cambcam
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Post by cambcam on Jan 16, 2020 11:13:52 GMT
Noticed one of the old favourites has reopened after make-over - The Galleria. Always loved that place but it had become very tired and the new arrivals blew it out of the water. Looks like they’ve responded and it looks very nice (from the website at least) galleriacambridge.co.uk/ so will check that out at the first opportunity. As for The Galleria, I haven't been there since 1989! For some reason or another, it never calls, and we always wander on past down to La Margherita. Let us know if it is any good when you've been. Funnily enough that got me thinking because yes, you are right, The Galleria is a place you’d generally walk past but it holds some very nice memories so I think it clouds the judgement a little. Hopefully the makeover is a winner as it has a special place in my heart and I suppose we’ve all got those favoured venues that go beyond the food itself. Whilst acknowledging we all like different things, I can’t see past Parker’s Tavern at the University Arms Hotel at the moment. It’s a lovely place but the bar area with table service is a fantastic place to be too, a real joy for pre/post meal drinks. At the risk of sounding a bit ‘George Michael’ they’ve got the finest ‘Gents’ in the city too, an uber-cool Manhattan Hotel style elegance. Just to say also, I was in the empty Hobson’s House the other day (the former police station/council offices, Regent Street) which is being converted to a boutique hotel with restaurant. That building is incredible inside with several spectacular features and will be another amazing venue when complete. For a city this size we are blessed with some fabulous options for sure.
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Post by Jerry1971 on Jan 16, 2020 15:10:28 GMT
We are generally very lucky in Cambridge cambcam, for a city of our size to have the number of restaurants etc it does is unusual, but the reality is that for 150,000 residents the restaurant market would be much smaller than it is. The difference is 8.5 million tourists last year, and the two Universities and the huge businesses that have moved here. I remember back to when I first lived in Cambridge (1978) and the choices were really only the Garden House, the Gonville or the UA, and the 'Red-Hen' in Lion Yard! We've moved on a bit.
It makes me wonder when I am on the road to an away game about what those who like a good restaurant get up to in some parts of the country. Big cities (Bradford springs to mind instantly) seem to be almost ghost towns after about 5pm, with City centres empty or full of closed shops. Cambridge really is very different.
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animal
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Post by animal on Jan 16, 2020 17:48:10 GMT
We are generally very lucky in Cambridge cambcam, for a city of our size to have the number of restaurants etc it does is unusual, but the reality is that for 150,000 residents the restaurant market would be much smaller than it is. The difference is 8.5 million tourists last year, and the two Universities and the huge businesses that have moved here. I remember back to when I first lived in Cambridge (1978) and the choices were really only the Garden House, the Gonville or the UA, and the 'Red-Hen' in Lion Yard! We've moved on a bit. It makes me wonder when I am on the road to an away game about what those who like a good restaurant get up to in some parts of the country. Big cities (Bradford springs to mind instantly) seem to be almost ghost towns after about 5pm, with City centres empty or full of closed shops. Cambridge really is very different. Come now! The 70's means a trip to the Berni Inn or the Churchill.
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Post by Jerry1971 on Jan 16, 2020 19:44:37 GMT
Was the Berni 70’s? I vaguely remember the Beefeater opening on Huntingdon Road in about 1980 or so. There was much excitement! Shortly after the Coach & Horses in Trumpington went restauranty under Themis, and the food was great, as was Panos on Hills Road at around the same time. Happy memories!
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nutsaboutamber
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Post by nutsaboutamber on Jan 19, 2020 19:40:55 GMT
Wasn't the Mumtaz on Hills Rd quite good or has time tinted my roses?
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Post by sheffyoos on Jan 19, 2020 20:10:42 GMT
Fagito!
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animal
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Post by animal on Jan 20, 2020 6:31:48 GMT
Sultans
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cambcam
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Post by cambcam on Jan 27, 2020 15:25:52 GMT
Noticed one of the old favourites has reopened after make-over - The Galleria. Always loved that place but it had become very tired and the new arrivals blew it out of the water. Looks like they’ve responded and it looks very nice (from the website at least) galleriacambridge.co.uk/ so will check that out at the first opportunity. As for The Galleria, I haven't been there since 1989! For some reason or another, it never calls, and we always wander on past down to La Margherita. Let us know if it is any good when you've been. So a few thoughts on The Galleria: The makeover has certainly pulled the place in line with its newer competitors. As you’d expect it’s much more modern than before, the general layout and decor very pleasant and the food enjoyable too. Did think it was a little lacking in atmosphere and once a few tables cleared later in the evening the place went dead. Decided to head back to Cambridge Wine Merchants across the road to finish off the evening rather than stay there which ultimately speaks volumes. A quick word about the service - thought it was very poor, with miserable waitresses that looked like they didn’t want to be there. But a special mention must go to the waiter, carrying a full tray of glasses marching past who caught his leg on the corner of our table sending everything crashing to the floor. Luckily the shards of glass missed everyone but it was a hell of a mess and quite a sight. The fella never really apologised properly (he was actually quite a nice guy) but I think he was in a state of shock and had hurt himself too so it was best to just let that one go. So adding that Fawlty Towers moment to everything else it’s hard to be complimentary but there is actually something there. I think it’s probably a very nice place to go for lunch, but edging towards £100 (£50 ph) for a couple of courses and a couple of glasses of something nice, it would be quite a pricey lunch for sure.
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Post by Jerry1971 on Jan 28, 2020 15:55:11 GMT
And a few thoughts from me on Mercado Central:
It was excellent. Absolutely bangingly superb. A triumph.
I can't add a lot more in the superlative department, but I will talk a bit about the food. Having been fortunate to spend a little bit of time in Madrid, (as well as various other Spanish cities) what I will say is that our Mercado is every bit as good as anything I've ever eaten in Spain, better in fact. The ingredients used are largely imported, but have been very carefully selected and were absolutely amazing. I've had better Jamon Iberico, but it is a very close run thing. The Presa I had for main course (a Spanish pork steak, similar to a sirloin, and able to take being served medium) was incredible.
Service was outstanding throughout, one of the owners was a really decent chap, wine was great, and the draft Estrella Galicia was quite superb, but needs to be in a pint glass and not a 2/3rd pint schooner. A very, very minor complaint. Overall, this place was brilliant, and we loved it. Not cheap, but given that Galleria is £100 or so for a couple of courses, the £147 we paid here, including tip, for a selection of Tapas, two mains, two desserts, coffees, and a fair quantity of grog seems reasonable value given how expensive central Cambridge can be.
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animal
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Post by animal on Jan 28, 2020 17:23:51 GMT
And a few thoughts from me on Mercado Central: It was excellent. Absolutely bangingly superb. A triumph. I can't add a lot more in the superlative department, but I will talk a bit about the food. Having been fortunate to spend a little bit of time in Madrid, (as well as various other Spanish cities) what I will say is that our Mercado is every bit as good as anything I've ever eaten in Spain, better in fact. The ingredients used are largely imported, but have been very carefully selected and were absolutely amazing. I've had better Jamon Iberico, but it is a very close run thing. The Presa I had for main course (a Spanish pork steak, similar to a sirloin, and able to take being served medium) was incredible. Service was outstanding throughout, one of the owners was a really decent chap, wine was great, and the draft Estrella Galicia was quite superb, but needs to be in a pint glass and not a 2/3rd pint schooner. A very, very minor complaint. Overall, this place was brilliant, and we loved it. Not cheap, but given that Galleria is £100 or so for a couple of courses, the £147 we paid here, including tip, for a selection of Tapas, two mains, two desserts, coffees, and a fair quantity of grog seems reasonable value given how expensive central Cambridge can be. The price pales into insignificance compared to Jezzers' usual nights of nose & brasses!
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cambcam
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Post by cambcam on Feb 18, 2020 16:01:07 GMT
And a few thoughts from me on Mercado Central: It was excellent. Absolutely bangingly superb. A triumph. I can't add a lot more in the superlative department, but I will talk a bit about the food. Having been fortunate to spend a little bit of time in Madrid, (as well as various other Spanish cities) what I will say is that our Mercado is every bit as good as anything I've ever eaten in Spain, better in fact. The ingredients used are largely imported, but have been very carefully selected and were absolutely amazing. I've had better Jamon Iberico, but it is a very close run thing. The Presa I had for main course (a Spanish pork steak, similar to a sirloin, and able to take being served medium) was incredible. Service was outstanding throughout, one of the owners was a really decent chap, wine was great, and the draft Estrella Galicia was quite superb, but needs to be in a pint glass and not a 2/3rd pint schooner. A very, very minor complaint. Overall, this place was brilliant, and we loved it. Not cheap, but given that Galleria is £100 or so for a couple of courses, the £147 we paid here, including tip, for a selection of Tapas, two mains, two desserts, coffees, and a fair quantity of grog seems reasonable value given how expensive central Cambridge can be. A second view on Mercado Central: Dealing with the food itself first, I have to concur. Our selection of Tapas was just delicious and the Carabineros (Spanish shrimp delicacy) to share was really quite something. Throw in some very agreeable wine and the food and wine side of things at MC takes some beating. But some further thoughts more about the restaurant and overall experience too: We arrived at 8pm which was obviously peak time. There were three other couples waiting to be seated and no one to greet customers coming in. With no real bar area we all shuffled about and stood awkwardly between diners at tables like something on a crowded underground train. Eventually we were seated upstairs by a flustered waitress without recognition or apology. Once seated though, the service was excellent, the waiter knowledgeable and as mentioned, the food amazing. I was pleased to be upstairs because although a little squeezed in, it was preferable to the noise and buzziness of downstairs with its comings and goings and open kitchen. In terms of cost, the £125/150 (12.5% service charge added too by the way) or so you’ll likely spend did seem a lot of money to me. It’s probably at the correct price point for the quality of food and comparable with competitors of a similar standard, but the food wasn’t enough to pull it over the line for me. If you’re big on Tapas/Spanish food generally and are happy to pay the money then it’s the place to go, no doubt. But, if you’re not especially keen and are looking to maximise your budget and place the emphasis more on the overall restaurant experience itself, I’d say there are better options out there.
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Post by tombowran on Oct 4, 2022 22:28:34 GMT
Wow! 2.5 years since this thread was added to! The pandemic has certainly changed the face of hospitality, the spread of pop up street food vendors in villages across the county, and big refurbs to pubs etc
So where are people’s “new” favourites since Feb 2020? Who is your favourite street food operator?
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Sandypants
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Post by Sandypants on Oct 5, 2022 8:08:53 GMT
Wow! 2.5 years since this thread was added to! The pandemic has certainly changed the face of hospitality, the spread of pop up street food vendors in villages across the county, and big refurbs to pubs etc So where are people’s “new” favourites since Feb 2020? Who is your favourite street food operator? Kura Kura popped up for a work do, and holy smokes that was some of the best food I've eaten.
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cambsno
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Post by cambsno on Oct 5, 2022 8:21:12 GMT
Steak and Honour still great burgers. Cooks Nest do great greek street food from vans.
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Post by Jerry1971 on Nov 21, 2022 21:47:03 GMT
We’ve lost a personal favourite during the pandemic, the wonderful Varsity on St Andrews Street which has now become some sort of noodle bar. Shame as it was wonderful but at least its sister, The Trinity, lives on and prospers.
Cambridge dining isn’t nearly as good as it was pre 2020, to be expected of course but a lot of places seemingly just going through the motions. I don’t envy anyone in hospitality at the moment and it seems life is going to be even harder for the industry over the next few years. Inevitably when recession hits, restaurants suffer.
I’ve spent a lot more time at independent places of late, such as my favourite Plough Coton, but also the Punter which is very good. I’d rather try and support the independents right now. Mercado still good, but a more limited menu and oddly, no coffee! Above all, for a really decent nosebag on an occasion, a big shout out to my old mate Mark Poynton at MJP at the Shepherd’s in Fen Ditton. It is truly fantastic and well on its way to Michelin recognition if it keeps developing as it has. Mark also opened it in August 2020, mid-pandemic, and for that he is due a lot of praise. He, and Pascky who owns The Plough Coton both come to United whenever they can too.
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