Tibits and Freggo – Mayfair

A couple of weeks ago I was invited by the lovely Vikki Chowney to a Girl Geek Shopping event taking place all over Regent Street. There were cocktails, a QR code scavenger hunt and lunch at Tibits, a Mayfair-based organic veggie buffet-style restaurant off Heddon street.

As you walk into  Tibits, you’re warmly welcomed by the staff and shown how the whole system works.  It’s fairly self-explanatory: 1. Grab plate 2. Scoop food 3. Pay.  Sorted.

The buffet is clean and the food refreshed often. It’s the type of vegetarian restaurant where you never miss the meat.  Pastas, couscous, jalapeno poppers, olives, wedges, tofu, roasted veggies.  All very nice and very fresh. It reminded of the Planet Organic that’s next door to my office. That would be, if Planet Organic charged £15 for lunch.

This plate, along with a bit of dessert was an astonishing £15:

While everything was very tasty, I felt – remembering that there was no pricey protein on the plat – that it didn’t quite live up to the price. Rice, pasta salad, potatoes and vegetable should not equal £3 less than a 2-course Top Table deal at Maze.

After leaving and doing a bit more shopping around, I found myself down the street at Freggo, a small gelateria off Swallow street. Freggo opened last year to positive reviews from lots of skinny rich Mayfair girls who – in a moment of weakness – probably stopped there after hitting The Cuckoo Club (yes, this ice cream bar is open till 2am). In fairness though, it’s really good. Nice, rich gelato served in a setting of plush purple couches and padded purple walls. It’s very Mayfair. I went for a half and half of Dulce de Leche and White Chocolate:

The only thing I wasn’t impressed with was that they hide the ice cream tubs behind the counter, out of sight. I’m sure it helps with the aesthetics of the place, but choosing ice cream based on ‘what looks good’ is half the fun! I’ve been known to make many a rash decision as soon as I’ve spied a certain flavour. I’ve gone in for Cookies and Cream and come out with Superman solely on a visual whim.

But haven’t we all?