Archive review: China China, Bembridge
Uncategorised 17th April 2008
This is an archive review. China China has now closed down and is replaced by the Lu Shan. Somebody once said that the average age of the Isle of Wight’s population could be significantly altered by the flooding of the east and west yar rivers; making the county the... Read more
Bizzy Wok, Ryde
Uncategorised 3rd April 2008 6
The heavens opened as Matt and junior reviewers Bill and Jack dashed home after a busy day out. Grabbing the nearest takeaway menu that had fluttered through the letterbox, Matt rang the Bizzy Wok, a takeaway in central Ryde that Matt and Cat had never previously tried. A polite... Read more
Village Taverna, Sandown (archive review)
Uncategorised 3rd April 2008
NB: The Village Taverna is now closed. But we hear a new place is opening there (see comments below) As regular readers to Matt and Cat’s Isle of Wight eating out guide will know, M and C are big fans of tapas, El Toro Contento being one of their... Read more
Copper Kettle, Seaview
24th March 2008 11
According to the blurb in the Copper Kettle’s menu, “Seaview once boasted three banks, a large number of butchers, bakers and grocers, antiques and curiosity shops and was once a bustling centre of commerce”. This is hard to imagine, particularly in winter when the population of the village dwindles.... Read more
Archive review: Cinnamon, Ryde
Reviews 11th March 2008
This is an archive review. Cinnamon has now closed. Heston Blumenthal‘s laboratory kitchen, what’s that all about, eh? Who in their right mind really wants to pay ninety quid for a taste of snail porridge or egg and bacon flavour ice cream? Oak flavoured crisps? Leather mashed potato? To... Read more
Marks and Spencer, Café Revive, Newport
1st March 2008 3
The very first review written for this guide was for Sainsbury’s, Newport. It was short and to the point. This was before Matt and Cat even really had decided to do anything more than a single review… 170 reviews later and they’re still going. Now with this review, they’ve... Read more
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