Millennium, San Francisco, USA

A quick google search tells you that Millennium is a vegetarian institution in San Francisco. History seems to tell us that it was the first fine dining vegan restaurant of note in the area. Having read some other reviews on the place, we were eager to try it out for ourselves.

Millennium is on the ground floor of a hotel in downtown SF. Even though we had a booking, we waited for 15 minutes or so in the hotel lobby, which doubles as the entrance to the restaurant. It's cosy and a little dated. The other diners looked equally as intrigued and hungry as us - we were a strange mixed bag huddled in that lobby together! All walks of live come together over good veggie food in Millennium!

Once inside, I got the sense that the restaurant had once been an old Irish pub, or something similar. The big bar in the centre of the room is a feature, and they seem to have attempted to strip some of the pub feel back by draping curtains. It was an odd mix, but somehow just added to my sense of the ad hoc experience.

Our waitress was European, with plaits curled around the back of her head, and had no sense of humour at all. She reprimanded me for not speaking loudly enough when I ordered, but then she seemed to soften up after that. So much for all vegetarians being jolly, life-loving souls. Turns out we take all types!

Due to said waitress I was too scared to take pictures of my food, at risk of enduring another reprimand from this quirky institution that seems to take itself quite seriously, so hence this is a very straight forward post! The food was nice and imaginative, and we left full and satisfied. I can say I've had better, but I've also had worse. Nothing to write too much of a post about...

Being in Millennium, I sensed it was all vegan hype - I know what it's like to have mediocre standards, simply because you want to be encouraging of the movement, but at some point we need to be honest that it's just not that great by broader industry standards. Power to the vegan fine dining establishments, and more of them I say! Perhaps that will make places like Millennium a little more competitive on decor and service, rather than just resting on the niche of being a vegan haunt. It's touted as fine dining, and you're asked to dress nicely, but apart from some nice food it's really not worth the online reputation it enjoys (humble opinion!).

Give it a go if you're vegan, in town, and keen to see for yourself, but there are true fine dining restaurants out there in SF who I found will gladly accommodate you with some notice.

Add: 580 Geary St, San Francisco, CA
PH: 415-345-3900 
Web: http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/restaurant/index.html 

Criterion Restaurant, London, England

We have a winner!

After a dud night at Quaglino's, we had time for one more quick work dinner before I caught my car to the airport. I had a really narrow window, but I'd heard so much about the amazing interior design of The Criterion. It sounded like a London-must. I only had an hour there, and it was well spent!

The Criterion is right on Piccadilly Circus, originally opened in 1874. It has gold-gilded ceilings and reflections everywhere. It's so vibrant and romantic - my idea of heaven.

We enjoyed wine, starters, and then I started twitching for my main, watching the clock and fantasizing about missing my flight with a great excuse of being 'stuck' in this plush, golden wonderland. Our waiters were fantastic, and shortly my main was in front of me. It was a tri-colour cauliflower dish on a long rectangular plate. The purples, whites and light greens of the cauliflower were so imaginative and subtle - I truly felt like I was getting the fine dining experience, vegetable style. It was delicious, by most of all it was delicate yet vibrant all at once. So happy!

As soon as I finished my cauliflower rainbow, I took a moment to drink in the surroundings again, and then had to jump up and run back to my hotel to catch the car. I literally meant run - I switched shoes and bolted. But the extra 5 minutes in the beautiful Criterion was worth it!

Add: 224 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HP, England

Ph: 020 79300488

Web: http://www.criterionrestaurant.com/

Sketch, The Gallery, London, England

Sketch, the Gallery, was one of the most memorable dining experiences I had in London. Everywhere you look there is some detail or charm to be taken in. It seems each chair, table, plate, and glass is different, as if it had all come from a well-positioned St Vincent de Paul shop, bequeathed with treasures from surrounding mansions.

Sketch has lots of gimmicks to keep you enthralled as you settle in to your table. There are lasers tracing geometric patterns on the walls, there are cocktails in tea cups, and there are of course the ladies toilets housed inside huge eggs, where you listen to some kind of frogs singing in the rainforest from inside your own personal egg. . . It's like my version of Lamb's Wonderland.

I went to Sketch with two friends, and it was hard to focus on the menu with so much atmospheric buzz! My mind went something like this:  

"OK. . . salmon, nope. . . oh laser. . .  right, lamb, nope. . . oh look at that vase. . . come on, focus. . . chicken, nope - oh I feel so low in my chair compared to everyone else. I guess because it's one-of-a-kind. Alright - noodles with miso. Read, read, read, no meat - done. Hmmm. . . I want a drink from that spaceship sunken bar I saw under the toilet platform. . . Hang on, do I really want a drink from the room under the egg toilets? Ooooo Lasers. . . I think they're moving in a different pattern now"

Honestly, the surroundings never really melt into the background here. With so many exciting colours dashing here and there around us, it took some time before we zeroed in on our own company. The waitress had to come back several times to check in on us before we were finally ready to order - I think at Sketch, where design seems to be the headlining act, it's probably not unusual for the waitstaff to have to zero you in on the meal!

I had some kind of Japanese inspired noodle dish, where the soup element was poured on at the table in front of me.  (Here's exactly what it was: Udon: an infusion of burned onions and marjoram, tofu, Judas ear mushrooms and girolles). I kept hearing that the chefs at Sketch were French inspired and following the infusion trend. . .  I definitely noticed the snails and Camembert on the menu! There was also a veggie risotto and ravioli on offer, and generally I think 3 options is a good run! There's a lot of variety, however I chose to steer clear of the Italian vegetable items as they're pretty easy to find on any menu.

My noodle dinner was very nice. Strangely to me, it didn't feel like fine dining. I think living in Asia, noodles to me are associated with a quick lunch at the local food hall, so although the flavours were nice, it didn't have an aura of 'spesh'. I liked the shape of the plate and the presentation.

The waitstaff were fine - nothing in particular to mention.

The headline is the theme. I think you could come to Sketch over and over, and still find something fun to occupy yourself. We had nice wine and lots of stimulation. And with enough veggie options to keep a few of us happy, I could certainly come again to see what I find!

Address: 9 conduit street, london w1s 2xg
Ph: +44 (0) 20 7659 4500
Web: http://www.sketch.uk.com/venue_Gallery_Martin_Creed.php

Sprout Dining, Honeysuckle Newcastle, Australia

I've been so lucky to go home to Newcastle twice recently - once in November for my brothers wedding, and again at Christmas. There are so many weddings, babies and other happenings at the moment, and I can't say no to a good celebration.

On our November visit to Newcastle, we found ourselves driving around the foreshore and honeysuckle area, commenting on how much it had changed since we'd lived there. Newcastle has a real appetite for development at the moment - with some of the best beaches and lifestyle in the world, coupled with great coffee, and burgeoning foodie scene, and not to mention the local university doing a bumper trade, it wasn't going to be long before businesses started becoming attracted to the area again.

After BHP closed in the 1990's, Newcastle became a bit of a shell of it's former steel-city self. However step by step it's emerged as a unique surf-and-food city and backpacker destination in it's own right. After moving out in 2005 with a chip on my shoulder, I now find myself with more reasons to say 'I could live here again' each time I go back. I hear the railway will close soon and the city will be opened up to gardens and walkways like the highline - I can only wish my adolescent home town would be so cool in the future!

So while cruising honeysuckle we happened upon Sprout. I scoped the table settings and my first reaction was a big fat 'NO", but feeling hungry we sat down at the outdoor tables and immediately began to warm up to the idea. . .

From the outdoors, Sprout isn't much to look at. The art seems sparse, the colours completely unoffensive, and the outdoor tables looked like the might be more at home out front of a chip shop. However as soon as the waitresses greets you, you know you're being welcomed into someone's pride and joy. They're endearing to the point of offering blankies for you to keep your lap warm while you eat outdoors. They're genuine enough to give you their suggestion when you're tossing up between 2 meals. And they're candid enough to reprimand you when the wrong wine arrives and you don't immediately point it out to them. This is Newcastle hospitality, at the evolving edge.

On our second visit to Sprout in December, we were pleased to see the same waitresses, and this time we sat inside, where there's a better perspective of what they're trying to do with the decorations. It's still simple and limited, but the thoughtfulness is more apparent from the indoors. The kitchen is pleasing - spotless, efficient, and peppered with tidy chefs running here and there like ants sent on errands by the head chef staking his position in the serving window. They're obviously happy to be on display, and rightly so.

Having now visited twice, I can confidently quote the vegetarian menu! A delicious cauliflower soup, and a fig dish for starers, and a dense, buttery gnocci for main course. In retrospect, I'd take the gnocci in an entre size for my main course - it's delicious but oh-so-filling! The meals are served timely, and the ingredients are fresh and fragrant. The cauliflower soup seems to be my favourite - it's creamy yet light, and with a hint of truffle. Yum!

The deserts are great - enough said. Some delicious peanut butter, and a chocolate lovers plate. Some good imagination and a commendable attempt at some post-modern specialties. At the end of the day, Newcastle is moving ahead, but Novocastrians still love their chocolate mudcakes!

I'm so pleased and excited by this little beauty of a restaurant. I tried getting a booking at Bacchus and Subo last time I was in town, considering the hype I'm hearing about Newcastle's fine-dining scene. Bacchus was closed for the Christmas-NewYear period, and Subo was no-chance for a booking (closed until mid Jan! I hope the husband and wife team are having a good time off. . . but I'd like to eat there!). I guess no matter how far Newcastle has come ahead, it's still a big country town and closes shop for the holidays. Considering that I could get a same-day booking with Sprout, it's definitely one of the accessible little treasures that Honeysuckle has to offer.

Add: 2 Honeysuckle drive, Newcastle, NSW Australia
PH: +61 (02) 40233565
Web: http://sproutcatering.com.au/main/page_sprout_dining_home.html