Uperenat

Two of my favorite soups - the white gazpacho (ajo blanco?) and the sopa de pescado - are no longer on the menu. And jaleo hour with its great bargains is a thing of the past - at least downtown.

Couple of new items that are noteworthy:

The sea urchin and butter on top of cristal bread is pure decadence at its most creamy.

And the mini HAMburguesa - kind of a slider with piquillo peppers and porcine meat - is memorable as well.

And the construction smell is gone.

Stopped by yesterday and wow. Felt like I was in a Jetsons episode. Recapte was good. A few prices looked a bit higher, but the same crew seemed as eager to please as ever. The construction smell needs to be aired out a bit. I'll be as regular as I ever was.

My favorite jose andres restaurant time is Saturday or Sunday when an additional four or five brunch items are available. Wonderful stuff.

Had the Jersey Shore and octopus last Friday at the bar for lunch and the White House and sweet corn agnolotti today. No problem at all finishing the pasta. Didn't find it cloying at all. Don't understand the meh reviews on the Jersey Shore. But MacQuaid made the Jersey Shore last week. Didn't see him today. Is he still working here?

Shack burger with onion was delectable. FAR from overcooked. I prefer this to Five Guys. I'd like to try it animal-style.

Went on Wednesday and looked over at the oven for MacQuaid. When I didn't see him, my enthusiasm waned. WRONG. Everything was great. Char was just right. And if anybody making decisions is reading this, please make the onion and anchovy crostini part of the regular menu. Simple perfection.

Top Chefs Pick Top London Meals

I thought that this was rather informative.

This is a great post. I love Terroirs and it's nice to see that Mr. Henderson seems to as well.

They need to get a cask conditioned ale. Could not agree more.

Stopped in a couple of weeks ago and had bangers and mash, fish and chips, and chicken curry that were all outstanding.

tonight i switched up the bangers and mash for the shepherd's pie and was highly disappointed. Terribly oversalted it was. The curry and chips on my companions' plates were as good as they were a couple of weeks ago, however.

I'm going to assume that somebody dropped the saltshaker in the pie by accident. Definitely going back.

Aiello's and Mineo's are both open late, both on Murray in Squirrel Hill. I prefer the pizza of the former.

There's also The Dirty O.

Mineo's with spinach and pepperoni is pretty darn satisfying.

I've only had good experiences with Flippin'. Frankly, my wife and I think it's the only pizza worth ordering for delivery. (We live just within the delivery boundaries of the one on Little River Turnpike.) Given the abysmal competition, Flippin' is a godsend.

I do not consider the competition to include Pizzeria Orso, and I think the comparison is unfair. Orso is top quality stuff made by professionals for when you want pizza (pizze?) for dinner. Flippin' is what you get when you need to feed a pack of 12 year olds or you need something to eat at 9:00, but you can't leave the house because the kid's asleep. "Truly good food" it is not, but it is truly good pizza that someone will deliver to your door.

Well put. Very happy to have flippin

and orso in fc

I have been far more impressed by what Tom Pemberton (one of Henderson's protégés) is doing at Hereford Road, than anything I have had at St. John's - actually the whole experience is better from the lack of pretention to the quality of the food set before me. I would also recommend Roast in the Borough Market and the ever wonderful Rules for classic Britishness and wonderful food.

Pemberton is doing great stuff. Should have added that. Also should have added that we feel that the bar is the way to do st. John. Incredible value and unpretentious. Ever been to launceton place? Now that's pretentious.

St. John

Anchor and Hope

Harwood Arms

All of the above for the best in what is British food. Fantastic stuff.

Taza on Queensway for Falafel

And Bill Oglethorpe's sandwich at Borough Market - if you've made it to the Market, you have to try it.