Shoryu Go, London

Shoryu Go
19 Air Street
London W1B 5AG

The first time I went to Shoryu Go, it was because this is the only ramen "specialised" outlet that packed it as takeaway.

I'd ordered 4 ramens and some buns, but when I got home I realised that one of the ramens hadn't been packed. I called them and they said that unfortunately, I would have to come back to the store either to get the money returned on my card or to pick up a fresh ramen to replace the one that had got left out. I told them I would only be back in the area after a week and they said that would not be a problem.

When I returned after a week the manager refunded the money on my card AND offered me a complimentary ramen for the trouble. Which I unfortunately had to decline as I had a lunch appointment elsewhere and couldn't be carrying a takeaway bag to the other places on my agenda.

Yesterday, we wanted a quick snack before heading to the Haymarket Theatre and I immediately thought of their buns. Since it was early and Shoryu Go is a small place (They have a few canteen style seats - about 10) and it was on our way, I hoped for quick service and yummy food.

We just focussed on the gyoza and the buns. The pork gyoza (£7 - 6 pieces) are much better than the chicken gyoza (£7 - 6 pieces) IMHO and if you have them to eat in, they fry them in a pan so they get all joined together in a very pretty lacy design.

Their buns (£4.50 per piece) are absolutely amazing. We tried the chicken karaage, pork belly and salmon tempura and I'm hard pressed to decide which was my favourite.

Loved the yuzu drink (£3.50) too, a nice change from regular lemonade.

Shoryu doesn't offer my favourite Ramen in London, that honour goes to Kanada-Ya and Bone Daddies, but they are very good and they offer takeaway (only at this outlet)

There are some offers that discount your bill if you order particular combinations or based on the days of the week, so do see what the offer of the day is.

Rating : 4 / 5

The Flour Station Bakery, London

The Flour Station Bakery
91 North Yard
Camden
London NW1 8AH
020 8457 2098

The Flour Station Bakery has an industrial interior and serves up baked goods and cold meats. Cold meats and drinks come from their curated suppliers.

I was in the area for the Camden cheese festival this weekend and wanted to pick up some breads to accompany the multiple cheeses I had bought.

Their English muffins (£1 each) were ok. The jalapeño corn bread(£1.50 each) was good, but I had to fry them in a pan to get a crisper crust, like I prefer. The sticky toffee buns(£2.40 each)are very similar in flavour to cinnabon, but with less sugar, so it's a great way to enjoy the pecan toffee cinnamon bread combination. The brownies (£2.50 each) however were the crowning glory. Absolutely decadently satisfying.

They advertise their scones as the best, but there weren't any left by the time I got there.

I tried the locally made ginger beer from Hackney by Square Root London,  and it was lovely.

I'd go back, but for the sweet stuff rather than the breads.

Rating : 3 / 5

Rapha Cycle Club, London

Rapha Cycle Club
85 Brewer Street
Soho
London W1F 9ZN
Phone number 020 7494 9831

It's a coffee shop inside a cycle store. The cycle store is amazing if you are a cyclist, but my only self propelled motion activity is walking, so I have to confess I haven't paid too much attention to the store itself.

I've only ever picked up takeaway coffee from them and the coffee is worth a little detour when you are in the Piccadilly Circus area.

They do have seating space with large tables and I've always seen people working on their laptops or having quick meetings here. So it's a nice quiet space to get some work done too with awesome coffee on the side.

They offer some basic snacks and lunch options too. But that coffee is 5* and what keeps bringing me back. The staff is pretty awesome too.

Rating : 4.5 / 5