Restaurant Recommendations for a Celebration — Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic 2025 TEST 1 — IELTS Test

Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic 2025 TEST 1

Restaurant Recommendations for a Celebration

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(0:00) Part 1. You will hear a woman asking a friend for restaurant recommendations. (0:09) First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4. Now listen carefully and answer questions (0:37) 1 to 4. I've been meaning to ask you for some advice about restaurants. I need to book somewhere (0:46) to celebrate my sister's 30th birthday, and I liked the sound of that place you went to (0:52) for your mum's 50th.

The Junction? Yeah, I'd definitely recommend that for a special occasion. (0:58) We had a great time there. Everyone really enjoyed it.

Where is it again? I can't remember. (1:05) It's on Grayson Street. Only about a two-minute walk from the station.

(1:10) Oh, that's good. I'd prefer not to have to drive anywhere. (1:14) But I don't want to have to walk too far either.

Yes, the location's perfect, but that's not (1:21) necessarily why I'd recommend it. The food's amazing. If you like fish, it's probably the (1:29) best restaurant in town for that.

It's always really fresh, and there are lots of interesting (1:35) dishes to choose from. But all the food is good there. Is it really expensive? (1:42) It's certainly not cheap, but for a special occasion, I think it's fine.

It's got a great (1:48) atmosphere, and before dinner, you can go up on the roof and have a drink. It's really nice up there, (1:56) but you need to book. It's very popular, as the views are spectacular.

(2:02) Sounds good. So that's definitely a possibility then. Is there anywhere else you can think of? (2:10) Um, if you want somewhere a bit less formal, then you could try Paloma.

(2:15) Where's that? I haven't heard of it. No, it's quite new. It's only been open a few months, (2:21) but it's got a great reputation already.

It's in a really beautiful old building on Bow Street. (2:28) Oh, I think I know where you mean. Right beside the cinema.

(2:33) Yes, that's it. I've only been there a couple of times, but I was really impressed. (2:40) The chef used to work at Don Felipe's apparently.

I was really sorry when that closed down. (2:46) So is all the food they serve Spanish then? Yeah, you can get lots of small dishes to share, (2:53) which always works really well if you're in a group. (2:56) Worth thinking about.

Yeah, there's a lively atmosphere, (3:01) and the waiters are really friendly. The only thing is that you need to pay a £50 deposit (3:08) to book a table. A lot of restaurants are doing that these days.

(3:12) I should have a look at the menu to check there's a good choice of vegetarian dishes. (3:17) A couple of my friends have stopped eating meat. (3:20) Not sure.

I'd say the selection of those would be quite limited. (3:28) Before you hear the rest of the conversation, (3:31) you have some time to look at questions five to ten. Now listen and answer questions five to ten.

(4:12) I've just thought of another idea. Have you been to the Audley? (4:16) No, don't think I've heard of it. How's it spelt? (4:21) A-U-D-L-E-Y.

You must have heard of it. There's been a lot about it in the press. (4:30) I don't tend to pay much attention to that kind of thing.

So where is it exactly? (4:36) It's in that hotel near Baxter Bridge, on the top floor. (4:40) Oh, the views would be incredible from up there. (4:44) Yeah, I'd love to go.

I can't think of the chef's name, but she was a judge on that (4:51) TV cookery show recently, and she's written a couple of cookery books. (4:56) Oh, Angela Frain. (4:58) That's the one.

Anyway, it's had excellent reviews from all the newspapers. (5:04) That would be a memorable place for a celebration. (5:08) Definitely.

Obviously it's worth going there just for the view, (5:13) but the food is supposed to be really special. (5:16) She only likes cooking with local products, doesn't she? (5:20) Yes. Everything at the restaurant has to be sourced within a short distance, (5:26) and absolutely nothing flown in from abroad.

(5:29) I imagine it's really expensive though. (5:33) Well, you could go for the set lunch. That's quite reasonable for a top-class restaurant.

(5:39) Thirty pounds a head. In the evening, I think it'd be more like fifty pounds. (5:45) At least that, I should think.

But I'm sure everyone would enjoy it. (5:51) It's not the kind of place you leave feeling hungry though, is it? With tiny portions. (5:57) No, the reviews I've read didn't mention that.

I imagine they'd be average. (6:03) Well, that's all great. (6:09) That is the end of part one.

You now have one minute to check your answers to part one.

Part 1 of 4

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