La Cafeteria 841 Forest Rd London, E17 4AT

This is a lunch time venue that I would classify as an expensive cafe.

 

It cost me £15 for an egg, tuna and rice salad followed by Pasta with olive tomato and chilli with cumberland sausage and then a coffee followed by a large orange juice.  In reality the starter was as large as the main however.

 

Staff here were really friendly and helpful.  There was no problem about reading the complete menu to me and they were also happy to ring a  cab to get me back to the station as I was in a part of Walthamstow that I have not been to before.  The food seems to consist of english typed breakfasts and lunches with a broadly Mediterranean style.

 

The food was not really unusual, of really high quality or of exceptionally low or high price but it was plentiful and I would be happy to eat there again.  at £15 for 2 large courses it is pricy for a lunchtime eat though.

 

The friendly staff and very acceptable food leads me to give this place a mark of 7 out of 10.

Pride of Asia, 207 Mile End Road, Stepney Green, London

        This used to be a decent curry restaurant which shut about 2 years or so ago.  It used to sell decent curries that were well cooked though not always as hot as I might like.

 

I awaited the reopening of the Pride of Asia this Tuesday with great interest.  Sadly, I was sorely disappointed.

 

The Pride of Asia now calls itself a "Grille Restaurant".  It sells Barbecued chicken, Sikh Kebabs, Lamb Chops, and something they call 'White Chicken'".

 

This seems to be one of the latest crazes in local Bangladeshi restaurants, and there are at least 3 others within 100 yards selling very similar food, but these other places also sell curry though it is generally extremely greasy!

 

At the Pride of Asia I asked for a half of barbecue chicken which came with a rather soggy Nan bread and limp lettuce with some equally sad tomatoes.  They wanted £6 for this and the scabby chicken had hardly any meat.

 

I also asked for Sikh Kebabs.  These are the sausage shaped Indian style kebabs made from mince and spices.  I got 6 short pieces of kebab which equated to about 3 that you would more usually get in a typical take away or restaurant.  Again, a portion of limp salad but this time with mint sauce.  they also wanted £6.00 for this.  So in general the food was no better than that served in the array of scummy greasy chicken places that dominate the Stepney Green part of Mile End Road.  It was about 50 % more expensive however.  The person who served me came up with the excuse that the Pride of Asia is a restaurant so it is more expensive.

 

They are just copying the poor quality of the local food in surroundings that look nicer.  I will not be back there unless there are considerable changes and would advise all who read this to avoid this place and other local emporiums such as the Real Taste of Halal, the Halal Barbecue and Grille and a range of perfect fried chicken shops that also sell curry.  You can also check out the Spice hut and the Spice Cottage if you really insist!  For me by the way the Spice Cottage is just about the best of these places as it does a few different dishes and curries have been consistently tolerable though a bit greasy still.

 

These are places where local Bangladeshis seem to eat regularly.   Usually I think that, for example, if people from Pakistan like a Pakistani restaurant it is likely to be quite good.  .  This does not seem to apply to Bangladeshis in Stepney Green and the surrounding area.   here I prefer eating in a more traditional drunks' curry house such as the Passage to India which is at least consistent.

 

Yes as you gather I think Pride of Asia is very poor!  can't give it more than 3 out of 10 I'm afraid and they should be thankful that it's morning and I'm not tired or in a bad pessimistic mood!!!

eatery eastmount street whitechapel

This is a sandwich shop which also sells caribbean food.
I went there with a friend and had ackee and saltfish and a lamb pattie. A pattie is a bit like a pastie but spicy.
You also get white rice or rice and peas with your main dish and fried plantain is also included.
This place does not advertise itself well and The Eatery is not a very descriptive name but the portions were large and the food was of very acceptable quality. The main meals cost 4 pounds 50 pence which is great value. I have not yet tried the sandwiches but i will do.

There are far too many places in this area selling chicken and chips with poor quality greasy curry and yes the local bangladeshi young people seen to love them.
The eatery is a welcome breath of fresh air and i hope it does well. I certainly give this place at least 7 out of 10 and if i continue to get good service this score can only increase.