Dim T, 2 More London Place, Tooley Street, London, SE1 2DB (Second visit)

I am surprised with how I "may" actually become a regular to some restaurants. Emphasizing the word may as I'm always up for trying something new rather than going to same places. This time I had visitors from abroad, they preferred asian cuisine. London Bridge branch of this restaurant has a great view of Tower Bridge especially at night when it is lighted. Getting off the tube/bus at London Bridge you walk by the Thames on Queen's Walk in order to reach the restaurant which is good in both ways: On the way there you enjoy the promenade, on the way back it helps you digest all that food you have just eaten!
As starter: edamame beans (naturally good as it's hard to mess it up), duck spring rolls and satay chicken (both are disaster)
My guests have chosen crispy duck which is basically Beijing-style duck slices that comes with onions and pita. I go for udon noodle prawn teriyaki. Prawn was a bit blunt but the noodle tastes good and it is filling without giving you discomfort in the stomach.
I picked chocolate bento box as a dessert. Brownie and vanilla ice cream comes in a mysterious black box. I like these sort of little gimmicks that add to your dining experience. Some guests chose mango sorbet, I tried a bit as well, absolutely great. If you want something a little lighter you could choose this over brownie. And the picture is the fruit that went into the chocolate fondue dip :=)

Chez Gerard, 38 The Market, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 8RF

It is great to have an affordable French restaurant in central London. I have been to this place quite a few times and always enjoyed the food. Staff are very nice people. A quick search on Chez Gerard restaurants tells me that it is one of the 11 branches of the group and this particular branch alone generates GBP 5million annually, not bad, eh? :=) Also it is quite amazing that they have around 6o staff in this restaurant serving to 250 covers. Respect! I've always admired hospitality businesses.

This time we went there for a friend's birthday on a pleasant weekday afternoon. This is my favourite Chez Gerard branch as it has a roof top balcony overseeing Covent Garden.
As students we like smart deals such as their "prix fixe" where you can choose either a starter-main or main-dessert. The picture is goat cheese starter dish. As a main, I usually prefer steak-frites. They know how to cook proper medium rump steak. Although I'm quite interested in the vegetarian movement I cannot help when it is good red meat. I could maybe give up on chicken but not steaks, well sea food is hard too:)
Although our waitress recommended tart au citron (lemon tart) as a dessert saying it's quite popular, unfortunately we don't agree with her. Next time, I'll go for somethnig chocolatey, you can't go wrong with that!

Manorom Thai, 16 Maiden Lane Covent Garden London WC2E 7NJ (Second visit)

Well, another visit, as promised, however good food combined with a heated conversation on London job market is the reason to forget taking a picture again. We had the set menu again. Everything is the same except that spicy chicken soup is getting better and spicier every time! I literally burst into tears when ambitiously trying to finish it, not even mentioning my friend's face going into different expressions with every sip :)

I think the soup so outperforms all other dishes that I lose my objectivity in evaluating them. Well, the chicken in the curry dishes is not soft rather crunchy. Steamed vegetables are alright. Finally gotta stop giving canned lychee fruit as the dessert.. Prices increased 2-3 pounds as well. Well I would go there again for sure as I like its cosy atmosphere quite calmer than the rest of Covent Garden restos.
Posted by rev at 10:13 PM