Order at the counter downstairs from a choice of pasta dishes, chicken curry, soup of the day, sandwiches, jacket potatoes etc. and choose a drink from the fridge. Then head upstairs to one of the small, but pleasant rooms with big sash windows overlooking High Holborn. In a surreal touch, the top room has table football. Service can be sluggish, so you may have finished your drink by the time your food arrives. Bad news if you have chosen the substantial and fiery chilli (£4.40), which is served with rice, peas, sweetcorn and lettuce. The upstairs toilet can be grubby and the radio is often loud enough to be irritating, especially if you aren't in the mood for cheesy FM. Cheap and cheerful. 6/10
Friday, 4 January 2008
Valentino's, Little Turnstile, London
Order at the counter downstairs from a choice of pasta dishes, chicken curry, soup of the day, sandwiches, jacket potatoes etc. and choose a drink from the fridge. Then head upstairs to one of the small, but pleasant rooms with big sash windows overlooking High Holborn. In a surreal touch, the top room has table football. Service can be sluggish, so you may have finished your drink by the time your food arrives. Bad news if you have chosen the substantial and fiery chilli (£4.40), which is served with rice, peas, sweetcorn and lettuce. The upstairs toilet can be grubby and the radio is often loud enough to be irritating, especially if you aren't in the mood for cheesy FM. Cheap and cheerful. 6/10