261417 Wed May 29 00:15:43 -0700 2002 7 26 International 0 1381364 A very comfortable setting, located in an old library in Great Smith St Westminster. Excellent Francois Henart champagne ! My table's starters consisted of seared tandoori tuna, two types of lamb kebab & breast of guinea fowl. Maitre d's suggestion of a new world Australian shiraz was not great and after being sent back, we ordered a new world Australian Cab Sav from Victoria - delicious ! Think it was called Nine Popes. Our mains were the braised venison and beef biryani - excellent curried flavours which were not overpowering. This is an excellent fusion of Indian and French food and prices are a little on the high side ! Wed May 29 00:15:43 -0700 2002 0 Dynamo 1 1381367 Just out of interest, what reason did you give the sommelier for sending the wine back? What was his reaction and were you charged? Wed May 29 06:33:04 -0700 2002 1381364 0 Nick Lambert 2 1381377 We had asked him for a smooth, creamyish gutsy red & he recommended a 2000 Australian shiraz. It tasted quite sharp, rather acidic and without any guts. He was fine about it and our choice of the Nine Pope Cabernet was very smooth, silky, creamy with full body. Wed May 29 11:49:00 -0700 2002 1381367 0 Dynamo 3 1381383 have a really hard time going together. next time, try a german reisling - they work wonderfully if at all ... otherwise, a well diluted scotch and soda is a good alternative. and i guess we should meet on the 'general' board if any one wants to continue this Wed May 29 12:43:39 -0700 2002 1381377 0 howler 4 1381398 Thanks for your advice .. I presume you have eaten at Cinnamon Club - the venison for the main course was quite western in its preparation, although it was accompanied by a slightly spicy sauce - the Nine Popes red wine that we had chosen was a perfect combination. Thu May 30 02:04:58 -0700 2002 1381383 0 Dynamo 4 1381430 Where has Simon disappeared to lately? Fri May 31 05:14:29 -0700 2002 1381383 0 Hallie 4 1381431 I would actually say that the Cinnamon Club is 'french' food with an 'indian' accent. Fri May 31 05:53:50 -0700 2002 1381383 0 Dynamo 5 1381433 i HAVE eaten at the cinammon club. one of the sponsors is a less-than-a-pal more-than-an acquaintance of mine. he thinks he's got an angle on the up market nouvelle indian more than just curry hype. i find the whole thing amusingly bad. but thats just me, of course. Fri May 31 10:35:57 -0700 2002 1381431 0 howler