Sir Charlie – thank you for encouraging me to visit London eatery “Smoking Goat”.

[Monty91]

It was quite something and, for once, worthy of the hype.

While Thai food is often a little sweet for my palette,I have never experienced such an intensity of flavours and I will certainly return to sample their other offerings (particularly their smoked lamb ribs which, with a heavy heart, I eschewed in favour of the duck legs).

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I am a great fan of the lamb ribs. Did you have the crispy fish sauce chicken wings? They are also remarkable.

My next recommendation, should you be interested, is the Barrafina in Adelaide St. Having sampled the original branch in Soho some years ago, I was sopmewhat sceptical about the critical fuss surrounding its newer sibling. Suffice it to say that, having tried it for the first time last month, I have now eaten there 4 times in 3 weeks.

[Monty91]

but I do understand the fuss amid foodie hipsters like your good self.

Yes, the new Barrafina is very much on my radar. Any individual dish recommendations would be gratefully received.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Tortilla morcilla (served as baveuse as the finest French omelette.)
Roast suckling pig.
Crab croquetas.
Fennel and pear salad.

Then you should roam freely and liberally through the specials menu.

Yesterday I had a scallop on a bed of braised oxtail, which my (very) foodie French companion described as the best dish he had eaten in the last 12 months. From a man who owns a 2 star restaurant and eats in 3 star restaurants on a weekly basis, this is praise indeed.

The wine list is short but reasonably priced.

Expect to pay 70 pounds a head without wine.

[ITSUPFORGRABSNOW]

[Monty91]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

143 for two, including a 40 pound bottle of wine. So 50 quid a head, basically.

[Monty91]

Why would a business owner keep a restaurant bill, I wonder? :rubchin:

[Classic Jorge]

and every one of their local variations.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Mother of God, but they were good.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I'm wearing the same clothes I've been in since Monday. What was supposed to be dinner on Monday night turned into a 48 hour bender. With two benders.

[Classic Jorge]

[Monty91]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

http://groceries.iceland.co.uk/medias/sys_master/h0c/h04/8845519093790.jpg

[Snin]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I've got there 5 minutes before they open and joined the queue of eager gastronauts, so I've been seated straight away. Half an hour after opening they're full, and I've heard that the wait can be over an hour :-(

I so hate this no reservation stuff.

Go early, that's the answer.

[ITSUPFORGRABSNOW]

Like a 30th wedding anniversary.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[ITSUPFORGRABSNOW]

outside.