Meat People, Islington Green

27 02 2013

meatpeopleAt the Clerkenwell end of Islington we’re spoiled for gluten free choice, but the no man’s land between Angel and Upper Street has less well served for some time, until now. Welcome to Angel, Meat People. One of an increasing number of restaurants that does one (or few) things well; and with it takes some of the risk away for coeliacs.

Occupying the site of the former S&M cafe on Islington Green, they have faithfully restored some of the original features of the old diner, and added some fun 1920s touches and lighting that will be sure to please the trendies, including a menu of classic but well-executed cocktails.

Rave reviews from around the table about the small portions of scallops to start, but I kept it simple with a nice medium-rare rump steak which was succulent and well-seasoned. Joyfully chips were on the menu too as they are fried separately so I felt far from hard-done-by, especially when chomping my way through the fresh chimichurri and sipping on the yummy toffee-flavoured Malbec.

A good, solid choice that we’re pleased to welcome to Angel. A little on the pricey side, but I think this is a safe gluten-free bet.

Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
GF Ability: 8/10 – sadly no gluten free menu or bread, but knowledgeable staff


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Baltic, Blackfriars Road

20 01 2013

I suspect that the Official Gluten-Eating Husband (GEH) has some eastern European ancestry hidden somewhere, because nothing makes him happier than anything pickled, smoked or made into a dumpling; especially if there’s beetroot on the side; so I booked Baltic as a treat for him. I was a little nervous having survived my trips to Poland and Lithuania largely on room service tomato soup, but I needn’t have been – the cheery waiter handled my diet expertly, immediately handing me a menu they had prepared with all of my (many) options marked on them.

Ordering made simple at Baltic

Ordering made simple at Baltic

These days I’m unused to choice, so the menu which is a whistlestop tour of anywhere east of Germany and north of the Mediterranean  was somewhat overwhelming. Figs cosy up next to okra whilst most of the dishes are more classic northern-European fare including cured meats, game, and yes – beetroot. Sadly the blinis and dumplings are off limits for coeliacs, but if you follow the recommendation to punctuate your courses with frozen mini carafes of delicious home-flavoured vodkas (plum and chilli, lemongrass); you won’t feel like you missed out.

The food is good and honest –  hearty rather than refined, and no fun for vegetarians at all, but brilliant for us carnivores. I whet my appetite with a hot smoked salmon dressed in just the right amount of tingly horseradish cream then tucked into a Flintstones-sized pork shank on a bed of tangy sauerkraut. I enjoyed stealing GEH’s beef carpaccio, and he told me his veal was meltingly tender. You won’t need sides.

All in all, excellent value with a very buzzy atmosphere that starts from pre-theatre (Old Vic is just round the corner) and no doubt continues late in their funky bar with exciting cocktail list.

Food: 9/10
Service: 8/10
GF-Ability: 9/10 – the only thing missing was something GF when they came round with the rye bread

Two courses with a cocktail, vodka and wine was £50 pp


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Galvin Café a Vin, Spital Square

22 08 2012

Back to my old haunt – Spitalfields- oh what a change! The city creeps east, gentrifying the hovels, smothering grubby newsagents with gleaming design shops and contrived FroYo concept stores. Even the graffiti has a new respectability: it’s ‘street art’ now don’t you know!

It’s not my first time at Galvin, but last time was at the formal and beautiful La Chapelle. Michelin stars are a little much for a Tuesday lunch though, so I booked the more informal bistro – Cafe a Vin which offers an excellent value prix fixe menu.

What can I say? This is gluten free dining as it should be- simple, fuss free and leaving you to worry only about the French ambience, tempting menu and people-watching from your alfresco table. The menu isn’t marked, but the waitstaff know the ingredients and suitable options (as well as what can be adapted). Gluten free bread is offered automatically, and delightfully there is communication between the different servers who remembered about the coeliac on table 4 throughout the meal.

I polished off a beautifully fresh cod fillet with a light butter sauce peppered up with slivers of zingy ginger and detoxed with satisfying bright runner beans. Joy of joys, there was a choice for dessert- the cherry parfait I chose was sweet, melty and tangy; although the ice crystals were a little large and gave a bit of a crunch. Damn I’m spoiled if that’s the only complaint.

I’ll be back to Galvin for sure, and also back to Spitalfields soon to share with you some of the best Street Eats in E1.

Gluten Free-ability: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Food: 9/10


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London Street Brasserie, Reading

27 08 2010

What a surprise to stumble across this quiet independent haven of seagrass and sunlight in the midst of the pile-’em-high chains of the Oracle!

The London Street Brasserie occupies 2 canal-side stories in the centre of Reading, and was the setting for an impromptu family celebration. We sat down to enjoy the immensely good value set lunch menu.

The young staff were friendly and completely unphased by my gluten-free diet, presenting me with a well-prepared menu with the gluten-free options highlighted, as well as those that they could adapt easily. I am now quite unused to having this amount of choice on a menu, which was a very nice problem to have indeed!

I opted for half a pint of prawns and mayonnaise, which arrived fresh, large and plump in a small tin bucket of ice. Delicious, although 12 large tiger prawns is somewhat too large for a starter. This was followed by a fillet of salmon. By this stage I had lost count of the glasses of champagne as the staff wordlessly topped me up, and the champagne welcomely cut through what was quite an oily piece of fish.

My buttons were about to pop off, but this was a celebration and I always feel i can justify dessert when there are some options on the menu for me, so chose an old favourite, creme brûlée. My appetite was whet again as i could faintly hear the sound of a blowtorch from the kitchen. The largest creme brûlée i have ever seen was placed in front of me, and i was rather thankful that i wasn’t able to have the homemade shortbread that would usually come with it. (they put it on a little plate for my dad :)) The dessert was heavy with vanilla and and a wonderful texture, with fine crisp caramel. Sadly i was defeated by the size, as was one of my companions by the incredibly rich chocolate mousse.

So overall an enjoyable experience, wonderful attention to my dietary needs, but rather too large on the portion control.

Glutenfreeability 10
Food 8
Service 9

Riverside Oracle, 2-4 London Street, Reading, RG1 4SE

http://www.londonstbrasserie.co.uk/


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