Eating Out and In

RESTAURANT/CAFE/TAKE AWAY Reviews

Welcome to our Eating Out and In page.

Reviews/recommendations are for selected restaurants and take aways who advertise on LAYL. We are happy to advocate them as local and known to be good places to eat . If you are new to the area...please try these first..they are actively supporting LAYL, musicians, artists and performers in the area.

PIZZA AT THE ROYAL SOVEREIGN

Reviewed by Suzy Roston 20/5/2011

The Royal Sovereign has reinvented itself yet again food wise with it’s latest gastronomic transformation into a highly successful Italian Pizza parlour. Previous attempts of home baked pies and authentic tapas pale in significance as the Friday night Pizza buzz takes hold in the pub.

Some present are obvious pizza lovers, whilst others are there to support Rebel Radio with it’s first public appearance at The Sov promoting its’ online Local Station.

Marco, resident chef for 6mths, is authentically Italian and has been baking pizza for 20 years. His new home is the tiny and recently renovated kitchen corner of the Royal Sov.His standards are high (and council approved). Stoke Newington’s (must be) most likeable barmaid Karen, surreptitiously took me aside. Assiduously listing other great chain names she’s previously visited, confirms they couldn’t possibly compare. And she knows why. “ His secret is his own dough and he makes it from start to finish!”

The toppings are skilfully cooked and the veg nicely al dente.With a 15 pizza variation in the menu catering for vegetarians, carnivores and fish lovers alike you can add on any missing extra topping for 75p- £1.25.

We had a delicious Vegetariana with added Parma ham...£7.95 and massive!And a Quatro Stagione with ham, mushroom, olives, artichokes £8.95 and a £2.95 mixed salad.

All pizzas are 12 inch.  A typical meal with a large and exciting green salad will set you back around £10 a head but it could be half if you stick to a salad and buy into a quarter of your friends or just wait till they get too full and make a dive for the leftovers.

Sharing would easily be an option if you’re having financial cutbacks or not excessively hungry.And there’s food while you drink,  taking the edge of a next day hangover!

A smaller size version with a smaller price would be a welcome innovation for smaller appetites or those of us cutting calories, or with not much spare cash after the drinks.Or the introduction of Pizza Sharing, where they match 2 people willing to take pot luck on a half size pizza of the next available type.

And remember when you go to check the listing, for great night out, pizza and  band, quiz or sing along.

THE TEA ROOMS

Reviewed by Charlie Clarke 1st April 2011

Blessed are we in Stoke Newington to have a plethora of eateries, restaurants and cafes with a multiplicity of tastes and traditions from nearly every corner of the Earth.

Till 2007 the English Tea Room had been sadly under represented in the area.However the deficiency was happily remedied by the ingenuity of Isabelle Allfrey, who bravely opened the first.

Stoke Newington’s first proper tea shop, The Church St Tea Rooms expanded a year ago to its’ present double fronted shop in the middle stretch of the street.  Now an established meeting place and a hive of activity, with varied events and classes to accompany a thirst quenching cup of tea.

I was asked to experience it firsthand (and in secret) for the new LAYL selected eating out page.

Meeting a friend, newspaper in arm, I entered a lively Sunday afternoon tea room, dragged unashamedly into the 21st century; white walls and a chic bareness played stage to beautiful vintage crockery and cake stands filled with traditional English scones. The gushing of tea-pots pouring an array of world teas complementing the effervescent Stokey atmosphere.

I intended to sample the 2-5pm weekend £15 full cream and cake tea. However, the Tea Rooms I discovered to be a popular outfit and the weekend offer was all but gone by 3pm (must book next time! ). Luckily plenty of cakes and quiches were still available, all reasonably priced and looking very tasty.

We ordered a moist cherry and almond tart, carrot cake, a macaroon (apparently in vogue at the moment), as well as scones and two pots of tea, all for under £14. The scones were delectably light, and came with plenty of jam and lush clotted cream. The green tea was also very good and much fresher than your ordinary home-brand.

This should definitely emerge as a great Summer hot spot; a couple of minutes from Clissold Park and the perfect destination for a Stokey ramble.

During the week there is ever more reasons to sample the tea, and light lunches (Not yet tried and tested) whilst parents and carers can bring babies and toddlers to musical mornings. Aspiring bakers shouldn’t miss the cupcake decorating course and keep watching for new leaflets (or on LAYL).  Other craft classes should be coming soon.

Would also be very good for older relatives and not so bad for a Sunday hangover. It’s extremely child friendly and on a sunny day there’s a lovely little south facing garden to retreat to.

The Tea Rooms also sells cake making equipment and has a collection of some lovely old crockery for sale; a good place to find an unusual present.

I am definitely hoping to sample the sandwiches next time and wondering if they’ll add wholemeal crumpets to their impressive range.