0415

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 4/5 As a cellar its fabulous
Food: 4/5 For a buffet light lunch simply brilliant
Wine: 4/5 Lovely half bottle of 2005 Pomerol
Service: NA/5 Self-service!
Value: 5/5
Visiting Again? Looking for another opportunity already

L’Anima

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:52:03 +0000

L’Anima has been described as ‘a noisy box with a glass front’ which I think is unfair I was struck by the floor to ceiling windows at the front of the restaurant pouring light into the restaurant even on a dull day. My guest chose the Burrata – cow mozzarella filled with fresh cream and mozzarella strips which I am told was delicious, I treated my self to the special of ravioli with black truffle which was simply divine. For mains my guest chose the slow roasted black pig belly with N’Cantarata Sauce and I selected the special which was grilled tuna (a little underdone for my liking) – I think my guest probably chose better on the main.
Book Now: 020 7422 7000

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 3/5 Got a bit noisy (perhaps I’m just getting old!)
Food: 4/5 Without doubt L’Anima’s best asset
Wine: NA/5 A day off
Service: 2/5 It kept disappearing when I needed it!
Value: 3/5 So so
Visiting Again? Possibly

Al Hamra

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:53:02 +0000

Al Hamra is an authentic Lebanese restaurant located in Mayfair’s renowned Shepherd Market. The restaurant decor is a bit tired and needs an overhaul but that’s not why you choose places like this. I love the plate of tomatoes, spring onions, radishes, carrot that you are served on arrival following by humous and hot breads. We swiftly moved on to the mixed grill of lamb cubes, chicken and lamb kafta ably helped down with a bottle of Chateau Muscar 2004. Finished things of with the lovely Lebanese sweets ‘baklava’ – I particularly like the very sweet sticky ones – with some extra wine.
Book Now: 020 7493 1954

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 3/5 Relaxed & relaxing
Food: 3/5 Some of the best Lebanese in London
Wine: 4/5 Great value Chateau Muscar
Service: 3/5 Attentive
Value: 3/5 OK
Visiting Again? Regularly

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:24:57 +0000

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is an exceptional restaurant, honoured with 3 Michelin Stars. My friend and I ate from the ‘Lunch Hour Menu’ which offers 3 courses and 2 glasses of wine for £55. We begin the experience with small gougere sprinkled with a mixture of parmesan and pepper dipped in a light cream cheese butter. We chose a starter of soft boiled eggs and soldiers. The difference being the egg included black truffle and the soldiers were wrapped in a Tuscan pork ‘lard di Colonatta’ – divine! Ably helped by a glass of 2009 Givry 1er Cru, Petut Marole, F. Lumpp. The main course was Ox Cheek slow roasted for twenty four hours, it simply melted on your palette – divine again! It benefitted from a glass of 2010 Vin De Pays Collines Rhodaniennes, Y. Cuilleron, Syrah. Pre-pudding we were served half a dozen chocolates and sweets – divine again again! For pudding we enjoyed Contemporary Vacherin which was a pair of fruit sorbet with coconut meringues. Mr Ducasse thank you for the meal of a life time!
Book Now: 020 7629 8866

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 4/5 Very good
Food: 5/5 Exceptional
Wine: 4/5 Very good
Service: 4.5/5 Extremely good
Value: 4/5 The set lunch certainly is!
Visiting Again? Yes

The Square

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:48:54 +0000

The Square is without question one of the finest restaurants in London and deserving of its 2 Michelin Stars. Chef & co-owner proprietor Phil Howard was hard at work in the kitchen today and prepared a stunning lunch…

Amuse Buche
Scottish Langoustine with Black Truffle and Mushroom Puree
Starter
Saute or Hare with Parmesan Gnocchi, Scorched Onions, Celeriac and Pear Veloute
Main
Roast Rump of Veal with Croustillant of Sweetbreads, Braised Tardivo and Jerusalem Artichoke Puree
Pudding
Rhubard Souffle with Rhubarb Ripple Ice Cream

If the food needed any help it was perfectly assisted by a half bottle of Morey Saint-Denis 1er Cru, Les Millandes, Domaine Arlaud 2004 which was a beautiful brick red, very nearly orange colour with beautiful soft plum fruits on the noise and palette.
Book Now: 020 7495 7100

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 4/5 Very pleasing
Food: 5/5 Outstanding
Wine: 4/5 A couple of degrees too cold and it never quite warmed up
Service: 4/5 Perfect… attentive without being a nuisance
Value: 4/5 Set Lunch of 3 courses for £35
Visiting Again? Any time you invite me!

Vivat Bacchus

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:08:53 +0000

Vivat Bacchus probably best known for its range of wines. It claims to serve ‘European cuisine’ however the menu goes a few thousand miles off piste with the offer of Springbok Burger and Grilled Zebra Steak - there is some South African influence here probably the owners! I settled for a simple Risotto of Apple, Walnut and Gorgonzola Dolce followed by the Cardomom Creme Brulee. There are two restaurants one at Farringdon and the other at London Bridge.
Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 2/5 Ok
Food: 2/5 Ok
Wine: ?/5 N/A it was Monday lunch after all!
Service: 3/5 Very courteous and helpful
Value: 3/5 I didn’t pay but this is my impression…
Visiting Again? Yes, if I need to

Roast

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:45:44 +0000

Roast offers the very best in traditional English roast dishes and views across the vibrant Borough Market. For starter my guest and I chose the Scotch Burford Brown egg – I’m no fan of scotch egg however this is far from your usual supermarket offering – it was divine and helped down with a carafe of Chapel Down’s Bacchus Reserve. For main we struggled between the crispy pork belly, corn-fed chicken, partridge, lamb cutlets but happily settled on the Grilled Shorthorn rib eye steak which was amongst the best rib eyes I’ve eaten with a little help of a bottle of very smooth Chateau Lucas, St-Emillion 2007. Roast is a real treat and is a musty try if you’ve never been.
Book Now: 020 7940 1300

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 4/5 High ceilings and great views (from a window table)
Food: 4/5 If you like roast you’ll be fine!
Wine: 4/5 A great choice
Service: 4/5 Excellent it was very good and hardly noticeable
Value: 3/5 Not cheap at £35 for a rib eye
Visiting Again? Any opportunity

The Anthologist

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:29:52 +0000

The Anthologist is a welcome addition to the city of London’s restaurant scene. It is relaxed, informal and youthful. My host and I shared a Peking Duck Flatbread – a good job we were hungry – it was a hefty flatbread covered is crispy duck, salad and dressing – delicious and highly recommended! To accompany we ordered a bottle of New Zealand sauvignon blanc was ok, but not one I would not order again. For the main course I had oven roasted chicken breast with a cannelloni bean cassoulet – I was particularly looking forward to the cassoulet and I was not disappointed in anyway, I would order it again and again and again!
Book Now: 0845 468 0101

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 3/5 – relaxed, informal and youthful
Food: 3/5 – the menu has something for every mood
Wine: 2/5 – disappointing but an empty bottle none the less
Service: 3/5 – provided everything we needed
Value: 3/5 – great for everyday lunch
Visiting Again? Yes

The Garrick Club

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:46:00 +0000

The Garrick Club is a private members’ club in the heart of Theatreland founded in 1831 so that “actors and men of refinement and education might meet on equal terms”. In my opinion it is the finest private members club in London. It has the most comprehensive collection of theatrical paintings and drawings in existence. My menu selection here is consistently predictable… potted shrimps with a glass of Burgundies finest white wine commune the Puligny-Montrachet, followed a by the Scottish fillet steak with a bottle of claret, on this occasion I chose the Chateau Leoville-Barton 1999 which was beautiful!
Book Now: Only if you are a member!

Matt’s Scorecard:
Ambiance: 4/5 – quintessentially English
Food: 3/5 – a notch or two up from school dinners
Wine: 5/5 – the best wine list at the best price in London!
Service: 4/5 – it couldn’t be more polite
Value: 4/5 – for the food (5/5 for the wine)
Visiting Again? For sure!