savory-bites » Chains in London

Starbucks: A Comparison

Jessie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:01:49 +0000

Fortunately for Starbucks lovers, Starbucks isn’t a rarity in London. It might not be as intensely distributed as it is in NYC, but it’s common to pass by at least 2 Starbucks within a 10 minute walk. So is there a difference between Starbucks in America and Starbucks in London? Absolutely.

I was so disappointed at the menu. Besides the cost factor (basically a little bit less than twice as much as in the US), they offered half of the items that I’m used to. They actually don’t offer freshly brewed coffee! I thought the point of Starbucks was to serve coffee… Anyway, if you want coffee, your best bet is to get an Americano which was around 2.70 pounds. I found that adding a good amount of whole milk and a ton of sugar on an Iced Americano made a great latte-like drink. They also don’t have the Green Tea Frap nor the Strawberries and Cream Frap. And worst of all, they don’t have their iced tea or iced tea lemonade.

The second most obvious difference for me was the shape and size of their scones. At home, the scones are triangular and baked with a sugary glaze/crust on top. In London, the scones are circular and huge! Even though they do have a sugar coat on top, the scone as a whole isn’t as sweet. I didn’t realize it was a scone until I read the tag.

I can’t say that the coffee was better in London. I normally add so much milk and sugar to Starbucks coffee that it all tastes the same. Another thing I found intriguingly different was the outlet plugs. Back at home, the walls are equipped with enough plugs to connect every other table in the shop. In London, it was extremely difficult to find a plug at Starbucks. Looks like they skimp on electricity…

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Pizza Express

Jessie — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:14:41 +0000

Since the first week when we arrived in London, we had been eying Pizza Express on Euston. With its full glass windows to its sleek tables, the place gave off a sense of elegance. Upon further inspection, we found that the entrees weren’t unbearable for our wallets. Nevertheless, refusing to splurge, we dedicated a date to dine there: our last night.

My dinner didn’t fall short of expectations, but it didn’t shatter them either. I ordered the Parmense, which was parma ham, asparagus, free range egg, and grana padano. It was the first time I had egg on my pizza. Truthfully, it didn’t alter it much. The main flavors came from the parma ham and grana padano, so with that combination, it was a bit salty. Nevertheless, it was tasty pizza. However, after converting to dollars, this 12 inch cost me over $16.

Others around me all got pizza, with the exception of Steph, who got a salad. I don’t remember which salad she ordered, but it came with like 3 sticks of bread. Some of the other pizzas included the American Hot, which was indeed hot, and the Padana, a combination of spinach and goats cheese.

Overall, it was a great dining experience. I’d give it a 7/10 for its food and overall value.T he service was spectacular. My friend had a fly that landed itself into her wine and the server poured her a new glass immediately. I’d definitely recommend going to Pizza Express if you’re in London. Some are more classy than others, so the one on Euston and on the Southbank are definitely better.

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Costa Coffee

Jessie — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

This is my favorite expresso cafe in London. I only went to Cafe Nero more often because it was cheaper, but this place is hands down the best. Right when you walk in, the smell of roasted expresso beans hits your right in the nose. You get the whole barista experience, from watching them grind the beans to them pouring the drink into your engraved Costa cup.

Not only is the expresso stronger than any other place that I’ve been to, but the cup sizes are bigger too! Even though at Nero, a “tall” cup of Americano is 1.65 pounds and at Costa it’s 2 pounds, there’s an apparent difference in size. So you’re paying extra for the quality and the quantity.

If you’re clueless about what to get, I’d recommend the Cafe Latte. It’s just expresso and milk. You can’t go wrong with it. Plus, it comes in a tall glass. How can you go wrong with that? It costs around 2.05 pounds. If you’re cheap like me and don’t want to fork over the extra 10 cents, just get the Americano (their version of regular coffee) which is just expresso and hot water. Ask for milk and you’ll be good. Of course, my favorite is their cappuccino. I think it’s the extra sprinkle of chocolate powder on top that does it for me.

Many people don’t realize that Costa has a loyalty card system; you just have to ask. I didn’t find out until it was too late. Of everything that I’ll miss in London, I’ll probably miss Costa coffee the most.

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West Cornwall Pasty Co.

Jessie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:16:22 +0000

There have been many comparisons done between Cornish Bakehouse and West Cornwall. Truthfully, I think they’re both great, with nothing much to distinguish between them. They each have some of the same menu options and sometimes vary a bit more. I believe that West Cornwall is a tad bit cheaper.

At West Cornwall, they have a chicken curry pasty, unlike Cornish Bakehouse. I decided to get that, being intrigued with the concept of curry in a pasty. My favorite part about eating a pasty is buttery smell you get from opening the bag. The first bite is a crunch into a pastry-like crust and you generally get no filling with it. But, like with most pasties, I tend to get a bit “bored” with the flavor after about half way through. They’re always so stuffed and dense, making it a heavy meal.

The chicken curry pasty wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t great. It wasn’t as “curry-ish” as I thought it’d be, although the flavors were definitely there. The chicken was a bit dry and not as tender as I thought it’d be either. I wish it had been a bit more spicy, I think that would have given it a nice kick.

West Cornwall Pasty Co. can be found at most of the major rail stations like Euston, Victoria, King’s Cross, etc… There’s also one in Covent Garden, right next to their rival, Cornish Bakehouse.

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Pret a Manger

Jessie — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:12:13 +0000

Okay, I know that Pret probably isn’t worthy of blogging for the average Londoner, but seriously, have you ever had a really good and I mean REALLY good sandwich? Pret is literally what most food services strive for- freshness, consistency, wonderful products, and a loyal fan base.

I’m so glad I didn’t go to Pret until my last month in London. Otherwise, I probably would have gone broke. I have 2 recommendations and 1 un-recommendation. So bad news first. Don’t EVER get their “award-winning” avocado wrap. It was so bad, I forgot its full name. Anyway, you can’t miss it because it’s their cheapest wrap and avocado is its star ingredient.

But the good news. If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, you MUST get their all day breakfast sandwich! Sausage, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomato, egg salad… Sigh, what else in life could you possibly ask for? It’s so thick that I usually get their “Slim Pret” version. Oh, and that’s another thing I love about the place. You can buy half a sandwich that comes prepackaged at half the full sandwich’s cost.

If you’re in the mood for a wrap, get the Hoisin Duck wrap. It’s just duck, lettuce, and hoisin sauce, but it hits the spot.

Oh, and their rhubarb granola is pretty good. Did I mention their breakfast baguette sandwich with salmon and egg?

YUMMINESS. I AM SO SORRY I ONLY TOOK ONE PICTURE!

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