Dan's Eat Club Reviews

This was the biggest eat club to date and the anarchic nature led to seating issues with participants being spread over 3 tables. Conor didn’t like the beef ball things which admittedly not the best. Bright yellow chicken and sweetcorn soup was located by the toilets so draw your own conclusions I guess! I wasn’t overly impressed with the food nor was I disappointed. Passable is a term both adequate yet unmemorable that perhaps reflects the food, which pales in comparison to that seen in EC1 at Charlies. If you want buffet in the area – eat around the corner.

Well lets face it this would be pretty good at twice the price but the sheer insanity of the £7 price tag makes this one a no brainer. The restaurant is modern and simple in décor which was unexpected for its location in deepest ‘Nam’. EC visited on a Tuesday which was apparently the tandoori chefs day off hence the service was understandably unhurried however, the staff were more than accommodating. The food itself was excellent although one criticism was the rather limited menu – nothing new but what is done is done well. Overall a must try.

It was Italian time again and despite Speedys boycott the turnout was good. The restaurant was tardis like in size opening out as we got inside. Unmistakably Italian in decoration Panis delivered quality Italian food at reasonable prices. A nice point was that the menu on offer stretched beyond the mundane pizza and pasta to more rustic fare. My sausage and borlotti casserole was delicious and just the sort of comfort that the winters night dictated. The service was efficient though almost rushed but it was not a large gripe. In general, a good example of a sometimes mediocre variety.

Xmas was coming and it was time to get fat! The special nature of the first xmas eat club meant that the £15 limit was ignored and thus the special set menu was in sight. Four courses for under £30 at one of the nicest venues in toon and it didn’t disappoint. We were strong in numbers and had the upstairs room and dedicated staff hence, the service was good. The food was of the high standard expected which was just as well as I had cast myself as non organiser for the night and the pressure was on! In all fairness Paradiso is in a different league to the usual suspects under scrutiny but even so it was a rare treat that underlined the quality of the food and the value for money. Paradiso is a favourite lunch and dinner venue of mine and whilst outside the EC budget still represents outstanding value for money.

Spanish tapas eh? Something new for me and most of us present. We had the set menu to give the widest spread of flavours which was certainly a good move with the large number of us and is recommended. The concept of attractive and tasty food coming out little and often was a little alien and I did leave with the feeling that I hadn’t actually eaten yet I was strangely satiated. The décor is pleasantly Spanish but beware the drinks which at £3 for a pint of Sol I thought was steep to the point of bloody vertical!