La Rita, Barcelona

Looking for a good value restaurant in Barcelona? If you ask me what I can recommend, the first thing that came to my mind is La Rita. I haven't been around Barcelona much to know a lot about many good restaurants in town but I do know this one is good. Very good, in fact.

Situated within the centre of the town, La Rita is famous with the locals. Around lunch time, there are always people queuing to get in to enjoy the food. The restaurant is exquisite. Crisp white linen cloth wrapped around the tables with matching comfortable chairs and big tablewares are what you see immediately when you walk into the restaurant. The staffs' neat black and white uniforms complement the overall elegant design of the restaurant.

If you look at the menu, you'll be in for a surprise because the food is reasonably priced. It's not as expensive as you would think. The menu of the day (menu del dia), which is offered every weekday lunch time, is the winner. For less than 10 Euros you get good quality 3 course meals including wine and breads. The food, which is Spanish/Catalan cuisine, is consistently good too. The comfy ambience makes you forget about the time. All this with the addition of great and friendly service from the staffs is what makes the restaurant very popular. Even on weekends, when menu of the day is not offered,the restaurant is still packed with people.

I'm very fond of this restaurant. The superbly exceptional food and the fantastic value draw me to it and I find myself going back there again and again. It's definitely not to be missed and I highly recommend it to everyone visiting Barcelona.

Contact Details:
Address: 279 Carrer d'Arago
Phone: +34934872376
Website: http://www.laritarestaurant.com/

Nearest Station: Passeig de Gracia

Opening Hours: Daily 13.00-15.45 and 20.30-23.30

Borough Market, London

The oldest food market in London, Borough Market is my favourite. Everytime anyone of my friends came to London, I always brought them here. The place is always full of people and very lively. It is touristy but that doesn't bother me at all. There are many variety of stalls around selling almost everything. I love to taste the yummy cheeses, the variety of olives, the delicious cakes, the hot chocolate (in cold weather) and not to forget, the world famous chocolate brownies. I can't resist the chorizo sandwich located at Brindisa. I always join the long queue and have it right there. Hmmm, very yummy sandwich. Now I'm hungry just thinking about it :).

This market is definitely not to be missed if you're visiting London.

Contact Details:

Address: Borough High Street, Borough, SE1 9DE

Website: http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Nearest Station: London Bridge or Borough

Opening Hours:

Thu 11.00 - 17.00

Fri 12.00 - 18.00

Sat 9.00 - 16.00

Monmouth Cafe, London

One Saturday, I was brought by a friend of friend (an American who had lived here before) to Monmouth cafe. We were in the Borough Market and he praised this cafe a lot for its good coffee. This place was full of people and the queue was long. I ordered a latte to take out and at the first sip, I thought it was too strong for me.

A few days ago, I went in to the cafe again. It was Monday morning and I happened to be in the area. There were people queueing but not as long as that Saturday. I ordered a cup of cappuccino and was asked whether I would want double or a single shot of esspreso. The staff explained usually the cappuccino there is served in double shots of esspreso. That explained my first sip that was too strong. I opted for a single shot and this time it was perfect.

The cafe itself is small and the interior gives a very rustic feel. There is only one big table to be shared by customers where baskets of breads and jams are displayed in the middle of the table. Other seats are individual seats where two narrow bar like tables are attached to the wall. Even window ledges are used as tables. And for those looking for munchies to accompany your coffee, there are varieties of pastries and cakes displayed on a serving table.

A bunch of leaflets explaining about the history of the company and sources of their coffees are available for you to read. This is an independent local company which travels to different places to get the best beans and has been roasting its own coffee to get the best flavour. It shows how passionate the company is about coffee.

This is one exceptional place for serious coffee drinkers. Just be warned of the long queue on Saturdays.

Contact Details:

Address: 2 Park Street, Borough, London, SE1 9AB

Phone: +44 (0)20 7940 9960

Email: beans@monmouthcoffee.co.uk

Website: http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/

Nearest Station: London Bridge or Borough

Opening hours:

Mon - Sat 07.30-18.00

Closed on Bank Holidays

The Super Long and Snaky Queue at New Tayyabs, London

I went to New Tayyabs, a Pakistani restaurant that has great reviews, last night. I called to make a booking a few hours in advance but was told to come as it was on a first come first serve basis. When I reached the restaurant (around seven thirty) I was in shock to see the long queue but I thought it was not going to be very long to get a table. All of us, who were queueing, were standing in between the tables and chairs around (with people having dinner at the tables). The queue was too long that it went to a U turn at the end of the queue and that's in between the tables and chairs. Another U turn was in the hallway towards the ladies. The queue was barely moving and I stood for a long time in the ladies' hallway. It was stuffy and felt like forever. After two hours waiting, I gave up. Looking at the queue, it looked like I would be there for another hour (or maybe an hour and a half) and I was already so hungry. The food that came out from the kitchen smelled so nice and I could only stand in the queue and look at others eating it. It was a torture.

I have been to this restaurant once before. It was last summer at lunch time. The restaurant was empty and I got a table very easily. I have been warned by my friend about the queue but I had never expected it to be this long. The guy in the cake counter told me to make a booking two days in advance the next time because they don't take same day booking. Booking definitely is a must.

I'm still upset with the whole thing. I will wait until I can forget about last night and probably come back again.

Vete Katten, Stockholm

If you go to Stockholm, I'd suggest you visit Vete Katten. This is my favourite place in Stockholm for having tea or coffee or simply taking a break from shopping in or walking around the city. Situated in the corner of Kungsgatan and Klara Norra kyrkogata, Vete Katten is an old-fashioned tearoom with antique interior and its old charm feel. The display of delicious cakes from window shop lure people to go inside. At least that was what got me (a tourist who happened to passed by) into this place. The cafe is surprisingly very spacious (it doesn't look that way from the outside) and divided into rooms with different themes. My favourite room is 'Kajutan' (or the cabin) - a small room that looks like it's in a ship. I've been there twice and it was always packed with the locals. There are fresh breads, cakes and chocolates for you to indulge. The staffs welcome you with good service and the whole ambience is very homey. It makes you want to sit there and enjoy. So enjoy!

Contact Details: 

Address: Kungsgatan 55, 111 22 Stockholm

Phone: +46 (0)8 20 84 05

Email: info@vetekatten.se
Website: www.vetekatten.se

Nearest Station: Hotorget or T-Centralen

Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 07.30-19.30
Saturday 09.30-17.00
Sunday 12.00-17.00