*Bob*

It seems the weight of blogdom is about to descend upon us. Any more blogging buddies of Foodstories care to join in?

Nice garden shame about the food. It was really quite poor.

Don't worry, Buggie.. I'm having another one soon.

Blears (rat) has left the cabinet (sinking ship) I - for one - will miss her indomitable politic spirit, warmth and enduring charm.

cdonline Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Can't we just go down there and lynch.. Mr Allen and be done with it. You go first, cdonline. I'll follow you in.

LibraCarr Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Oh Well, must keep paying the rates! > > Kind regards, > Libra Carr. The Rates were abolished nearly 20 years ago. I advise you to stop paying them asap.

It's the closest 'proper' place to eat from my house. I'd love it to be really, really good, instead of just 'decent.. a bit pricey'. That's all. It's not a slag-off. It's feedback.. encouragement. Encouragement helps you to avoid going to bed owning a 'Palmerston' and waking-up owning a 'Chardon', wondering at what point it all went wrong.

Whether it's a good advert for the Forum or not is irrelevant really - it's always packed with people who are more than happy to read the threads. If you don't like it - don't read.

Hooray! Guess who! Can you put these into gastronomic order, Louisa? So we know you're know what you're talking about? Harvester. Palmerston. Egg & Chips. Chicken Cottage. Devon.

It's my birthday today too!

'they rehearsed it at dress' big surprise

Yeah, we had a cracking 3-course at Arbutus for around ?100. This is the level of restaurant the P'ston is priced to compete with, and that's my issue, I think.

Basically when you leave a restaurant, you can't help the feeling you come out with. It doesn't matter how much the mushrooms cost, or how close to home it is. It's just how you feel. I left feeling like it wasn't at all as good as I wanted it to be.. in direct contrast to my first visit, when it was far better than I expected it to be. I'm not saying the place is rubbish. It wasn't a 'complaining' matter at all. It was ok. Fine. Not bad. However, when the next ?100 sit-down opportunity arises, I probably won't be thinking of the Palmerston. That must mean something in terms of customer feedback.

'You could do worse' is not a good enough reason to spend a hundred quid on food.

Not really, Jeremy. Once you've had a couple of starters for 6 each, two mains at 16, a couple of sides at 3 apiece (you need them), desserts at 5, a mid-priced bottle of wine at ?25 you've already racked-up, what, ?85 - without service charge - and you've only shared one bottle.

When we've been to the P'ston the bill was around ?80 - ?100 for two. In terms of price, that puts it right up there with just about anywhere in London you'd care to try out. And the food (quality, quantity) simply didn't justify the price last time I was there, so yes, I'm put-off returning. At least for the present. I'll make a few concessions for it being five minutes walk, but not ?100-worth.

Can't these people just protest quietly someone out of the way where no-one will notice? I mean.. geez..

Maybe you're right, Matthew. And gosh, and it is a coincidence isn't it.. there you are, minding your own business, knocking around without releasing an album for four years and then suddenly, literally of the the eve of releasing your new one, publicity-generating stuff like this happens! Would you credit it?!

FoodStories Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bob - are we friends now? ;) But of course. The first time I ate there for a full sit-down (three or so years ago?) the food was impressive. We were in the back room, which has a pleasing ambience. Not cheap, but all things considered, the experience was a good one which I'd heartily recommend. Second time (a few months back) the food was less impressive, we were in the main room (less pleasing) and the bill seemed high and undeserved for the quality of stuff on the plate. I can also say the same for The Herne, which was great when it launched, but was seriously underwhelming a few weeks back, perhaps verging on 'poor'.

There's nothing wrong with being an aspiring food critic. We could do with a few more of them on here. Makes a change from the usual 'review' ("I went to Thingy, the food woz rubbish").

Let's start again, Helen. "Hi, I'm Helen Graves.. I'm an aspiring food critic, and I've written a review of The Palmerston on my website, which I'd like you to read (if it interests you) - so here's a link" As you were. On we go.

cut and paste?

Admittedly I would have preferred to spend longer on the 'old signs' mock-up - typeface, perspective, shadow.. a poor effort, but alas work* meant my time was short. *actually I was planting runner beans

Personally I think the SLP missed a trick

I still feel the SLP has some ground to make-up if we look to the pages of the quality international press..