Archive Review: Corrie’s Cabin, Ryde
Uncategorised 17th February 2008
Update: this is an archive review. Corries Cabin is now under new ownership, although, to be honest it’s pretty much the same. The wheel of fortune turns inexorably: restaurants open; pubs are redeveloped; cafés are closed for refurbishment; and takeaways change hands. So it proved with one of Matt’s... Read more
Jasmine Indian Cuisine, Shanklin
10th February 2008 16
There’s something reassuring about seeing restaurateurs consuming their own wares. Workers need to eat and, whilst many chow down in some back room, others fuel up more conspicuously. It’s not uncommon, for example, to see the friendly staff in the Hong Kong Express at Ryde sitting down to a... Read more
Archive review: The Bank is now closed. Years ago, Cat worked in Shanklin and took great pleasure commuting on the tiny train from Ryde through the fields and woodlands of the east Wight. However, since quitting that job for one in the great metropolis of Newport, Shanklin barely enters... Read more
The Met, Ventnor
Uncategorised 31st January 2008 11
The Isle of Wight is delightfully unsophisticated despite the regular and steady influx of DFLs (Down from London), downsizing to experience the mellowness that is Island living (see Guardian article ‘Let’s Move to Ventnor’). The Island’s esplanades are empty of metrosexual man’s preening narcissism, his skilfully dishevelled hair refusing... Read more
Sun Inn, Calbourne
29th January 2008 6
In the increasingly competitive pub and restaurant market, establishments often hang their Unique Selling Point on some small featurette, extrapolating it into an entire theme – see, for example, the Island’s only capital punishment theme pub – the Hare and Hounds; a venue which developed its identity from its... Read more
Monroe’s Coffee House, Newport
10th January 2008 0
Monroe’s is now closed. Matt and Cat have never eaten in McDonald’s, Newport. They’re not averse to fast food, in fact they’re loving KFC (occasionally); Matt has been known to feed his kids at the Wimpey. However, with so many great little cafes, sandwich bars, pubs and restaurants to... Read more
New Vegetarian Cafe, Newport
29th December 2007 1
NB: this cafe is now closed. Thirty years ago, vegetarian cafes were an unusual niche market for the really committed restaurateur, and one that had some success. These days herbivores do not have to go to an exclusively vegetarian restaurant to eat meat-free food as almost every eaterie will... Read more
ARCHIVE POST: Monsoon is still trading (Jan 2020), but as a takeaway only. Ryde is a curious town in layout – a long, thin chain of shops, pubs and restaurants snakes its way uphill from the esplanade – where the visitor arrives fresh from the ferry – thence up... Read more
Archive review: Octopus Garden Cafe, Cowes
Uncategorised 1st December 2007
This is an archive review. The Octopus Garden is now closed. John Lennon, as featured on the door of the Gents (with modesty spared by Matt and Cat), looking rather like the Island’s very own Jack Douglas? The Octopus Garden Cafe in Cowes started life as a museum of... Read more
Archive review: Island Images, Newport High Street
Uncategorised 30th November 2007
Island Images is now closed. Matt and Cat have updated their review of Island Images at the request of one of the staff. Has the place changed? Read their conclusions below. The original review follows on. Matt and Cat eat out. A lot. See this excerpt from Matt and... Read more
