The Green Review

August 10, 2009 by admin 

The Green ReviewIf you think talent is in short supply, then pop into the Naked Turtle where the waiters and waitresses are all professional singers. So much so that three of the staff were the stars of the small screen, appearing on John Barrowman’s BBC 1 show Tonight’s The Night. In fact the raison d’être of this restaurant and bar is to turn it into a jazz venue, with live music six nights a week. But enough about the ambience, let’s get down to the food.

I’m a devotee of the weird and the wonderful, so the pan-fried impala caught my eye. It’s a game meat but has a very subtle flavour, similar to steak but much lighter and has a rich, earthy aroma. In fact, it’s an extremely lean meat. No wonder lions look so sleek on this diet. The antelope was well complemented by sweet potatoes, green beans and a home-made peri peri sauce. It’s a perfect dish for meat eaters who don’t have a gargantuan appetite and save room for dessert.

And for the final dish I blasted the calories with a sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. The treacle topping was a sweet and crunchy delight while light accents supplied by a scattering of blackcurrants and strawberries.

For those who like to try out new wines, the bar serves 50 bins of sparkling wine, Champagne, white, red, rose, port and sweet wines. Talk to the extremely knowledgeable sommelier/wine buyer Angus Macnab, who can suggest very reasonably priced options, including the offer of sampling wines from emerging countries like Brazil and Lebanon.

It’s lovely for the summer months as there’s al fresco dining at the front of the restaurant as well as a leafy garden at the back. The Naked Turtle sets the right balance between sophisticated dining and a relaxed, informal setting. (Fiona Keating)

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One Response to “The Green Review”

  1. David R Hasler on December 13th, 2009 1:01 pm

    Just a short note to Give the Naked Turtle a 5 START ***** Rating

    Good Food, Good Wine, Very Good Staff, & Service, and the Best Entrainment in Town.

    I was a guest to a friends birthday party.

    D R Hasler, Cutlers’ Hall
    Beadle & Freeman of the City of London

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