The Folly is designed to evoke a dreamy secret garden; I imagined a little café with wooden tables, the reality is entirely different but equally picturesque. It is a grand, two tiered restaurant with endless tables; even on a Monday evening this venue was full and busy. The dining room is alluring with dimmed warm lighting and very atmospheric. The design is pretty and inviting: woollen tartan blankets hang, green flowerpots decorate and gorgeously whimsical leaf print paper covers the walls.
We were welcomed in and seated in a quiet corner. Our waitress was eager to please but after distributing the menus left us for rather too long before taking our order, poor thing seemed to have about twenty tables to tend to. After much procrastination, we decided on cocktails from the ‘evening specials’: I tried the Hazel-ito (El Dorado 3yr rum, fresh lime juice, sugar, fresh mint & Frangelico hazelnut liquor) my friend chose the Porn Star, a retro concoction (Ketel One vodka with fresh passionfruit, passionfruit puree, vanilla sugar and served with a prosecco chaser). The cocktails were beautifully presented and carefully mixed, my Hazel-ito was fresh and yummy though I did find the nutty aftertaste a little odd. My second cocktail, the Russian Rose Martini (Smirnoff Black stirred with Kwai Feh lychee liqueur, ginger syrup and garnished with a rose petal) was one of the best cocktails I have tasted, fruity and sweet with a subtle rosy hint, it was divine.
The menu has something for everyone, some healthier options and lots of tempting combinations and hearty dishes for those wishing to indulge a little. I felt a little overwhelmed and confused by the endless choice: there are smaller plates to share, mains, nibbles, sharing boards, and a ‘from the woods & the garden’ section. Our waitress was very accommodating and ran back and forth from the kitchen so we could order exactly the food we wanted. For starter, my guest chose tempura crispy squid with ginger and citrus mayo that looked delicious. I had a vibrant salad of rocket, butternut squash with manchego cheese & balsamic dressing: it was a lovely mix of flavours and textures. Sprinkled on top were crunchy pecans, and mixed within were marinated sunblush tomatoes, it was a clever Mediterranean recipe that felt both luxurious and healthy.
After a long day at work, we were both ravenous and chose varying steaks with chipped potatoes (we were originally tempted by the Chateaubriand deluxe sharing meal). My rib eye steak was perfect, a lovely cut of meat, cooked just as I asked and presented on a rustic wooden board with flat mushrooms, crispy onion rings and sprigs of watercress. My friend’s fillet steak looked juicy and luscious… we both managed to finish the ‘man-sized’ portions, it was too good to leave.
After a glass of fresh mint tea we were ready for desserts: Lemon peel crème brulee and chocolate fondue with marshmallow lollipops and strawberries. The fondue was epic, and the waiter smiled sympathetically as he placed the vat of bubbling chocolate sauce in front of me, commenting “I’ve never seen anyone finish it yet!” I knew that after the steak I would not be the first, but made a good attempt at it nonetheless. The chocolate sauce, was an ideal combination of sweet and bitter and a good consistency for dipping! The crème brulee was lovely too, we liked the crystallised lemon rind topping that added another dimension to this familiar pudding.
Located moments away from Monument tube station, the Folly is an asset to this area of the city, and it is no surprise that it is full every night. With an extensive diverse menu, inventive cocktail list, and great attention to detail this characterful restaurant ticks every box.
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