Friday in London: Chores, Beer, Italian Food

31 March, 2017

Thanks to the generosity of local friends, we loaded up empty suitcases Friday morning for the forty-five minute drive to Middlesex University. As luck and London road construction would have it, our drive included a tour of the car park (parking garage in American English :-) ) at Westfield London Shopping Centre ("The Mall" for Americans, which is nothing at all like "The Mall" that extends from Buckingham Palace.) We also ended up taking a bit of a detour due to sketchy GPS directions but eventually made it to the destination and made our delivery.

After a circuitous return to central London we made our way to the Anglesea Arms, a pub well-known for exceptional food as well as having a beer garden. Situated on a quiet side street in South Kensington, they offer a selection of six ales augmented by nearly a dozen lagers, stouts, and ciders. We enjoyed a pint (or maybe two...) while having an impromptu meeting to discuss future business opportunities related to themed touring concepts. It appears that the intersection of our collective ideas is much greater than either party anticipated, so perhaps this will bear fruit in the coming months. If so, it should prove to be great fun!

While sitting in the pub for the remainder of the afternoon and evening would have been delightful, we were struggling with a bit of jet lag and our friends had a schedule to keep, so we returned to the flat for a short break before meeting our son for an early dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants.

I've written about DaMario before, and I'll probably write about it again in the future. It was known to be Princess Diana's favorite pizzeria, and by our estimation her opinion in this regard is nearly flawless. Anyone that can elevate a dish as simple as bruschetta to the level they have is worthy of high praise. This was our third visit and the only ding I can hit them with is that service slows down when the restaurant gets full. Unless you're an unreasonable troglodyte you realize that's not really a ding at all, nor will you hold it against them. Salads are fresh, dressings are bright and flavorful, pasta is perfectly al dente and sauces are flavorful and adequately portioned without being excessive. If you're in the area of South Kensington, specifically near the intersection of Gloucester Road and Queen's Gate Terrace, then pay them a visit. I suggest you either book a table or arrive early, as a long queue will form and they often have to turn people away later in the evening.