Clarissa's Kopitiam

From sticky tables to silver spoons. Jom makan.

  • Caphe House

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: Yes, for something quick and decent in the area
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): Pho
    • Decor: Modern canteen
    • Service: Quick and cheerful
    • Other thoughts: Loads of seating; convenient last-minute Saturday lunch option (no reservation needed)

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Vegetarian spring rolls (3)
    • Vegan phở
    • Char siu pork with jasmine rice
    • Custard buns (3)

    Price

    • Final bill: £26 pp for two courses

    Date

    • May 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Bocca Di Lupo

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would seek it out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Bread and olive oil
    • Decor: Modern, contemporary
    • Service: Charming
    • Other thoughts: Michelin Guide. Successfully walked in despite no reservations available online.

    Dish(es) savoured

    Pre-theatre menu

    • Farinata (chickpea pancake) & agrodolce courgettes
    • Minestrone verde with pesto genovese

    Drink(s) sipped

    • Elderflower & Mint Spritz (non-alcoholic) – 50ml elderflower cordial, 4 fingers of soda water/tonic, dash of lemon, mint. Tip from waitress: Cucumber goes well too

    Price

    • Pre-theatre menu: £18 starter & main (+£6 dessert)
    • Final bill: £27 for two courses and a non-alcoholic drink, 12.5% service charge

    Date

    • May 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Machiya

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would it seek out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Donburi Guidon
    • Decor: Modern Japanese
    • Service: Charming
    • Other thoughts: Excellent donburi, skip dessert. Nearby Japanese pattiseries are better. Convenient for Theatre Royal Haymarket.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Donburi Guidon – Thinly sliced beef brisket and onions simmered in a mildly sweet soy based sauce, onsen egg, benishoga
    • Mille crepe black sesame

    Price

    • £28 w/o drinks

    Date

    • May 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Banh Mi Keu Deli Borough

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would it seek out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): Bestsellers @ top of each category; most popular dish is the Roast Meat Trio rice bowl
    • Decor: Modern contemporary with vague attempts at introducing Vietnamese elements
    • Service: Abrupt
    • Other thoughts: Succulent duck, plain boiled pak choi, could do with more sauce. Decent but better options elsewhere in the area for the price.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Roast duck rice bowl

    Price

    • £18 just for the one main dish, 12.5% service charge

    Date

    • May 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Pham Sushi

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): Sashimi
    • Decor: Modern Japanese sushi bar
    • Service: Pleasant, except at the end when they repeatedly made a point that no service charge was included
    • Other thoughts: Miso soup had a nice twist of Szechuan peppers, excellent sashimi. Everything else – mediocre for the price.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Miso soup
    • Sashimi Nigiri Moriawase (12)
    • Pham Special Roll – Snow crab and Avocado roll wrapped in Turbot sashimi and lime topping
    • Omakase Nigiri Set (10)

    Price

    • Final bill: £45 pp w/o drinks

    Date

    • May 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Spring Street Pizza

    Verdict

    4/5: Excellent, will go back

    • Would it seek out: Yes
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): New Yorker pizza – San Marzano tomato, Rebel Charcuterie pepperoni, Parmigiano Reggiano, hot honey & basil
    • Decor: New York pizzeria
    • Service: Mediocre. Discriminatory; only table not given cutlery and a bottle of water. Waiter made a show of checking availability despite 60% occupancy on a Wednesday afternoon for 1 pax.
    • Other thoughts: Overhyped as Tom Kemble’s (1 Michelin chef) new venture, but decent enough pizza. Sweeter than expected. Does not serve slices or quarters despite what it says on the website. Big outdoor area.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • New Yorker pizza

    Price

    • £18 for half an 18″ pizza w/o drinks

    Date

    • May 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Mint Leaf London

    Verdict

    2/5: Wouldn’t bother

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: No
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Modern bar lounge
    • Service: Receptionist was borderline rude; demanded name and phone number, made a show of checking availability despite 50% occupancy
    • Other thoughts: Tasteless curries, rubbery meat, overpriced. First toilet in the ladies squirts water.

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Tandoori Mixed Grill Platter
    • Lamb Chettinad
    • Chicken Banjara
    • Baingan ka Bhartha

    Price

    • Final bill: £55 pp w/o drinks

    Date

    • May 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Taste From Hungary, Cambridge

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: Yes, if craving for Hungarian
    • Would go back: Yes
    • Standout dish(es): Magna Poppy Seed Pálinka – tastes like fortified port @ 50%
    • Decor: Rustic, Hungarian
    • Service: Very charming
    • Other thoughts: Only Hungarian restaurant in Cambridge

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Kolbásztál Kinalo Tal – Meat and cheese selection
    • Csirkepaprikás Nokedlivel – Chicken Paprikash with Nokedli
    • Holstein Cigany – Gipsy style steak
    • Somloi Galuska – Hungarian Trifle

    Drink(s) sipped

    • Pálinka: Poppy seed, apricot, cherry peach
    • Kőbányai Beer
    • Hungarian wine

    Price

    • Final bill: £107 for 3 pax sharing – 3 glasses of wine, 1 beer, 2 shots of pálinka (+ 2 free shots), 1 starter, 3 mains and 1 dessert

    Date

    • April 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • Casse-Croûte

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would it seek out: No
    • Would go back: No
    • Standout dish(es): N/a
    • Decor: Parisian cafe vibes
    • Service: Good, professional
    • Other thoughts: Complementary still or sparkling water, but still overpriced

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Boeuf en croûte

    Price

    • £40 just for the one main dish, 15% service charge

    Date

    • April 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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  • La Bartola, Seville

    Verdict

    3/5: Good enough

    • Would seek it out: No
    • Would go back: Only if asked
    • Standout dish(es): Chipirones con Verduras
    • Decor: Tapas bar
    • Service: Attentive
    • Other thoughts: Lots of other solo travellers at the barstool area

    Dish(es) savoured

    • Ternera Retinta con Papas al Horno
    • Chipirones con Verduras
    • Sushi de Verduras en Tempura con Salsa Boletus

    Drink(s) sipped

    • Vino de Naranja

    Price

    • Final bill: £17

    Date

    • January 2025

    Clarissa Ching

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