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More London food stuff

London restaurants: RIP Viva Tacos

H.K writes:

Viva Tacos, a venture started by two blokes from California, who had a dream to introduce Britain to Mexican fast food (tacos, tostadas, burritos). The food stock was imported from the Netherlands. I worked at the shop located near Tottenham Court tube stop and University College Hospital whilst a graduate student at the LSE 1977-1981.

The Brits who wondered into the shop were clueless about Mexican fast food. After a bite or two of a tacos, most of them were hooked and became repeat customers.There were a good many medical students from the hospital who would frequest the shop. One evening a group of Jewish high school students and their teacher from the states popped in for food. They were such a joyous lot, and the evening buiness was lax, so I puch aside all the tables and chairs, they danced a "hora" and persuaded me to join in.

We nicknamed the wooden sign in front of the shop "Pepe" and the staff wore light blue t-shirts and sweat shirts with Pepe's picture on the front. The shop proved popular with Yankie tourists and ex-pats. The shop often buzzed with business after the weekly ex-pat softball games on Sunday morning in Regent's Park.

The Californian founders of Viva Tacos eventually sold both shops and the concept to the master KFC franchaise holder in U.K. I heard that the franchaise holder divested the shops and they were closed.

I still have my "official" Viva Tacos soda cups, employee shirts and sweatshirts. That's all that remains from a special place and a special time in my life.

London restaurants: RIP Pollo- end of an eatery

Rob Grimwood writes: "A hugely missed pasta eatery on Old Compton Street where pasta mains were �3.95 and carafes of fantastic cheap house wine equally good value. Tables were of quality fomica and leatherette bench seats completed the untouched 1950s appearance of the place. Downstairs became more like a busy school canteen later of an evening and sharing tables became obligatory. Still hoping it may reopen though it's been many months and the place remains resolutely shut. I once said that if Pollo's ever closed down I would leave London! But I haven't."

London restaurants: RIP Orange Julius - the devil's drink?

The early to mid-seventies seemed to be an era of extraordinary bad taste: a world where the Bay City Rollers tartan and loon pants were style icons. This tacky gimmickry was also reflected in the booming fast food outlets of which a singular example was Orange Julius. Orange Julius was a burger bar in Golders Green whose motif for some reason was the devil. On the back of each orange chromium-legged chair was a diabolic figure. Out of curiosity, were there any other Orange Julius outlets? Why the devil? Do explain whether Orange Julius is a pseudonym of Old Nick. Is sin the work of Orange Julius? Are idle hands Orange Julius's playthings? The food consisted of mediocre burgers, which, if my memory serves me were liberally festooned with cress. Its speciality, however, was a bizarre concoction of orange juice with raw egg. Now, I may be wrong but I cannot recall anyone saying, "just what I've always wanted, raw egg in my orange juice". This drink came in three sizes of glass as one could never get enough orange juice with egg, or I guess that was the marketing pitch. Suffice to say that after the novelty wore off and you confronted the ghastly reality of having a large glass of orange juice and raw egg, trade tailed off and Orange Julius went the way of the Bay City Rollers and the maxi-skirt into the dustbin of history. Strange times, huh?

London restaurants: RIP Laurent's - Brightening up the interzone

Adam Woolf writes: "Situated in that strange interzone between Golders Green and points west known as Childs Hill, Laurent's was, for twenty years or more, probably the most authentic ethnic eating experience in London to this day. It was a family-run business of two generations of Algerian Jews who specialised in the North African dish of couscous. When I say specialised, I kid you not, because that was all that was on the menu, in three incarnations: carnivorous, piscatorian and vegetarian, with a small wine list of bloody good Tunisian wines. The ambience was no-nonsense French bistro - a few tables covered by trad white and blue checkered cloths. Being in the proximity of Hampstead during its bohemian heyday meant that this tiny place was very popular and they did a kind of take-away service which was unique. You had to come with your own saucepans to collect the sauce and precious couscous. The food itself was unsurpassed - a matter of total dedication to the art. Now Childs Hill will remain forever nondescript with the passing of this tremendous establishment, to be mourned for its fabulous uniqueness."

London restaurants: RIP Window on the World - A little bit of soul at Brent Cross

In 1976, that temple of consumerism, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, opened and with it a restaurant in Fenwicks departement store called Window on the World. This did indeed have big windows and the world it looked out on consisted of the shopping centre car park and the A406. WotW's old-fashioned atmosphere and service provided a foil to Brent Cross's cutting edge soullessness for 20-odd years. It had uniformed waitress service, staff that were there for years, a menu that stayed resolutely in the 70s and, of course, a sweet trolley. Despite its undoubted priceiness it was always a pleasant place to sit for a while and recover from your shopping centre induced migraine. It closed in the 90s to be replaced by a self-service cafe.

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Message:	15/15
Date and time:	12/02/2010 at 18:41:23
Sender:	Federica

Tamesa had opened a couple of years ago, on the first floor of the otherwise pricey and exclusive Oxo Tower. We came across it via Top Table, and after the first time, we became regulars. The decor was plain but quite nice, with 60's style tables. At the end was the bar, with comfy seats. The main thing was the amazing view to the river, the sunset, St Paul's. The restaurant was often empty but the food was delicious, always delivered. Sadly, it seems to have closed down a few months ago. Sadly missed.

Message:	14/15
Date and time:	12/02/2010 at 18:39:19
Sender:	London restaurants 2 :: Ron D. Hoult

As with everyone we were bitterly upset when Manzi's closed. We visited London five or six times a year and always stayed at Manzi's,yes they had an hotel on the upper floors, very comfortable.Of course we always eat at least once when we were there.My wife loved the grilled scampi,in the days when they were allowed to serve it.We loved the waiters, but they liked to play games,when newcomers asked for grilled scampi they were given Knives and forks instead of pickers and clamps. This highly amused them but in the end they always gave the correct implements particularly if Mr. Lucas, the retaurant manager, was around. The last time we were there the waiters all lined up and shook our hands, my wife even had a kiss from Mr. Lucas. Good memories but a sad ending!

Message:	13/15
Date and time:	22/11/2009 at 23:06:34
Sender:	David

short black aka espresso‏ was going to be my R.I.P. but never found a decent one anywhere, now where I live you can't walk 100 metres w/o tripping over a cafe with great coffee. (wgtn. NZ)

Message:	12/15
Date and time:	22/11/2009 at 23:04:40
Sender:	Pam

The Nosh Bar in Soho Where we used to all meet in our work lunch hours. Jackie Collins of Hollywood fame - who went to the London Polytechnic in those days - used to come and join us.

Message:	11/15
Date and time:	27/08/2009 at 23:32:19
Sender:	London restaurants 2 :: Tom Munzer

Let me join the doleful chorus about Manzi's. Over the years, my wife Patti and I have made more than 15 trips across the pond to visit London--not counting the times we hopped across the Channel when living in Paris. Manzi's was a must for all the reasons others have mentioned. Let me just add one more: the espresso was the best we ever had, including in Italy. We have a business card and postcard which shall be cherished.

Message:	10/15
Date and time:	04/04/2009 at 18:13:22
Sender:	London restaurants 2 :: Tim

The Great Windmill Street salt beef bar with the boxing photos was called Carroll's. The food was excellent and the service marginally more polite than at the Nosh Bar. A waiter called Lou was a great character and wouldn't even blink when punters asked for cream with their apple tart (having had chopped liver and salt beef)

Message:	9/15
Date and time:	31/03/2009 at 18:07:52
Sender:	London restaurants 2 :: peregrine

I miss the old Edwardian Kettners in Romilly Street. The replacement fizz bar and jazz place may be good things in themselves but are no substitute. My father used to take us there in the '50s when he wanted to celebrate a success. The atmosphere was wonderful, still with a touch of the Belle Epoque about it. The waiters were as splendid as the food. I remember eating there once almost half a century ago. While we were eating I overheard an elderly lady and her son preparing to leave. The mother was anxious that they should not be late for the theatre and asked the head waiter to order a taxi. He asked her to which theatre. She thought for a long Pinterian moment then said, 'Oh, I can never remember the names of these places but they're playing something musical. It's called, "Things aren't what they were".' 'Of course, madam'. He withdrew and ordered the cab.

Message:	8/15
Date and time:	31/03/2009 at 10:32:30
Sender:	London restaurants 2 :: William Chichester

I am so so sorry to see the most wonderful fish restaurant in London just... no longer there. I have been a customer for over 40 years and, to be quite honest, want to cry. I have had so many memorable times in their restaurant. It really was an experience to eat there and I just wish places as unique as this would last forever. RIP

Message:	7/15
Date and time:	09/03/2009 at 21:17:44
Sender:	Silver

The Nosh Bar returns to great windmill in or around the middle of march 09. The original site of Phill Rabin's Nosh Bar at number 39 is set to reopen its doors exactly 65 years after it first opened in 1944. With a return to all the traditional values of the original. Great salt beef on rye, cheese cake, lemon teas, the lot... All served up with a slice of attitude. I just thought you all might like to hear that as we are dedicating it to the people who remember it well, and all those who appreciate good honestly priced food and drink, as some of us still do.

Message:	6/15
Date and time:	27/10/2008 at 09:34:24
Sender:	London restaurants 2 :: Rien van Reems from Holland

The last 40 years we went to London nearly every year. November next we'll be there again and I checked Manzi's on the Internet. How shocked we were when we learned that Manzi's has closed. We were taken by an English friend to Manzi's 30 years ago and went back to the place every time. Some evenings we spent hours in the bar at the top floor, till there was a table. When we asked if we could pay for our drinks in the restaurant the bar-lady said ''no, because I dont trust the maffia downstairs. We took many friends to Manzis over the years and we were looking forward to the dressed crab and the strawberry cheesecake with whipped cream. We grew old with the waiters and we were there when the third generation of the family took part in the bussiness. There was champagne that night. How sad. This is a great shock.