Tag Archives: soho

Rapha, Cycling and Coffee, Soho

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Do you love cycling and coffee? If the answer is yes, Rapha is the place for you, a shop-cafe that specialises in both.

I am definitely not a cyclist, and my lack of road awareness has led family members to ban me from becoming a regular bike user. Although I will admit after one trip on a Boris Bike, I did find the exercise exhilarating. If I was given some suitable (and fashionable) gear and a foolproof helmet, I could be persuaded to ride more.

Rapha create fine cycle clothing and accessories for elite road racers. Designed without compromise for the most discerning rider, Rapha products blend style with optimum performance. A passion for road racing means Rapha is more than just a product company. It is an online emporium of performance roadwear, accessories, publications and events, all celebrating the glory and suffering of road riding.

Looking round the smart venue in Soho, I became particularly attached to the neon pink lycra gear (functional and stylish). I also loved the Grand Tour Gloves – fingerless padded white leather, which would look great with my leather jacket. The classic cycle clothes at Rapha are not cheap but, let’s be honest, looking good whilst exercising is priceless.

After exhausting yourself looking round the range of high tech apparel, sit at one of the communal wooden tables to enjoy a small glass of expertly roasted and brewed coffee. Made to staggeringly precise specifications, this milky mixture is one of the best coffees I’ve tried in town and should put Rapha on the map for this reason alone. Appetising artisan food is also on offer if you’re feeling a little peckish after cycling to the shop, I’d got the tube so didn’t feel I deserved the fat almond croissant staring at me temptingly.

Rapha is the coolest coffee and cycle concept club in the city. And though I may not be returning for cycling gear anytime soon I will definitely be stopping by for my coffee fixes.

Follow @RaphaCycleClub on Twitter with the hashtag #ldncc for news, commentary and group ride info from the London Cycle Club.

Or visit the website here.

Disiac, Soho

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The name Disiac is an abbreviation of Aphrodisiac, ideal for a Mediterranean seafood restaurant offering Oysters and Champagne. This new venue has recently opened in the West End, another eatery to add to Soho’s selection. The exterior is simple and discreet, inside white leather galore gleams, with seating centred around the 10ft open plan raw bar and kitchen. With the music, dimmed lighting and lounge vibe, I felt more like I was in a nightclub than a restaurant.

Disiac has an emphasis on fresh produce and top flavours. Although the restaurant prides itself on the seafood, I was impressed by the range of high standard meat and vegetable dishes… providing for non-fish fans like me. My Aubergine Tricolore with tomatoes and mozzarella was wonderfully simple and very satisfying. Luckily my friend is an oyster fan and slurped up the fresh shellfish boldly declaring them divine – they did look very posh!

The waitress picked us out a superior Champagne, a light and refreshing glass of bubbles began the meal perfectly. The cocktails that came later were a little less successful – keen to surprise us, the waitress conjured up her own creations, which was perhaps a mistake. They were prettily presented but mixed badly with a strange mix of flavours and too much sugar.

I tried the special Sirloin Steak with salad for main while my guest ordered half a grilled lobster. We were obviously both hungry because the gossip halted while we consumed our meals. The meat was reasonable but needed substantial seasoning. I’m not quite sure why the steak had been cut up, as the heat disappeared almost immediately and my food was soon cold. I cannot vouch for the lobster, it looked incredibly impressive and my friend seemed to enjoy it.

To keep things simple, and because of the lack of choice we both ordered Tiramisu for dessert. Homemade in small glasses, it was delicious if a little heavy on the cream, I’m not complaining but I think most would.

Disiac is a fun concept and we had a very enjoyable night at this restaurant… however getting the thumbs up from the impatient Soho foodies is a rare honour, and with so many other exceptional restaurants in this area, I’m not sure this eatery is quite special enough.

More information here.

http://www.disiaclondon.com/

Bodean’s, Soho

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Bodean’s is known for one thing only, it’s unrivalled BBQ cuisine.

When we visited, the rain was incessant outside and we snuggled up at a downstairs table. The dark and musty interior would be far more common in an American establishment, I soon forgot I was in Soho. It all started in 2002 when Andre Blais brought the taste, style and soul of his beloved Kansas City barbecue to London.

The menu is filled with meaty classics; pulled pork and sticky ribs feature heavily. I immediately noticed the distinct lack of greenery… only a small side salad is available for vegetable lovers. We immersed ourselves in the rich glory of meat heaven. A huge platter arrived, apparently one of the Bodean’s favourites, piled with ribs, burnt ends, chicken wings and other carnivore’s delights. The flavours were wonderful, but the food is incredibly heavy and rich – try to resist letting your eyes dictate how much you eat. I definitely made that mistake. We especially liked the baby back ribs, the meat was very tender and succulent, the seasoning makes this dish utterly irresistible. The burger was a little disappointing, rather bland and dry and the chips were oversalted… definitely best to stick to the platters. Puddings are available, Key Lime Pie looked like the best of the bunch.

Persuading each other to indulge more was a bad idea… we left feeling rather too full. If you have a good appetite and like your food BBQ-ed then Bodean’s is an excellent shout, but just like Yorkie bars, girls beware, this is a restaurant for the boys.

Visit the website here for more information.