O perfil de Darika

I really thought a Jamie Oliver place would be safe bet for a quick evening snack & drink with a friend after work, but I was really disappointed with everything from food to atmosphere.

Firstly, while I don’t expect all cafes & restaurants to be veggie friendly the menu options here were almost non-existent. One vegetarian starter/snack (garlic mushrooms) and only or two non-meaty flatbread things, even the salads were fleshed out with meat & fish. In the end I selected some cheese and crackers from the pudding menu to snack on.

The flatbread things aren’t “a concept” or particularly British, they are basically over-priced pizza breads.

While the interior is cute and quirky, I can’t imagine how local people will patronise a place like this. The food feels too fussy for lunch, it’s not right for a client lunch, and the ambience isn’t right for an evening venue.

Central St Giles is now a cluster of new restaurants and I think old favourites like Zizzi and new loved chains like Byron just a few steps from the front door will make it tough for Union Jacks.

And if that isn’t enough enough to tempt people away the annoyingly locked main glass doors (they want you to use another side door which is less obvious) frustrate 99% of people trying to get in, perhaps they’ll just go elsewhere. It was certainly distracting to be sat next to.

I haven't actually used Bridges but thought the fact they keep turning away business might warrant a review.

This salon is really conveniently situated near the station and my house, so I thought I could pop in once and see if they had space for a last minute haircut (it was something like a Thursday morning). I was told no and sent on my way, fair enough.

They also stock Dermalogica products of which I'm a massive fan and prefer to buy over the counter instead of online. Going in to ask for sunscreen resulted in a surprised "Eh? We don't stock summer products at this time of year, try somewhere else".

Finally I popped in recently to ask for a fringe trim. The place was completely dead - as it usually is - and I thought this could be a good way to check out if I wanted to come back and get my haircut. After the girl at the desk said yes, someone else barked back "we only do fringe trims for regular customers". Despite the fact I said that was fine, I was happy to pay (Toni & Guy do these free all over the country regardless of whether you're a customer) they sent me on my way again.

Good luck to them.

I haven’t eaten here yet but a friend took me here for late night cocktails. Propped up at at the bar, there was a great vibe and the drinks were out of this world. If a martini could change you life it would be the ones they make here.
Next time I go back I’ll be aiming for Sunday brunch as there is a distinct lack of great weekend brunch venues in central london and I reckon this is just the spot.

Update: I’ve now eaten here twice, including using it for a mini-family reunion, and can assure you the food is also incredible. The prix fixe menus are ridiculously good value.

Haven’t managed brunch yet but adding that I want to do one of their cocktail masterclasses now too. Looked like fun.

You’re in safe hands here with the both the bar, and their fantastic cocktail making skills, and the kitchen no matter what time of day you’re after something to eat (Sunday brunch is as good as Saturday dinner)

This is somewhere that I really want to like but after two visits I’m convinced the service and food are just not worth a third attempt no matter how good the location.

Service is slow and unfriendly and, as a vegetarian, the menu is absent of anything tempting. An over-priced, over-dressed green salad just did not cut it. In fact the smell of chip grease which permeated my clothes from the open plan kitchen was more appetising.