Bethnal Green is now a rather appealing area of London, thanks to destination restaurants like Typing Room. Part of the awesomely archaic Town Hall Hotel, in a space that was once home to Viajante by Nuno Mendes, this restaurant is chic and contemporary with an ever-evolving innovative menu. Lee Westcott is a young but miraculous chef, keeping the team in tow whilst running a creative, fun kitchen. The food he offers is beautiful and delicious, and left me inspired for days after I visited.
We enjoyed a three course weekday lunch at Typing Room, which is reasonably priced at £29 per person. Before the starters though we ordered a couple of snacks: onion bhaji, yoghurt & mango chutney; and Pig’s head & smoked apple. They are bites of intense flavour, and alerted our tastebuds for the meal ahead. Warm IPA sourdough bread was delivered with a caramel coloured butter. This turned out to be the best bread and butter of my life, thanks to the addictive marmite flavour of butter, topped with crispy pearl barley.
I couldn’t resist trying a cocktail from the next door bar, Peg + Patriot. A stylish cloudy, zesty drink named Twentysecond Century, and made with Ketel One, White Chocolate, Americano Vermouth, Lemon and Bergamot Oil. It was strong but perfectly balanced.
My starter was unlike anything I have tried before. Yeasted cauliflower, raisins, capers and mint doesn’t sound like the most wonderful combination, but it worked brilliantly well. Cauliflower is very popular on restaurant menus at the moment, and Lee brought out a delicate sweet flavour by gently burning the edges of the vegetable. Then there was a little kick and acidity from the raisins and capers. If dishes like this were a regular occurrence I would happily become a vegetarian. The raw beef with turnip, oyster and watercress was a pretty garden on a plate, soft delicate meat with an assortment of green textures and tastes.
The conversation stalled when the main courses arrived. Both dishes were a hit: Duck with fennel, honeymoon melon & sumac, and Suckling pig with flat peach, chard & dandelion. The pig was divine, tender with a salty crunchy edge and paired with sweet caramelised peaches and vibrant fresh leaves, a lovely summer recipe. The duck had a touch of Moroccan exoticism, a unique combination of ingredients which tasted sensational together.
Blood nectarine with yoghurt and mint was a mysteriously minimalist dessert. A wonderfully white construction of meringue, when crushed revealed a delicious mix of sweet nectarine and mint. Some might prefer the selection of cheeses, a generous offering served with homemade chutney and fruit bread.
I adore everything about the Town Hall Hotel, and have fallen deeper in love with this establishment after discovering the trendy and tasty Typing Room restaurant.
More information and book a table here.
