Archive review: Volcanic Steakhouse, Newport
Uncategorised 4th December 2008
Update July 2011: the Volcanic Steakhouse has closed. The essence of eating out, it might seem, is to employ an expert to cook your food and present it to you. Indeed, it’s a well-established concept, exemplified in almost every other review Matt and Cat have undertaken – the sorry... Read more
Archive review: Mamma Mia, Shanklin
Uncategorised 6th September 2008
This is an archive review. Mamma Mia has now closed this restaurant and opened another. This review and the comments on it refer to the former venue. Some considerable time ago, Cat was a regular patron of Pavarotti’s Restaurant in Shanklin. Its Italian staff were very welcoming, the authentic... Read more
Archive review: Alexanders, John Street, Ryde
Reviews 8th August 2008
Alexanders is now closed. This is an archive review. What’s the way to find good fish and chips on the Isle of Wight? It’s simple – follow Matt and Cat’s easy guide. Are you right next to the sea? No good chips here – and no good prices either.... Read more
This is an archive review. La Scala has now closed. Matt spent his formative years in Sandown, pottering on the beach, playing on the railway and trotting up and down the High Street. Much has changed in Sandown since those days… but much has not. Matt can’t quite remember... Read more
Archive review: the Tollgate is now renamed and under new management Even when driving on the Island’s quiet rural roads, it is easy to be overwhelmed with highways signage and, in the towns this pervasive blight is so ubiquitous that the messages merge and homogenise, ceasing to be of... Read more
Archive review: The Countryman, Limerstone
Uncategorised 8th May 2008
This is an archive review. The Countryman is now closed. Matt and Cat’s home town of Ryde is positively bursting with places to eat and they’ve tried an awful lot of them. The advantage of such a densely resourced place is that if you don’t like the look of... Read more
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
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
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
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
