STK’s menu is not for the fainthearted at the best of times, so it’s no surprise to discover it’s new Sunday Roast is a beast of an affair. The vibe The slick eatery at the ME London hotel is renowned for its decadent setting as much as its 28-day custom aged USDA prime beef. The huge space more resembles a nightclub than a restaurant and its Sunday roast clientele appeared to be dressed as such; a dozen women with the same eyebrows out for a Sunday date with their skinny jean and polo shirt wearing boyfriends. Plus my friend Chloe and I ready to gorge ourselves on every carb under the sun… It is also worth noting the playlist was absolutely banging, the perfectly curated smorgasbord of noughties R&B. The food The roast is exceptionally good value for money at £24 per head with bottomless drinks options available to tack on and the amount of food is staggering. Unsurprisingly the meat was sublime; two massive slabs of succulently juicy beef accompanied with plentiful supplies of gravy and horseradish. The side were pretty carb-heavy. Roasted parsnips, carrots and butternut and STK’s famously delicious parmesan truffle chips would have been enough. The cornbread, whilst undoubtedly an American classic, felt like a slightly unnecessary addition to the spread, but the truffled mac and cheese I could have eaten for days; the perfect levels of cheesy. To top it all off the piece de resistance was two Yorkshire puddings literally the size of our heads. Pretty darn tasty however we only managed one; the second was taken home in a doggy bag but I did see several around us being sent back which seemed a little wasteful. My only critique was that it could do with some greenery, a sentence I never thought I’d say, but the carbfest needed maybe even just a dish of spinach to alleviate our gluttony with something that resembles a shred of vitamin. That being said, bar the cornbread it was a pretty superb roast. The verdict For something that was only a few pounds more than an extremely average experience in a local pub, if you’re after a different location for a slightly more special experience, you’re in for a treat.
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Since P.F. Chang’s opened just off Leicester Square around 18 months ago it’s been packed every time I’ve walked past and with good reason. Having frequented the Asian restaurant on several occasion I’ve never been disappointed with a meal. It’s buzzing without seeming too overrun and the vast menu has something for every palate. The bold new 2019 menu brings fresh dishes to the table, a range of Japanese, Chinese and Korean dishes inspired by Philip Chiang’s craveable favourites and ‘farm-to-wok’ philosophy, all made with locally-sourced ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. The vibe We visited on a February Wednesday evening and even at 6pm it was getting busy. The bar area at the front of the restaurant, surrounded by high tables, was full of those indulging in a post-work cocktail, while the bigger tables towards the back attracted a mixed clientele of date nights, shoppers in need of refreshment and smattering of families. Our table, tucked towards the back, could have done with a little more space given its proximity to its neighbours, but with a fantastic view of the open kitchen we had the perfect panorama of the P.F. Chang’s experience. The food Those who don’t quite yet have the summer body nailed will be pleased to hear the new menu contains some lighter dishes, such as the peanut lime chicken salad, but if you’re there to indulge there’s plenty to choose from. Start with the infamous Original Dynamite Shrimp - crispy tempura battered shrimp, with spicy Sriracha aioli sprinkled in spring onions - not one of the new additions, but not one to miss. I adored the sticky, tangy honey chicken, battered (again) and served on a bed of moreish crispy rice sticks; like your favourite Chinese takeaway but so much better. Wok-seared tempura cauliflower with a sweet and spicy Korean Gochujang sauce was a delicious side while the sesame chicken was another favourite, a colourful combination of sliced chicken breast, broccoli, red bell peppers, onions, and a three-sauce mixture, perfectly accompanied a pretty great fried rice. In fact there wasn’t a dish among them we didn’t devour. P.F. Chang’s doesn’t scrimp on portion sizes, and if anything there’s a *slight* possibility we may have over-ordered thanks to our piggy eyes being bigger than our bellies; luckily there’s such thing as a doggy bag for such situations. The verdict The only disappointment on the evening of our visit was the service was painfully slow. Despite being busy we still expected it would be slightly easier to catch our waiter’s attention than it was, and the fact that one of our starters - the one we were most looking forward to - arrived as we were part way through our mains was a bit of a bum steer. Nevertheless, we couldn’t fault the taste and only wish we’d left space for dessert from their Pastry Lab. It’s also worth noting that not only is their sushi sublime, but there are also a number of limited edition menus launched throughout the year, with special highlights including Chinese New Year and Valentine’s menus. Last year they even had a delightful floral themed transformation to celebrate the start of Japanese Cherry Blossom season, so keep your eyes peeled for news of their next special event.
Being a Brixtonite, I’m always looking for fab restaurants near my home patch, so I was pleased to be invited to Park’s Edge Bar and Kitchen in Herne Hill. Located in the heart of Herne Hill, across the road from popular Brockwell Park, this laidback restaurant is perfectly situated for Herne Hill residents / fans or those who want to pop in for lunch or dinner after a relaxing day at the park. Diners have a variety of classic gastropub dishes to choose from, such as burgers, fish, steaks or roasts, and they take pride in their inventive twist on flavours such as hints of West Indian spices to liven things up a bit. All of the food is made fresh with ingredients sourced from local and regional food producers. Their wine list contains wines from around the world, including home-grown British wines. For those who don’t wish to imbibe, they also make a range of mocktails – which I can verify are pretty delicious. The vibe The evening we visited, the restaurant had a cosy, intimate feel to it thanks to low lighting with flickering candlelit votives on each table. The décor is very much urban chic, thanks to exposed brick walls, inky navy-blue leather Chesterfield style sofas and booths, a scattering of funky animal print chairs, striking over-sized chandeliers and custom bookshelves displaying a range of bric-a-brac and antique books. The overall feel is quirky and cool - somewhere one could easily while away the hours with a large glass of red (or three) while catching up with friends. The food The cuisine varies depending on when you visit. For earlier risers, they have a ‘Brunch to Lunch’ menu which features lip-smackingly moreish offerings such as waffles, baked eggs and torched sea bass, to name a few. On Sundays from 12-7 they offer a Sunday Roast Menu, featuring everything from Cornfed Roast Chicken to Sweet Potato & Leek Wellington or Dorset Lamb Shoulder. As we visited during a weekday evening, we ordered off their standard dinner menu. For starters, my friend and I shared the Spring Salad of Grilled Baby Gem, Watercress, Roasted Butternut Squash, Basil, Pickled Kohirabi and Citrus Dressing, which had a lovely, fresh and zingy flavour, which I loved. We also tucked into the homemade brown Irish soda bread (you can never go wrong with carbs), paired with almond and cumin butter, which provided a surprising twist. For mains, my friend opted for the Pan-Seared Seabass, White Cabbage Soubise and Roseval Red Potatoes with Sea Veg & Saffron, which was perfectly cooked and had a nice balance of flavours. Wanting to satiate my carnivorous tendencies, I chose the 28-day aged Scotch Cote de Bouef with Roast Tomatoes, Peppercorn Sauce and a side of Grilled Leek Mac and Cheese and Triple-Cooked Chips. A hearty meal that hit all the right notes. That being said, the macaroni was a bit bland, but the steak was flavorful and carefully carved, making it look as fab as it tasted. The verdict This is a great place to visit if you’re looking for scrummy food in a welcoming environment, with a relaxed, ‘local favourite’ feel. We’ll definitely be popping in again the next time we’re in the neighbourhood.
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Bon Appetit!There's nothing more delicious in life than indulging in a sensational meal. |