Review: The Boston Tea Party, Bath, UK

I think I have a new favourite breakfast place. 

Boston Tea Party is a chain of all-day breakfast diners across Bath, Bristol and the surrounding areas. I normally am not a fan of chain restaurants - under most circumstances it would turn me off. However, after having breakfast here, the fact the Boston Tea Party is a chain makes me immensely happy - alas I have the opportunity to sample this menu in multiple occasions as opposed to only when I visit the city of Bath. 

The Boston Tea Party delivers on all front. 

The menu is really very good. There is a wide choice ranging from your standard fry ups (with veggie and vegan options), pancakes with compote and yoghurt or syrup and many variations of toppings on toast.

They were offering sourdough bread, pumpernickle, baps and bagels with salmon, sardines, eggs any way you like, nutella and banana, avocado and hummus…. the choice was really exciting and they are flexible if you want a combination different to what is listed on the menu.

No matter if you are looking for a hearty breakfast or something lighter, there is an option available. The price range reflects this. 10 for the hardcore fry up, 7.50 for the standard (see below), 5.50+ for pancakes and anything from 4.50 - 7.50 for *insert whatever tickles your fancy* on toast. 

The food was top quality. It arrived promptly and all worked perfectly. 

The drinks were also of a very high quality. The latte was silky smooth and the Chai latte was just the perfect winter warmer.

I will be returning as soon as I can to The Boston Tea Party. It is a top spot for breakfast. Whatever you’re in the mood for.

Review: Mildreds, London, UK

I am always on the look out for vegetarian restaurants. As a non-meat eater, finding places that offer veggie options can be difficult. However, you know that if you are going to a specialist restaurant, you are not just going to be getting a choice of 3 or 4 options (if lucky) but a whole menu to choose from and more chance of an all-round more interesting and creative dining experience. Vegetarian restaurants have to make the extra effort to offer something that little bit extra.

That is what Mildreds brings: exciting and unusual food that makes it a must for veggies to visit (bring your omnivore friends as well! They will undoubtedly be impressed).

10 minutes from Oxford Street, and a 5 minute walk from the famous Carnaby, Mildreds is in a great location if you're in Soho and don't want to be swamped on one of the busier streets in central London.

That being said, if you arrive any time after 6pm expect to have to wait for a table. We arrived around 5:30pm and had to share a table. After 2 courses and a round of coffees we left around 8:00pm and, walking out of the door, overheard that the waiting time was up to an hour. However, despite the fact that we definitely stayed longer than we really should have, there was no pressure to leave and if you do have to wait for a table, there are many tempting cocktails on the menu to try out.

Now on to the food!

I was keen to try a number of items on the menu, however, being a big fan of beetroot (and always on the hunt for the ultimate veggie burger) I decided to try the Polish burger.

It was so good and so filling. The burger does not come with any sides but it's so hearty that you really don't need them. If you are extra hungry then you can order them for an extra £3. Which, when added yeti the price of the burger at £7, is actually incredibly reasonable for top quality food on central London.

My dining buddies ordered the Tofu burger and the Sri Lankan Curry. Both enjoyed their meals. I was able to try the curry and it was absolutely delicious and not too westernised. I almost regretted not ordering it.

For dessert, I ordered the Peanut butter chocolate brownie. I was already so full but this was my 19th birthday cake do I couldn't miss out!

It did not disappoint.

Mildreds is a new favourite and I will most definitely be returning next time I am in the region. Well priced, great food and a relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the West End.

As soon as I got back home I started  searching for recipes for beetroot burgers and that beautiful curry and was delighted to find that Mildreds has a cookbook featuring all the favourite recipes. It is available for purchase in the restaurant and on Amazon.

✭✭✭✭½

Review: Modern Art Oxford Cafe, Oxford, UK

I so badly wanted to like this cafe.

Salad bar? Check. Wide range of veggie options? Check. Good prices? Check. 

However, there were a number of things which really disappointed me with the cafe at Modern Art Oxford. 

Walking into the cafe early on a Sunday morning, we were the first customers. We walked up to the counter and asked about what is included in the 'meal deal' (salad plate, dessert and hot drink) - the staff didn't really seem too sure. So they called over another staff member who I can only assume was higher up on the ladder. However, he didn't seem to know either. Not off to a great start.

Next we asked what was in the various baked goods. They were serving frittatas and slices of pizza - all looked great but none were labelled and the staff were obviously clueless as to what they were. 

After being told that the pizza was vegetarian, I was pretty annoyed (understatement) to bite into it and find it contained salami under the tomato.

They replaced it quickly, nevertheless, the damage had been done. The actual salad components were tasty enough and if you are looking for a cold plate, it's a good enough cafe to stop by.

However, there are better places to go for lunch in Oxford. And more interesting selections of salad available.

If visiting, I would stick to the salad bar section and avoid the cakes. We ordered the coffee cake and it was certainly not freshly baked. It was sickly sweet, over creamy and did not taste remotely of coffee. Any redeeming qualities of the salad selection were quickly overpowered by the taste that this cake left in my mouth.

Overall, I was disappointed with the cafe here and, with so many great eateries in Oxford, I doubt I will be returning.

✭

Review: The Raven of Bath, Bath, UK

This seems to be *the* place to eat pie in Bath. And drink ale. Good ale.

I would actually go as far as to say this is one of the best pies I’ve eaten.

Three Kings Pie:  Turkey Smoked Bacon, Parsnip and Cranberry.

The Raven of Bath specialises in pies - and there are always at least three vegetarian pie options on the menu (hurray!!). Better news? All the gravies are vegetarian. Yep, all. There was a choice of three: 

Raven Ale and red onion

Red Wine and thyme

Sage and onion

If that choice of gravy doesn’t make you mouth water then I don’t know what will. 

Deer Santa Pie: British venison, British bacon, puy lentils, winter vegetables, juniper, thyme and port.

The pies are served with either mash or chips. I haven’t tried the mash but the chips were very good and chunky enough to soak up the gravy. 

And before I forget, the pies are served with a single cherry tomato. Superfluous or quirky? I can’t decide. 

I ordered the Heidi Pie with the Red Wine and Thyme gravy. It was both sweet and savory and not too salty. As far as pies go it was very good quality. Supplied from pie minister (all hail), the pastry was done to perfection and it was actually full! Not a half full piece of pastry with a crumbly lid on as seems to be the case with a lot of substandard pies. 

Heidi Pie (topped with sesame seeds): Goat's cheese, sweet potato, spinach, red onion and roasted garlic.

The Raven of Bath is continually packed in the evenings, a mark of a good pub. You might have to wait a bit for a table and then aggressively leap on one as soon as you see a group leaving… but it’s definitely worth it. 

✭✭✭✭½