Cosmoba

9 Cosmo Place,
Southampton Row
London WC1N 3AP

Tel. 0207 837 0904

Tue. 30 Jan 2001

A little Italian place recommended to me by a friend. I eventually found it and was given a table in the lower, rear section.

I felt a little out of it there, and was not overly pleased to be sitting facing an old freezer, and in a cloud of cigarette smoke from the next table. Anyway - I know I'm a no-smoking Nazi, so I try to ignore the smoke. The waiters are all typical Italian gents, and I feel comfortable with them.

Polenta with a Mushroom sauce sounded so homey - I miss this sort of dish - and it did not disappoint. Although one is given the distinct impression that the dish has come direct from the microwave - So What? It was tasty and the texture was just what I expected. Had I been at home in a Villa in Tuscany, I woud not have baulked at heating up a dish of Polenta in a Microwave! Main course was Venison. It arrived on a dish accompanied by two large pieces of Brocolli and Roast Potatoes. First impressions were not good. For one, I'm a slow eater, and invariably, brocolli goes very cold before I've finished. Secondly, I'm no great fan of restaurant roast potatoes (compared to my good wife's, they're no match!). Nevertheless, the potatoes were very good, and the gravy made the brocolli edible. The venison was, er, OK, but on the whole, the meal was enjoyable. The cafe corretto I finished with was excellent. Again, the standard of faciities let them down. Perhaps many people don't feel the need to avail themselves of the washroom facilities, but I feel they are a telling indication of the reat of the establishment.

1 Beer
2 glasses house red
Polenta
Venison
Cafe corretto
£27.00 inc tip.

Verdict: Passable

 Sandro Melkuhn