As Red Funnel‘s bulldozer of progress finally subsumed its neighbour the White Hart pub, Chinese takeaway Jade Garden stood its ground. The venue’s little beacon of light shines smack bang in East Cowes’ regeneration quarter. The modern Waitrose, a block of over-fifty-fives’ housing, and, of course, that smooth new... Read more
This is an archive review of one of several previous Nomad restaurants. Nomad is now closed. Cautious diners may worry that Nomad is going to be too challenging. They might rather have something simpler, quieter and yes, maybe cheaper. These people are wrong, and we’re about to explain how.... Read more
After the excesses of Christmas, many of you will have emerged blinking into the New Year full of staunch resolutions to stop drinking alcohol, deny yourselves meat, run every day and generally have a miserable and sanctimonious January. We know that our willpower isn’t as reliable as yours so... Read more
There are some Island institutions, like Hursts, which provide the same products and service year after year. Fashions change, high street names rise and fall yet some places are so deep-rooted that they are more than a shop front; they, by dint of inertia, become part of the Island’s... Read more
Sushi Supper at Cantina, Ventnor
ArticlesUncategorised 1st March 2018 2
One of our favourite restaurants Cantina is known for its Eurocentric cuisine so we were intrigued and delighted when proprietor Klaus proposed a sushi supper. We love this meticulous Japanese cuisine and so do plenty of others – our first dining event of the year was a sell out!... Read more
Planet Buffet, Shanklin
Uncategorised 31st August 2015
The all-you-can-eat buffet is a curious animal. Almost an equivalent of the popular Sunday carvery – but without the vast sweaty bird – the nature of the buffet system is to prioritise quantity over quality. In places like Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth where you have huge crowds of hungry... Read more
The Royal China, Sandown
Uncategorised 13th May 2014 1
It’s something that Matt and Cat have sometimes pondered – what gives a place the name ‘Royal’? It seems to imply some sort of royal presence or patronage, but is this title actually something that anywhere could adopt without censure? Apparently not in the case of the short-lived rebranding... Read more
Noodle Pot, Newport
ReviewsUncategorised 5th May 2012 1
Matt and Cat are big lovers of sci-fi. Matt, who fancies himself as a writer and a scientist, combines those two interests in a bookshelf chock full o’ the works of Asimov, Heinlein and Iain M Banks. Cat prefers to have her sci-fi injected straight into her eyeballs. In... Read more
Hong Kong Express On Wheels
ReviewsUncategorised 9th October 2011 1
Note: this van is still around at times, but not any more at the site we originally reviewed it. It doesn’t seem to have a regular spot any more. Matt and Cat are fans of the Hong Kong Express chain of Chinese restaurants. Starting in Ryde, the brand spread... Read more
Asia Fusion, Lake
ReviewsUncategorised 15th August 2011 31
Lake: the village that’s in the way of other more interesting places. If you’ve passed through Lake you may have been too distracted by its architectural hotchpotch to notice the disproportionate number of eateries – particularly takeways. Indian, chippy and Chinese restaurants all vie for attention on Lake’s short... Read more
