Clarissa's Kopitiam

From sticky tables to silver spoons. Jom makan.

  • Roseleaf Bar Cafe

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would it seek out: No
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Legendary Scotch Egg
    • Decor: Pub
    • Service: Friendly, family-run vibe
    • Other thoughts: French toast needed greens. Walked in at 12pm on a Thursday with bar seat availability only. At 12.30pm there was a 1.5 hour waiting time!

    Dish(es) savoured

    • French Toast with banana: Slices of pan-fried eggy bread with rashers of smoked streaky bacon and Canada’s finest grade ‘A’ maple syrup served on the side
    • Legendary Scotch Egg: Free range Scotch eggs drizzled with hollandaise & oor homemade broon sauce served with double dipped chippies & Heinz finest beans served 2 ways…

    Price

    • Final bill: £34 for 2 pax, no drinks, 12.5% service charge

    Date

    • August 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , ,

  • La Barantine Stockbridge

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would it seek out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Cozy cafe
    • Service: Nice
    • Other thoughts: Doesn’t sell a plain old brownie!

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Chocolate eclair
    • Raspberry and pistachio macaron

    Price

    • Eclair: £5.80 (out)
    • Macaron: £1.70 each (out)

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , ,

  • Hope Izakaya

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Modern Japanese with koi-shaped lightning and daruma doll lanterns
    • Service: Good, chirpy
    • Other thoughts: Also got a free salad appetiser and matcha chocolate dessert. Good lunch set selection from soups to poke bowls.

    Dish(es) savoured

    Izakaya Lunch Set

    (Green tea, free refills + Veg skewer + Main course)

    • Tonkotsu Cha Shu Ramen: Cha shu, ramen, Naturo maki, fish cake, soft boiled egg, spring onions, sesame seeds, seaweed and soup

    Price

    • Final bill: £15.99 pre-service charge

    Date

    • July 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , , ,

  • Casa Mortero, Madrid

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Minimalist-industrial
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Michelin Guide

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Creamy croquettes made with jamón ibérico
    • Semicured iberic “pressa” (iberic pork cut) with “migas” and mature cheese
    • Duck rice with green asparagus and creamy cheese

    Price

    • Final bill: €84 for 2 pax including a beer and glass of wine

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , , , ,

  • Restaurante Loaira, Pontevedra

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Grilled octopus
    • Decor: Gastrobar with outdoor terrace
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: Michelin Guide

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Chorizo and bread amuse-bouche
    • Chef’s croquettes of the day – Octopus
    • Grilled octopus accompanied by potato foam and ajada sauce
    • Black rice with cephalopods, nori seaweed and grilled garlic sauce

    Price

    • Final bill: €60 for 2 pax

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , , , ,

  • Fleurie

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Parisian cafe
    • Service: Good, attentive
    • Other thoughts: Over-salted duck confit, wouldn’t bother with the mocktails

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Cheese croquettes with truffle mayonnaise
    • Spiced roast cauliflower, whipped tofu, sesame, pomegranate, molasses, chimichurri
    • Burrata with peas, mint veloute, almonds and asparagus pesto
    • Confit duck leg with butternut squash, carrot puree, plum compote and jus

    Drink(s) sipped

    • Pomme Pomme – Clean Co Whisky, apple juice, lime, ginger ale
    • Madam Pamplemousse – Clean Co Rum, pink grapefruit soda, lime juice, syrup

    Price

    • Final bill: £45pp

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , ,

  • Co&Ko (Jeon’s Kitchen)

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Modern minimalist cafe
    • Service: Chirpy and attentive
    • Other thoughts: N/a

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Beef Bibimbap – Steamed rice, mixed vegetables and beef with a fried egg

    Price

    • Final bill: £16 for one main only, 12.5% service charge

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , , ,

  • Pearl Liang

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Dim sum
    • Decor: Upscale oriental
    • Service: Good, quick
    • Other thoughts: Located in the amphitheatre

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Pan fried turnip cake
    • King’s scallop shu mai
    • Honey roasted pork bun
    • Mini sticky rice with mix meat in lotus leaf
    • King prawn cheung fun
    • Pork shu mai
    • Prawn dumpling

    Price

    • Final bill: £50 for 2 pax, 12.5% service charge

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , , , ,

  • Flesh & Buns, Covent Garden

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): The s’mores were fun
    • Decor: Underground Japanese Izakaya
    • Service: Good
    • Other thoughts: The number of times I had to confirm the reservation was annoying

    Dish(es) savoured

    Express Lunch & Pre-Theatre Menu

    • Edamame sea salt
    • Edamame chilli BBQ
    • Piglet yaki
    • Miso grilled aubergine
    • Japanese fried chicken
    • Duck confit

    Something Extra?

    • Beef fat potato chips
    • S’more (toast your own dessert) – Strawberry marshmallows, almond chocolate, graham crackers

    Price

    • Final bill: £35pp

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , , ,

  • DanDan London Bridge

    Verdict

    2/5: Wouldn’t bother

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: No
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Modern minimalist
    • Service: Attentive. Disproportionate table: staff ratio.
    • Other thoughts: New opening in London Bridge. Surprisingly bland even after adding chilli oil.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Lanzhou beef noodle with extra marinated egg

    Price

    • Final bill: £16 for one main only, 12.5% service charge

    Date

    • June 2025

    Clarissa Ching

    , , ,