Qype: Make Mine in London

London - Cafes & Coffee Shops - Sandwiches

I don't mind queues and considering central London prices that's not a biggy either - but instead my below par rating is going specifically on my wrap's contents. I went for the smoked chicken do - number 11 I recall. The chicken itself failed to make an appearance until half way in (even then it was sparse) and the lettuce (which I'm pretty sure was meant to be rocket) was slimy due to some vinegary substance which overpowered the entire wrap and made the whole thing soggy. I ate half of it and tossed it away.

Despite my rating I am going to definitely give this place another go soon - as so many others can't be wrong. I'll just be giving the wrap counter a rather wide berth.
Check out my review of Make Mine - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Fresh and Wild in London

London - Food & Drink - Organic Food

When my colleague suggested this place for our lunch I imagined from the name it was nestled in porn alley up the road. It is instead part of the whole foods group and has some very tasty offerings. But at some less tasty prices. I've been twice and the salad valley isn't bad but this time I got a salmon tart thing from the counter which was disappointing. It's also difficult to weigh up the prices as, although the food is undoubtedly fresh and wild, I wonder if you can't get better value elsewhere as I doubt you'll leave there with lunch for under a fiver. So great for the wholesome meal, but not a place to pick up your staples.
Check out my review of Fresh and Wild - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Benito's hat in London

London - Restaurants - Mexican

Visited this fairly new establishment on a Tuesday night and was amazed to see bums on all seats throughout. It's clearly very popular both as a takeaway destination and eat in - they do some great margaritas and have a little outside section for lovely evenings and dirty smokers (like me).

As more and more Mexican places open up, it's good to find one that does it right. Mexican food shouldn't be about waiters wearing sombreros and colourful blankets, bringing prettily-presented dishes and toilets with cheesy signs saying 'senoritas'. It's about serving fresh, convenient, simple, non-greasy and flavoursome food. Benito's certainly ticked all of those boxes for me.
Check out my review of Benito's hat - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: The Fitzrovia in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Although I don't have a complaint, there's nothing memorable about this pub, and I honestly don't believe it had anything to do with the three margaritas before entering. It was one of those places that had what you needed, but nothing stood out. And although bravo for them for not being 'bad', they really should think of doing something unique to make their pub above a lot of other averagey places in London.
Check out my review of The Fitzrovia - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Tibits in London

London - Restaurants - Vegetarian

Were it possible to eat your fill and get a drink for £5 from this place, I'd happily give it 5 stars because the food is really good. It's modern, trendy, clean and fresh and the food is tasty. But I fail to justify to myself paying £10 for a veggie lunch when it didn't feel particularly filling, even though it was very tasty.

Despite my gripes, I think this place will do well but guess that I'm not the target consumer as if I have to eat in the city everyday, I can't afford to come here. If you do - be weary as £2-3 per 100grams doesn't sound bad, but somehow on a plate you have no concept of weight and it doesn't look like a lot.
If you are on a budget grab a soup and a bun for around £3, but even that didn't look like a big meal. Trendy, tasty but just over-priced in my books.
Check out my review of Tibits - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Lantana in London

London - Restaurants - Australian

My Mum always told me to head for new retaurants as that's when they're trying their hardest. Lantana did to a certain extent, but I was a little surprised when both my colleagues salmon and eggs arrived sans the salmon, and the waitress offered the plate forward and said 'They didn't put salmon on, do you want me to get it for you?'. Which I found a little bizarre - it's not like you have to cook it or prepare it, so if you'd noticed it missing wouldn't you nip back into the kitchen and ask the chef to throw some on? They were ravenous so told her never mind.

Lantana is a great, serene palce to head for breakfast, but only if someone else is paying. Breakfast for a tenner is not something you're likely to do very often and I couldn't help but wonder if they could shave off some of the costs to have people returning, as they should, for the lovely atmosphere and great Monmouth coffee. Quality comes at a price, but can you get the same quality for a better price in London? I think you might.
Check out my review of Lantana - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Cittie of York in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

I like this pub because it feels like it has a lot of heritage and history - not posing as many other London Public Houses tend to. You want find your trendy alco-pops or ciders ehre - they don't even serve coke but a local named 'Cola'. I didn't have their food but really liked the little tables in alcoves and raised ceilings. Their prices also aren't bad - a cider and a vodka coke for £5. If you are a cider drinker, the bottled organic cider is much better tasting.
Great place to bring relatives visiting from afar for a 'traditional' pub experience.
Check out my review of Cittie of York - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Vogue in London

London - Beauty & Wellness - Beauty Salons - Beauty & Wellness - Manicure & Pedicure - Beauty & Wellness - Hairdressers

After recently changing hands, the new feisty Irish owner of Vogue has decided to hit the ground running by knocking down the prices to those that aren't really found in London - I had my long hair coloured for just £30 and they said for cut, highlights and blow dry it would be about £50 - which isn't bad at all.

The place isn't posh or modern so you won't find the latest technologies and have a touch-screen telly to watch while your hair is being laser-dyed by a hovvering helper. But sometimes it's quite nice to have a good-old fashioned hairdresser with a pinch of modern flair. A lot of their clients are quite young and seem to be walk-ins who notice the decent prices. I'd definitely go back - especially to try their cheap manicures and pedicures.
Check out my review of Vogue - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: The Hop Cellars in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

After taking over a part of the bar for a do here, I was very glad we opted for the Hop Cellars. It's much bigger than you'd imagine from the hobbit-hole street entrance, and the building in which it's encased is really detailed and magnificent.

When you enter, the low ceilings span out across various sections. The bar was well-stocked, the staff were friendly and on their toes, the toilets were clean and it altogether was a superbd venue to paly host to our ghost walk event.
Check out my review of The Hop Cellars - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Ryanair in Dublin

Dublin - Travel & Hotels

Cheap and cheerful until you have any ammendments to make and have to deal with their horrendous customer 'service'.

A month before we were due to fly to Italy we found out we could no longer make the original dates. So we called to move the flights (which would inevitably be a cheaper ticket as our earlier ones were over Easter but understood we would not get refunded the difference). The initial tickets for two people to fly return to Italy over easter were £350. When calling to change the flight to a month later for tickets which I could see on the web as new for £170, understanding we'd have to pay in the cost to make the change. 'That will be £407' the lady on the other side told me. 'Oh you mean including the £350 we've already paid?' 'No, on top of that?' I was horrified and went through the next ten minutes discussing how I could see it for less than half the price on the front end of their site but she still claimed that was the cheapest surcharge she could arrange which I said was mad and she hung up. Nice.

I called back immediately and asked to speak with her. The person came back to ask if it was about the 'Italy tickets' and I said yes and she said 'Oh then I'm sorry that lady is out.' I asked to speak to a manager and was told they would call me back, another thing I am still waiting for. In the next few days I spoke to two other members of staff as did my partner and not one of them could give me a better option than £770 for tickets to Italy on Ryan Air. What a joke. The best part is there's no way of contacting their customer complaints department unless by fax or post. Desperate to save on the tickets while they were still a month away I sent a letter and faxed it detailing my issue. I never heard back. I faxed the same letter again the following week and still no reply.

We lost those tickets and ended up buying tickets on BA for less than the Ryan Air quote to 'move' my current tickets. We kissed £350 good bye and had to buy new tickets but learnt a lesson and will not where ever possible support a company that is cheap to its very core - right down to basic customer service.
Check out my review of Ryanair - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Prince Albert in London

London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

This is a great little pub should you find yourself in this neck of the woods. It has a surprisingly wide selection of beers and ciders and is actually quite large inside. The prices are average but the best part was actually the spacious outside area at the back. Shaded by umbrellas and large old trees, we sipped on sunshine, pleasant chatter and boozey drinks all afternoon. There are some rather interesting characters who frequent this public house - hippy-like with dogs which can be quite entertaining.
Check out my review of Prince Albert - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Manorom Too in London

London - Restaurants - Thai

A large group of us ended up here unscheduled and got a table downstairs. Their menu is pretty authentic and for a central London location, very decently priced - including their drinks. As usual my first test to see what it's like is to try it's Phad Thai. This version was actually damn tasty although it did have green chillies in it making it slightly spicier than normal. The downside? Of the three of us that chose this dish, all of us were still hungry after as the portions are tiny. So although the mains are around £6, you'll have to entertain a starter for any chance of being fed up at the end.
Check out my review of Manorom Too - I am Urbanite - on Qype

Qype: Brixton Market in London

London - Food & Drink - Farmer's Markets

There's something really awesome about Brixton market which other London markets don't have. There's a vibe and a pulse, and a definite feeling as if you've left England. It's loud and smelly and busy and buzzing - like many a market should be. You can get great deals on fruit and veg (a bowl of avocadoes for £1) and even find a top notch place for lunch tucked in the many nook and crannies. I didn't spend half as much time there as I would have liked as my friends weren't as excited about the place but generally if you're into markets you should definitely check this one out. Now if only they did deliveries so I could get all my fruit and veg from there without having to trek down from North London...
Check out my review of Brixton Market - I am Urbanite - on Qype