Wishbone

I was so excited for Wishbone last night, I think I told everyone I met yesterday that I was going. Now I don't want to say it was a disappointment as it certainly wasn't, however I think I chose the wrong day to go.  I have visited Market Row and Brixton Village many a time however I think I miscalculated how cold we would be sat in a market unit as the UK began to plummet into a big freeze.

The only table available when we arrived was right by the shutters, squeezed in beside/behind a couple square on to us. This meant we lacked slightly in space on our table/shelf to eat off. Such a thing doesn't really bother me however as we were so cold and lacked a heater over us,  I asked the first staff member I saw if we could move when someone else left. Rabbit in the headlights is the only way to describe his response. I quickly retracted my request for the want of an easy life.

We deliberated whether to stay or not and I am glad we did as the evening improved at a rate of knots. Our lovely and attentive waitress was incredibly helpful when it came to numerous questions about drinks and food menus. With her help we decided to go for a alternative choice of cocktail - a Port Sour. Choosing Port > Egg White Wash > Straight up (See below). It was delicious and cheap - two of the most important components needed for a great drink.

We were then advised to order 2 chicken dishes and then 1 of the more carb heavy sides and 1 of the salad esq. We went for the Thai chicken thighs, the Buffalo chicken wings, deep fried mac and cheese, hot mess and a coleslaw (only to kid ourself's that we weren't just eating a heart attack on a plate and try to adhere to the advice we had been given). Now this is when I wish it hadn't been so cold as I would have been able to eat everything so much quicker if I could of felt my hands.

The Buffalo Wings were BIG wings marinated in a moorish sauce, I think we cleaned every bone dry. The Thighs though were so juicy they oozed fresh mint and chilli and I devoured over half before my date got his gloves off. Part of me wishes we had gone with our gut an ordered my meat and not filled ourselves on side however....

...they did kind of steal the show. Now I hope you visit Wishbone soon and agree with me on this; Deep fried Mac n Cheese needs to be on every menu. With the hot melted cheese seeping out the bottom, each bite was sublime. Then intertwine this with spoonfuls of Hot Mess (hash browns topped with blue cheese dip, mozzarella, pickles, and jalapenos finished with more cheese) and you could easily fall into heavenly carb induced coma.

You could certainly tell that Wishbone was the brainchild of William Leigh and Scott Collins (of the Meatliquor brand), from the alternative menus to the old school 90's hip hop blasting out of the unit and the buzzing atmosphere. Its such a hard combo to perfect and they managed to nail it, which was impressive especially in a small market unit.

I feel that the start of this post was slightly harsh on Wishbone however seating was my only issue with our visit and normally they do have the upstairs section open. This was only closed because they were down a member which also accounts for the occasional slightly frazzled one.

I do assure you though that we will be returning but maybe in slightly warmer weather.

Wishbone, Unit 12, Market Row, Brixton, SW9 8PR
http://wishbonebrixton.co.uk/
@wishbonebrixton
Approx. £15pp with drinks and service

Seven at Brixton

Now, Seven at Brixton was not intended to be the next post and not in quite such quick succession to Wishbone however our visit was just as spontaneous.

After leaving Wishbone, we fancied a final nightcap and so wandered across the road to a very unassuming tapas/cocktail bar. Now I make it sound like we stumbled across it. This was not the case; in fact we have been trying to find an excuse to go for a while. With the promise of fantastic cocktails a £5 a pop, why wouldn't we?

You do have to try your luck with the lesser known named cocktails as there are no breakdowns but this was half the fun. My date went safe and chose a Dark and Stormy. I however decidedly to warm myself up after Wishbone and chose the Haute Toddy. I think I definitely won (if it was a competition that is-which lets not pretend, it always is when it comes to choosing food and drinks). Served in a glass beaker with a caramel biscuit as garnish, it certainly did the job with the perfect amount of amaretto to not be too it certainly warmed my cockles.

Make sure you venture upstairs into the small tucked away rooms to fully enjoy the charm of this tucked away gem. We loved this place and wish it hadn't been a Tuesday night when we couldn't enjoy it to its full extent. Pretty sure we will be returning to kick start our night this weekend in fact.

Unit 7, Market Row, Brixton, SW9 8LB
http://sevenatbrixton.wordpress.com/
@sevenatbrixton

Flat Iron

So here it is. The first post of 2013. 

Aside from being MBFK first post, this was the first meal out I had had since our return from India. It soon became apparent what I had missed during our time away, as within a couple of days of our return I was so desperate for a succulent steak, Flat Iron was the only remedy.

Flat Iron, like many of 2012's new restaurants, has a No Reservation policy. Something that really gets my goat. I had therefore asked my other half to rush over after work and get us in the queue. However 5 mins after his arrival I received the following text - 'I'm upstairs, towards the back'. I nearly buckled down the curb. This was unheard of for a restaurant with such a buzz around it. This was one of many pleasant surprises on our visit to FI.

The next came as I entered; This place was so much bigger than it looked from the outside and it was already nearly full by 6.30pm. I found my dinner date exactly where he said he would be, on a fairly cramped table at the back. The seating is quite difficult to position yourself on and you do end up getting to know your neighbours very well, with the occasional elbow jab for good luck. Due to this, I wouldn't recommend here for a romantic, 1 on 1 meal. We however left that sort of date night behind long ago and were more interested in the menu and satisfying our carnivorous urges than staring longingly at each other.

With one thing on the menu, we ordered quickly. Steak it was, with sides of chips and creamed spinach. Served with Fred's sauce (a tomato based accompaniment with a slight twang). With a carafe of the spicy Italian Negromaro.

As you can see, they do not scrimp on the portions here. I think my iron intake was sufficiently replenished from this one meal after our 3 weeks with no red meat. It was cooked (rare) and seasoned to perfection and melted in your mouth. Accompanied by the right amount of sides for two, we couldn't have been happier and wished we could have had more (we were just too full to manage it).

Flat Iron continued to astound me all the way up until the bill arrived, on a incredibly heavy duty metal slab; for a moorish steak, delicious wine and attentive service, we we were only due to pay £38. We left for the cinema feeling incredibly full and pretty smug that we had found ourselves a slightly undiscovered new regular date night eatery.


17 Beak Street, Soho, W1F 9RW
www.flatironsteak.co.uk
@flatironsteak

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to you all.

I am currently lapping up the last few rays of the first day of 2013 on a beach in India.

This post however is a promise to you all that as soon as I return to London Town. My Best Friend Kate will be back, regularly and for good!

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