Tag Archives: British

1901 Restaurant, Andaz Liverpool Street

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1901 is just one of the five eateries to choose from at Andaz Liverpool Street. The restaurants, located inside the grand Victorian building are part of the hotel but also have entrances at street level. Guests of the hotel have their pick of the bunch while passers-by on the street also have easy access and can also enjoy the different cuisines.

This eatery offers contemporary fine British food and innovative cocktails. It is a dynamic and buzzing restaurant set in the magnificent Great Eastern Hotel’s original ball room. Head chef Michael Kreiling strives to create food using the greatest English seasonal produce, ensuring freshness and vibrancy of flavours.

Our waiter was very well informed and happily chatted to us about the menu and its highlights while we munched on the bread and butter.

For starter my pea and bacon inspired ravioli dish was an intriguing and oddly successful combination of flavours, though the dish arrived a little cold. Scallops with octopus, olive and herb vinaigrette was delicately presented and browned nicely in the pan to ensure a crispy golden edge.

The mains felt like comforting “Sunday lunch” British classics: Guinea Fowl with duck stuffing and Lamb rump with runner beans and artichokes. Again there were slight problems with temperature, perhaps serving on hot plates would eliminate the issue. Both meats were well flavoured, the lamb was served amongst a mix of finely chopped deliciously seasoned vegetables and a sweet caramelly gravy that I would have liked a touch more of. The Guinea Fowl was a smaller portion size, which seemed to shock my hungry guest slightly! But the combination of cranberries and wonderfully sweet swede puree with the peppercorn sauce and roulade of meat provided tasty variety in each mouthful. Ultra smooth mashed potato worked well as a contrasting side dish.

None of the desserts really appealed to us so instead we indulged in the cheeseboard to share. Our waiter considerately organised a selection of cheeses to suit our preferences, ordered from mild to strong with an assortment of crackers, bread and chutneys. It was delicious and felt like a real extravagance.

Throughout the meal, the enthusiastic Italian bartender treated us to his alcoholic creations, inspired by his hometown Catania. We felt very special being looked after with such personable and charming service. The restaurant was clearly a popular choice on a Friday night though I saw few tables choosing cocktails; after the wonderful drinks we tasted I would recommend 1901 as a cocktail destination alone, perfect for an early evening drink before checking out the nightlife in Hoxton or Spitalfields.

After our meal it was lovely to retire upstairs to our Andaz Room. 1901 is a real asset to the hotel but is a lovely venue in its own right, it is certainly worth popping in for a drink if you are in the area.

More information here.

http://www.andazdining.com/1901/default-en.html

Bumpkin, South Kensington

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Bumpkin was the favourite destination for “work drinks” at my previous job. This relaxed cosy restaurant and bar is ideal for enjoying a glass of wine and a good gossip. The chain has venues in Westfield Stratford, Notting Hill and South Kensington, but although united in conception, each restaurant has its own character and charm.

I visited the South Kensington branch last week to try out their autumnal menu of British classics. There is the instant feeling of comfort as you walk through the door: dimmed lighting, warm colours and the smell of good food. We sat huddled around an intimate table and chose quickly.

Spying the recently redesigned cocktail menu, we chose a couple to whet our appetites. British Martini was a tasty mix of red berries, though I thought Herefordshire Gimlet, with a hint of jam and shaken with Grey Goose Vodka, was the best – refreshing and sweet but with a kick. There were plenty more to choose from – Spiced Daiquiri is a lovely festive drink for those in the mood.

Starters were sadly a bit of a disappointment all round: Treacle and Cider ham hock was bland and barely seasoned and the Caramelised red onion tart with yarg cheese was overly sweet, served cold and dry and not what I was expecting.

Luckily things improved with the main course and we were pleased we had both decided on the hearty grilled steaks, sirloin for me, fillet for my guest. Served with roasted Portobello mushroom, grilled tomato and soft herb crusted bone marrow it was a feast of English ingredients. The meat was tender and juicy although no sauce was available; a creamy peppercorn would have been perfect. Chunky skin-on chips were delicious, piping hot with a good texture.

It was getting late and we intended to opt for the lightest desserts on offer… that is until my guest spotted Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was a wise choice, oozing caramelly goodness and topped with Jude’s vanilla ice-cream… I barely managed to dunk my spoon in for a mouthful, the whole plate was scraped clean within a minute. Mulled wine poached pear was a simple dish, with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon… I loved the taste of soft sweet pear with the dollop of Cornish clotted cream, though I thought the additional gingerbread was perhaps superfluous.

I imagine Bumpkin cooks up a cracking Roast Dinner, and with the large private dining area, the South Kensington branch would be the ideal place to hold Christmas meals: a homely place to drink, dine and be merry this winter.

More information here.

http://www.bumpkinuk.com/

Perkin Reveller, Tower Bridge

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I love the idea of Perkin Reveller… a very British restaurant, overlooking the Thames in the vicinity of the epic Tower of London. Inspired by the great English storyteller Geoffrey Chaucer, the venue is named after the cheerful apprentice chef in the Cook’s Tale from Chaucer’s most famous work The Canterbury Tales. I studied Chaucer long and hard at school and couldn’t help but feel an affection for the great poet whilst enjoying our meal at Perkin Reveller.

The restaurant is bright, airy and very spacious with plain but attractive design. The main room can accommodate big groups but managed to feel cosy in parts too. I avoided a starter but my little sister was adamant that she would definitely be trying three courses and opted for the carrot and coriander soup. Along with the crusty bread, this warming winter soup was the perfect option for a cold winter day… very flavoursome, smooth and thick.

The mains on the menu all sounded very appealing and we had to weigh the options carefully before arriving at a final decision: Slow Cooked Lamb with fennel, artichoke, tomato and basil for me and Cotswold White Chicken cooked ‘Forest Style’  for my guest. Both dishes were finely prepared to make the most of the meat and bring a sense of excitement and surprise to the classic recipes. My lamb was juicy and complemented beautifully by the assortment of vegetables. The chicken was cooked three ways, every mouthful was different… an especially clever way to prepare this simple meat, I was very impressed. The only criticism I can find… the food arrived rather lukewarm, aside from that it was exemplary and reasonably priced.

My sister selected the Peanut Parfait with Fudge Sauce which she immediately declared the best pudding, ever. And it was delicious: a silky smooth and rich frozen nutty pudding coated in sweet indulgent sauce, a brilliantly simple but addictive combination. My lemon posset was light and citrusy, though the portion was far too big. The creamy base was topped with a vibrant orange sorbet and lime jelly which was a less successful pairing.

Usually I would be resistant to a long trip across London, but for Perkin Reveller the journey is really worth it. Soak up our city’s amazing history and enjoy a plate of deliciously comforting food at the same time.

More information here.

http://www.perkinreveller.co.uk/