It was pouring with rain, and even the short walk from Marble Arch tube station to New Quebec Street felt like an endurance test. I was soaked from head to toe, ballet shoes ruined and hairstyle wrecked. The Grazing Goat shone on the grey dreary street. As the name suggests, this is a warming country-style pub, but offers more than just good grub, with eight rooms for staying guests.
Our superior room on the top floor was heavenly, a homely refuge, the perfect escape from rain and chill. With warm wooden furniture and floorboards, the room felt instantly comforting to step foot in. A giant bed dominated the room, covered in a Green Grove Weavers throw and finished with plump pillows. There were lovely little features everywhere: retro books to read; sweeties to devour; writing materials for jotting down ideas; thoughtfully-chosen magazines; a baby armchair for relaxing; and a mini collection of drinks including tea pigs. The ensuite bathroom with roll-top tub was grand and sophisticated. In the morning, light poured in through the large window, and quaint fish-themed artwork hung on the walls. Alongside the luxurious centrepiece bath there was a powerful shower, large mirror and Aesop toiletries.
Rather than braving the weather, we dined in the first floor restaurant at the Grazing Goat. On the ground floor the pub is for walk-ins, while the first floor is bookings only and is more refined. Just as you’d expect, the food offered here is of an inventive gastropub style. We ordered glasses of fresh apple and mint juice while we sussed out the menu. There is lot on offer but the Grazing Goat restaurant is known for its rotisserie and grill, so we limited ourselves to this section of the menu. The Grilled Old Spot pork chop was hearty and delicious, topped with a dollop of homemade apple sauce and toothbreakingly crunchy crackling. The 35 day dry-aged Ashbridge Farm beef fillet was a fine cut of meat, but arrived slightly overcooked. The sauces and sides caused further conundrum, there are so many, all sounding unmissable. We eventually settled for garlic and rosemary mash, chunky chips, sweet potato fries and bacon aioli, sautéed savoy cabbage with caramelised onion and pancetta, purple sprouting brocolli with lemon butter, and potato dauphinoise – not quite the full collection, but embarrassingly, the majority. Finally we chose the red wine jus and peppercorn sauce to accompany our meats. The sauces were both very good; of the sides we favoured the cabbage combination and the sweet potato fries. Please believe me when I say we didn’t finish it all! From the pudding menu I’d recommend the chocolate and sea salt caramel shortbread, which is served with peanut mousse and chocolate sorbet. An ideal sweet mouthful to finish off the meal.
After a sound night’s sleep, I awoke expecting to hear a cockerel call: it really does feel so much like the countryside at the Grazing Goat. We ate breakfast on the ground floor, the pub now having been transformed into a civilised, brasserie-style dining room. The breakfast dishes were surprisingly inventive – Bath pig chorizo sausage bubble and squeak, Truffle and chive scrambled egg and Cinnamon spiced plum and fig porridge. As an avocado lover I chose the Fivemiletown goat’s cheese, slow roasted tomatoes and avocado on toasted rye bread, while my friend ordered Buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. The pancakes were light and fluffy, and my avocado dish was fresh and beautifully presented.
The Grazing Goat is a hidden treasure in the centre of London. For those who do not have the time to take a trip to the countryside, The Grazing Goat provides a central alternative.
More information and book here: www.thegrazinggoat.co.uk