"El Desperado" - Mexican Restaurant, North Cheam

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El Desperado Mexican Restaurant
501 London Rd
Sutton, SM3 8JR

Telephone: 020 8337 4446
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Back from Portugal this morning. Decided to take the kids out for a meal at a new local mexican. From Monday to Thursday, kids eat free!!

Between us, we drank and ate the following:

Drinks
* Cokes, Lemonades
* Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
* Alcoholic Cocktails

Starters
* Stuffed Potato Skins (with cheese and bacon)
* Chilli Nacos (with Guacamoli, sour Cream and Salsa)

Mains
* Children had Margareta Pizzas
* Chicken and Beef Fajitas
* Chicken Burritos
* Smokey BBQ Ribs

Desserts
* Ice Cream

A great time was had by all, that is until we received the bill. Because I had told a member of staff it was my wife's Birthday they sang happy birthday and gave her a free cocktail. When we checked the bill the childrens meals had been included on the bill.

I pointed this out and eventually they took the meals off. It's not about the £7, but the principle that if you advertise an offer you need to follow through. They originally explained that because we were there as a "party" the offer doesn't stand. I pointed out that we only went there because of the offer and that if by giving us a free cocktail the bill is £7 more that it's not a free cocktail.

All said and done we had a nice evening, just make sure you check your bill :)

Final bill for 3 adults and 2 kids = £60.45

"Sr. Franco Da Guia", Galarias Saldanha

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Tel: 21 315 26 49
Fax: 21 471 44 35
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This restaurant was busy, but the flow of people gave it a good atmosphere.

The menu is extremely simple, but the food was good and well cooked.

* In Portugal you automatically get Bread / Cheese / Butter / Sardine Pate
(All of these appear on your bill unless you send it back)
* Pork Chops
* Beef Steak
* Tomato Salad
* Green Salad
* Jug of Sangria / Cokes

The Portuguese equivelant of VAT is IVA. It's usually already added to the bill (IVA incluido)

Our final bill was 33.70 euro (about £20)

"O Mastra", Rua de Santa Marta 41/a, Lisbon, Portugal

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Street: Rua de Santa Marta 41/a
Not far from Praca de Marques de Pombal METRO
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This restaurant in Lisbon centre was newly decorated and very reasonably priced.

We endulged ourselves tonight.

# Mixed Salad
# Rabbit - with chips and vegetables
# Grilled Cutle Fish - with salad
# Squid and Prawn Skewers - with boiled potatoes, and brocolli

I sampled the local Beer called "Super Bock".
It has a very light taste to it making it very refreshing to drink.

Excellent evening!

"Latino", Rua Latino Coelho 18, Sau Sebastian, Lisbon

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Street: Rua Latino Coelho, 18
1050-137 Lisboa

Tel: 21 314 18 97
Fax: 21 315 84 69
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We arrived too early at this restaurant at 7.30pm, but we had been up travelling since 4.30am in the morning and if we had left it any later we would have been asleep in the food.

We mostly had starters, but asked for all food to come out when it was ready.

# Vegetable Soup - Pumpkin and Spinach (Starter)
# Bacon and Mushrooms (Starter)
# Garlic Prawns (Starter)
# Grilled Veal (Main Course)
# Various Drinks

Beautiful and tasteful food, although a little pricey.


LATINO RESTAURANT, LISBOA
51,55 EUR --> £36.73

"Hard Rock Cafe", Avenida Da Liberdade 2, Lisbon

The walls are typically covered in Rock memorabilia (Guitars, gold discs, etceteras).

The car on the ceiling is something else!!

We started with Santa Fe Spring Rolls: Stuffed with chicken, spinach, black beans,
cilantro, corn, jalapeños, Jack and Cheddar cheeses. Served with fresh salsa and guacamole dressing. Nice!

I then had the Hickory BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger. A hamburger of beef, basted with
hickory bar-b-que sauce and smothered with caramelized onions. Topped with crisp bacon and melted Cheddar cheese. That got the old stomach juices going!

My wife had the Tuscan Chick en Salad. Grilled chicken tossed with mesclun mixed greens, roasted red peppers and mushrooms , grilled asparagus , provolone cheese , salami and shaved Parmesan in a red wine vinaigrette. She thought the sauces where to heavy, but she did eat it all.

I couldn't resist the Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae. A mountain of Hard Rock's signature ice cream and hot fudge on a fresh brownie, topped with chopped walnuts, chocolate sprinkles, fresh whipped cream and a cherry.

We had to walk back to the hotel to shed a few pounds!

Bazil Brasserie

This restaurant is part of the "Windsor Hotel"
South Parade, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 2RF
Tel - (0191) 293 9898

The music, lighting and atmosphere were just right for a relaxing meal. Only open until half past nine which is always a shock to me coming from 24 hour London.

I had ...Table d'Hote Menu option for #18.95

Starter
Seared Pigeon Breast with Grilled Black Pudding

Main Course
Roasted Kangaroo Rump with Bolengaire Potatoes.
The portion was very generous! And the meat was nicely cooked.

Sweet
Mixed Berry Panna Cotta with Amaretti biscuits

A very attractive asian girl looked after me competently. The candle on my table wasn't lit although those on other tables were.

All in all, a superb meal

Stoneleigh - Village Pizza

Another great meal!

Village Pizza is a little Pizza restaurant with a great menu.

We had:

• Garlic Dough Balls
• Garlic Mushrooms
• Mixed een Salad
• Margarita Pizza
• America Hot Pizza
• Carbonara Tagiateli

Excellent