Bumpkin Westfields

The other day we got to go to an incredible little restaurant that just added a new location, its third, to Westfields at Stratford . Bumpkin has stayed true to its roots and offers up British classics like fish and chips and chicken pie but also does British twists on American dishes like the burgers and milkshakes, their version is more of a frappuccino.

The first time I went I got the burger which was delicious, you have to try the guacamole it is incredible and get the chips they are so moreish! However my heart really lay with the baby back ribs. I knew I was going to get messy and I didn’t want to have to be the only caveman at the table so I recruited in my boyfriend and we headed back. You can also get ribs for a starter but we were there for the main course and they came out on a wooden board with two rib racks stacked and a sprig of rosemary on top. I love eating with my hands probably because it’s such a novelty and I definitely got to do that here and get a little messy along the way. The ribs were amazing the meat pulled off cleanly the marinade was flavourful even though it did get a little too sweet towards the end, it maybe needed a touch of mustard and more rosemary to bring that down and make it even more British but I totally wanted another set when I got to the end of mine. Luckily we had both spicy wedges, I was thankful we got offered mayonnaise because they pack a spicy little punch after a couple, and chips, salty, crispy and delicious, to fill me up and prevent me going back for more!

Then just when we thought it couldn’t get any better we ordered dessert! I went for a brownie, it was all that I could squeeze in, and asked for it warm and I was soooo happy I did it came gooey and chocolately and made me ahhhh in appreciation. Next time I’m getting ice cream too! The other side of the table was a dessert heaven, on the menu it offered to wrap up part of it so you could take it home or recommended you share and it disappeared in about 2 minutes, maybe less I was distracted by a brownie. Part came in a Kilner jam jar, similar to a Mason jar, that was filled with brownie, ice cream and caramel sauce and then you had three mini jam doughnuts, with a definite British twist, on the side and it was all so tasty! I am very lucky to have found a guy that doesn’t mind giving me a taste.

So what I have learnt from my two trips to Bumpkin; go with someone you don’t mind getting messy in front of so you can get the ribs, don’t get the milkshakes somethings are better American, always get chips and order the biggest dessert on the menu because it is all delicious. Oh and get ready to go back again because there is so much stuff to try, next time I think I am going to have to try out a pie.

Pictures below!

Thanks for Reading xx

The Real Greek

I finally managed the impossible to get all my friends available on the same day for a dinner catch up!! Don't worry, I have given myself a pat on the back, I totally deserve it! And we got to go to a lovely restaurant called The Real Greek, which is a chain so there are plenty of locations but we went to the Stratford's Westfield one because it is so easy to get home from. 

We all went in on the meal for £10 even though the Westfields' Food Offers Booklet, of which there is plenty, has a voucher for 25% off! So it shows the £10 deal was pretty exceptional and I don't think anyone regretted it. You get to choose two courses from starter, main or meze and within each course there are a whole bunch of other decisions to make, it was tough, we took a while. Everyone went for starter and meze I think mainly because you get to try a few more dishes and who doesn't love that!? 

So I went for the humus and htipiti with the warm flatbread. The humus was lovely, homemade, filing and tasty and the htipiti was interesting, made like a less watery salsa with some feta cheese crumbled in, definitely worth a try but if I had to choose again I would have gone for the melitzanosalata it was delicious! 

Then I made some really good choices if I do say so myself. I chose Nikos' Meatballs, served with raw onion and an incredible tomato sauce on top of a creamy yoghurt it was refreshing and hearty and the sauce went really well with my chips which I caved and got as my side. For my other meze I got the chargrilled chicken wings and I got messy! Pretty much what it said on the tin, there were actual chargrills! They came on a big skewer with a pot of a bbq-y sauce to dip in and they were soooo tasty everyone tried some. Descriptions here.

Next, unfortunately away from the £10 menu, I went for baklava because you can't go greek without getting baklava, or at least I can't, I have no will power for that. I have to say I was a little disappointed after the rest of the meal and after having so much baklava in the past I know what I like and what I don't. This was made with walnut which is off to a bad start but still worth a try. I've had a cashew one that was incredible but pistachio is where it is at for me. It came smothered in honey so if the filo was crisp before it didn't make it to the table crisp and they only had the one layer of crushed walnut??? I like a baklava that is only sticky at the bottom, that has crispy filo and that has a couple layers, thin, thick, whichever of nuts preferable pistachio. I would however recommend the baklava at a store in the Great Eastern Market called Mezze they do a big variety and they are all amazing and for The Real Greek I think I would try their Greek Sundae instead.

Overall though I can't wait to go back and try something else! I would recommend it to anyone.

Thanks for Reading xx