 One of D&D London’s many impressive restaurants within its portfolio, Bluebird is a Chelsea institution renowned for its fabulous location on the Kings Road and its well-heeled clientele who go to enjoy delicious food in elegant surroundings.  I had always assumed Bluebird was named after the bird bearing the same moniker, however, it was inspired by the Bluebird K7, the world’s first successful jet-powered hydroplane, which was driven by British racer Donald Campbell who set seven world water speed records between 1955 and 1967.
 The décor The décor is industrial chic / New York loft meets refined elegance. Floral displays and trees scattered throughout the restaurant create a sense of calm and bring a bit of the outdoors in, while soaring rust-coloured steel rafters and large leaded glass picture windows looking down onto the action of the Kings Road below create a striking focal point. Add to the mix lashings of 60s-inspired décor and I can’t help but think that Mad Men’s Donald Draper wouldn’t feel out of place sipping an Old Fashioned at the bar, while admiring the stylish diners from afar.
The menu I’ve been to Bluebird on many an occasion for a lazy and indulgent brunch, but I’ve never been for dinner, so I was excited to try the new menu by Executive Chef Harvey Ayliffe. Bringing over 30 years’ diverse experience (including J Sheekey, Le Caprice, The Ivy and Soho House), Harvey’s updated edition of Bluebird’s menu reflects the fun-loving nature of the restaurant. The new menu focuses on classic dishes with a new twist. There are comforting options such as the Bluebird chicken pie, with cep mushroom, smoked garlic mash and January king cabbage or for those who like a bit of spice, there are more exotic dishes to be had such as the Malvani monkfish & king prawn curry served with coconut chutney, lime rice and naan bread. There are also a selection of vegetarian and vegan options, including dishes like cumin roasted aubergine, toasted freekeh, pomegranate and pistachio dukka.
The food The chicken pie was like a comforting hug – the perfect meal for a cold, winter’s day. With lots of chunky veg and lashings of gravy, it was all the things a pie should be. Carrying on with the comfort food theme, we had the vegan truffle macaroni and cheese, which was actually quite nice given the bad rep vegan cheese has, although it wasn’t as creamy as traditional cheese, but that’s pretty difficult to replicate, to be fair. Although the macaroni was covered in truffle, it was actually very mild in flavour, so for those who find too much truffle overwhelming, it’s just right. Other dishes we tucked into included the spatchcock chicken - a Caribbean-inspired dish with a mild bit of a kick, served with fresh slaw and shaved slices of mango and pineapple. For dessert we went for the Bluebird –which consisted of chocolate and praline mousse, and candied hazelnuts and chocolate ice fashioned into a glittering blue version of the hydroplane served on a bed of dry ice for dramatic effect. Although it was tasty, I couldn’t really get my head around the look of it, but I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to desserts. The honeycomb mousse with caramelised banana and crushed biscuit ice cream, was much more to my liking, but it’s hard to go wrong with those flavours! The verdict Bluebird Chelsea is the perfect place to visit when you want to enjoy a leisurely meal in gorgeous surroundings. In the heart of the action on the Kings Road, it’s the ideal place to visit after a spot of retail therapy.
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Feast on meat at this stunning riverside restaurant You can keep your Veganuary, we're going meaty all the way! Carnivores rejoice - this meat-focused oasis in Butler's Wharf is scrum diddly umptious. I've long been a fan of the Butler's Wharf area near Tower Bridge with its wide assortment of riverside restaurant, cafes and boutique shops, perfect for popping into after a long stroll along the Thames. Given I hadn't been to the area since summer, I was excited to visit The Butler's Wharf Chop House, a relaxed riverside restaurant celebrating all things meaty and wonderful. The location is hard to beat. Smack bang next to the River Thames looking directly across at Tower Bridge, you couldn't get any closer to the bridge unless you were dining on top of it.
The word 'parlour' originates from the French world 'parlez' (to speak), which explains why the parlour has long been used as a room for entertaining guests - a room where people literally meet to speak. At this fantastic little gem of a restaurant, Head Chef Jessie Dunnford-Wood has created just that. A place for people to connect and converse all while enjoying delicious food that's guaranteed to keep everyone gathered round the table. The vibe This all-day restaurant is popular with locals thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and the friendly staff who strike the fine balance of being warm, welcoming and attentive, without being intrusive.
The tasting menu While there is an a la carte menu, I recommend ordering the superb 10-course taster menu, which is perfect for whiling away a few hours with friends, while enjoying a magically playful dining experience. We kicked things off with a glass of cava, which was served with six homemade syrups you could use should you choose – the apple pie being our favourite of the lot. If you’re not drinking, the syrups are equally delicious paired with sparkling water. While we loved everything on the 10-course menu, some of our favourite highlights included:
To compliment the tasting menu, we were recommended a delicious Bulgarian Bordeaux, which paired beautifully with the dishes. Given this was my first experience of a tasting menu, I didn’t know what to expect, however, the enthusiasm and knowledge of chefs Lorenzo, Matthew and Blondine brought an almost theatrical element to the experience. Other food to enjoy Parlour’s signature dish, Desperate Dan’s Cow Pie, is large enough for sharing. The tasty gravy with chunks of juicy, tender meat covered in a blanket of light melt-in-your mouth buttery pastry, is a must! For the locals reading this, they are currently doing a pie night every Wednesday, with two pints, a pie and two sides for £20!.  For the carnivore who loves roasts, the mixed roast is fabulous. It includes beef, chicken, pork belly and lamb, served with a fantastic range of vegetables (including potato spaghetti), all topped off with gravy. We paired the mixed roast with a slightly weightier Argentian Malbec, which was the perfect choice. To round this all off, we were brought a tray of digestives to choose from, which was a nice end to the meal.  A sweet Magic Pill To move from savoury to sweet, we were given the ‘Magic Pill’ experience. This much celebrated miracle fruit officially named 'synsepalum dulcificam' originates from Ghana. When you chew it it transforms your taste buds for about 10 minutes making everything taste sweet. It's an incredible taste experience and sets you up nicely for the desserts. At this point we were about three hours in to our meal and loving every minute of it! Desserts included cheesecake with apple crumble, salted caramel rollos, chocolate fudge and a cheese board as we had to try the home-made Eccles cake and the whipped goats cheese. The verdict We rolled out with our bellies full, smiles on our faces and a sense there's no better way to spend a cold drizzly Sunday. We can't to visit in springtime to enjoy brunch in the garden. See you there!
 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.
 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.
Sink your teeth into tasty Mediterranean cuisine at this laid-back restaurant Image courtesy of Beso Beso is a Mediterranean restaurant set in the heart of theatreland on iconic Shaftesbury Avenue. The open-plan kitchen is headed up by Khalid Dahbi, previously of establishments such as Claridges and Bibendum, however, this is a much more down-to-earth affair. The vibe Exposed brick, dark walls and suspended industrial lighting makes for an intimate dining area, with turmeric leather booths and mosaic tiling really driving home the Moorish feel. And for those history and music buffs, it might interest you to know that the Beatles spent hours eating, drinking and song-writing in the basement of this restaurant in the 60s, which is now a private dining room.
The food Serving up Moorish food with modern flair is the focus here. Refreshingly, the menu isn’t gargantuan, it’s just enough for them to peddle their wares while emanating confidence and ensuring freshness. To kick off with the boldest of flavours, the spiced beef and lamb Merguez sausages with harissa mayo grilled to juicy perfection are a must (£7.50) and the crispy Southcoast squid with a citrus crème fraiche has the perfect crunch and is the ultimate sharing food (£8).  Image courtesy of Luci Lyne The grilled Welsh lamb cutlets are also grilled to perfection; blushingly pink with savoury char and nestled into a smoked aubergine puree (£17), benefitting from a side of cumin roasted carrots with yoghurt, though these needed punchier seasoning to stand out (£4).  Image courtesy of Luci Lyne And then came possibly the most unctuous and luxurious vegetarian dish of all time - gnocchi with forest mushrooms, Dolcelatte and tarragon – which ticked all the boxes in terms of flavour and balance (£12.50). Its Spanish/Moroccan twist is evident with Ras El Hanout, pistachios, cumin and prunes peppering the menu but a slow cooked Tanjia burger and hake in wild sorrel cream serve as a reminder that this restaurant is European and its influences are broad.
Of the desserts that are freshly made in-house, the white chocolate panacotta has the obligatory ‘wobble’ as well as a delicate sweetness offset by tart stewed rhubarb and the Dulce de Leche cheesecake with flaked almonds and praline is beautifully textured and suitably rich (both £7). Drink The wine offerings span in origin from Turkey and Romania to South Africa and Argentina, and even the spritzy Txakoli, which I immediately associate with endless nights in San Sebastian’s pintxos bars, makes an appearance. But on this occasion the house wine, a Sicilian Catarratto, is smooth and slightly off dry and works rather nicely (£23). The neighbouring table saw away a variety of eye-catching cocktails. I’ll definitely be indulging in the Marrakech Martinis during my next visit! Service Staff are attentive, knowledgeable and seem so at ease in their roles. The manager, Kamil, is a character and his infectious positivity only adds to the charm and appeal of this restaurant.
 Located next to St James underground station, you’ll find this restaurant within the St. Ermin’s Hotel. Conveniently located in the heart of Westminster, it’s ideal for tourists, hotel guests or simply those who are seeking a chic and relaxing restaurant in central London. The vibe The modern décor with its tasteful, neutral colour scheme – a palette of taupe, grey and cream - creates a relaxing atmosphere. Pops of colour, such as burnt orange dining chairs and oversized art prints, inject a bit of colour, while beautiful touches abound throughout the décor, such as intricately carved wooden screens, which also provide a bit of privacy for diners, and charcoal grey wood panelling, both which lend an air of sophistication. Candles flickering away in glass votives at each table further add to the ambiance and made our first evening out in ages feel all the more romantic.  The food Caxton Grill is passionate about sustainability and sourcing local ingredients whenever possible, which is why they created their rooftop kitchen garden, which boasts a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs that the head chef uses in a wealth of dishes. They also have their own ‘bee hotel’, which provides their honey. Not too shabby for a restaurant smack bang in the middle of Central London! Our waiter, who was exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable, talked us through the specials and his recommendations and offered to pair wines with each of our courses, and we were more than happy to oblige. As I perused the menu, I enjoyed a Mo, a fruity 'mocktail' from their non-alcoholic cocktail list, which was lovely and sweet and made me feel as though I was on a beach holiday instead of in cold, grey London.
  One of the things we loved most was that for each course, you could tell that great care had been taken with every dish, all of which were elegant and beautifully presented. The verdict This is a great place to go if you’re looking for stylish and intimate surroundings with friendly service in the heart of Westminster.
 Shoryu New Oxford Street, London restaurant review by Destination Delicious Christmas time is quite possibly the best excuse to dine out with friends, and it's even better after a spot of Christmas shopping. I am a big fan of Japanese food, especially ramen, so when Shoryu Ramen invited us to sample the Christmas menu, we jumped at the chance. From now until 30 December, Shoryu Ramen invites customers to enjoy a selection of dazzlingly delicious dishes to get you in the festive spirit, including seasonal cocktails. The vibe Located slap bang in London’s bustling West End, it's conveniently located for those looking to grab a bite to eat after indulging in retail therapy. Established in 2012 and recommended in the Michelin Guide every year since 2014, Shoryu Ramen brings Hakata, Japan to the UK under the creative visions of Hakata natives Tak Tokumine and Kanji Furukawa. There is a cool laidback vibe combined with a bustling undercurrent. It's apparent the attentive staff are passionate about Japanese culture and food, which is prepared in an open kitchen, allowing diners to watch the chefs cook as they sit back and catch up with friends.  The food Shoryu knows its ramen. As they proudly proclaim on the website, ‘it’s in their bones’. I’ll vouch for that. The limited-edition Christmas menu offers a variety of top-notch ramen, moreish street food and side dishes, such as BBQ Pork Bun with Char Siu BBQ Pork Belly with Japanese Mayo and the signature ramen - Shoryu Ganso Tonkotsu. For starters we enjoyed the Japanese Pork and Pumpkin Croquette Buns. The Pumpkin Croquette Bun was deliciously crispy and I loved the smooth ,melt-in-your mouth hirate sauce and Japanese mayo! For mains, my dining partner and I chose the signature Shoryu Ganso Tonkotsu, a ramen to write home about - even if you live in London! This dish is a creamy slow cooked pork broth with a special blend of noodles, umami rich soup and toppings all cooked for over 12 hours to perfection. Divine. For dessert we had the Matcha Cheesecake and the Mochi Ice Cream in green tea and coconut flavours, both of which were fab.  Of course, no festive meal is complete without cocktails. We tried the Christmas signature sake, The Ginza Snowflake, a beautiful drink comprised of sparkling sake and red berry puree, perfectly presented in a champagne glass sprinkled with icing powder with red berries resting delicately on top. For non drinkers, there is the Virgin Snowflake, which consists of yuzu tonic with red berry puree.
 Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. I love retreating indoors to curl up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate as I gaze out the window watching the leaves turn. So, when I heard one of my favourite restaurants, Sake No Hana, was also embracing the season with an installation and a menu celebrating the Japanese maple leaf season, I had to visit.  The last time I popped into Sake No Hana was to try their Sakura menu, which featured a gorgeous installation celebrating the beloved Japanese cherry blossom season, so I was interested to see how they’d transformed the space for autumn. From now until 24 November, the front entrance of Sake no Hana is bedecked with a striking autumn leaves installation, inspired by the ‘momiji-gari’ (the Japanese tradition of viewing the maple leaves).  The experience continues indoors with food and cocktails, which also nod to the season with a focus on seasonal ingredients and autumnal flavours. The vibe One could easily forget they’re in the heart of London’s bustling West End once they step inside to this sleek space. The striking interior – designed by esteemed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma – is stunning thanks to linear bamboo that covers the main walls and bamboo blinds that help to create a cocooning shelter from the outside world.  We reckon this has to be one of the nicest places to escape from the pre-Christmas shopping crowds, giving you a sense of smug satisfaction for discovering such a chic space away from the madness.   The limited-edition menu created by Executive Head Chef Hideki Hiwatashi includes a variety of mouth-watering dishes such as: kinoko misojitate; shitake tofu (shiitake mushrooms filled with homemade tofu and wasabi sauce); salmon kurumi miso yaki and tori sumiyaki.  The starters were fab. I particularly enjoyed the crispy truffle rice balls with seasonal mushrooms, which were a bit similar to Italian arancini, and the comforting wild mushroom and chilli yuzu miso soup was the perfect cure for warming the cockles on a chilly autumn day. Surprisingly, the tofu, which despite its reputation for being bland and joyless, was also delicious thanks to seasonal mushrooms.  For mains, we had the pan-fried Loch Duart salmon with walnuts and Kyoto miso, which was really scrummy thanks to its melt-in-the-mouth texture and sweet caramel-like sauce and the chargrilled miso chicken with sesame chilli, was tender and juicy, while the charred peppers gave a bit of oomph to the dish. Greedily, we accompanied the meat dishes with a large bowl of sticky rice, which given how much we’d already consumed, wasn’t necessary, but we couldn’t help ourselves! 
 After the mains we devoured a selection of sushi. A real box of delights, the sushi arrives in a beautiful plexiglass box, with the waiter lifting the lid to unveil the treats within. Beautiful little morsels of joy, each lovingly prepared piece of sushi was seriously moreish. A special shout out goes to the Waygu beef with asparagus and caramelized onion and kizami wasabi, which was rich and flavourful (I could easily live off these).
The star of the show, however, was the hazelnut and chocolate parfait with a mascarpone mousse, which is quite possibly my new favourite dessert. In fact, I think I might weep if it disappears from the menu! Delectable and delicious, it had a lovely balance of textures thanks to the liquid chocolate centre, which is set off nicely by the delicate crunch from the base.
The limited-edition drinks For those who like their cocktails toasty, there’s a limited-edition maple toddy (a warming cocktail comprised of Hennessy Fine de Cognac, Akashi-Tai Umeshu sake, ginger, maple, chocolate and topped with edible rice paper art) and for those who like their cocktails sweet, there’s the Shisho 54, made with Belvedere vodka, Midori, lime, shisho, Fever-Tree slimline tonic and Prosecco. Our favourite cocktail (and the most beautiful), however, was made with Belvedere vodka, cardamom, mandarin, yuzu and edible rice paper art fashioned in the shape of a maple leaf.
The verdict If you want reasonably priced sushi in swanky surroundings, then look no further. Priced at only £40pp the limited-edition menu (with the option to add a sharing cocktail flight for £23.00), means you really can’t go wrong for such great quality Japanese cuisine smack bang in the middle of London.
 Image ©Steven Joyce Given that Wednesday is the new Friday, Nobu Shoreditch has launched Wagyu Whisky Wednesdays, a menu of original cocktails inspired by Japan, alongside premium Japanese beers, gins and whiskies accompanied by a plethora of nibbles featuring the finest Wagyu beef, all enjoyed in this capacious subterranean restaurant and bar.  Image ©Laurel Waldron The Drinks The Lychee & Elderflower Martini is a seriously refreshing dose of delicious; light and fruity, delicately flavoured and dangerously drinkable, it packs a subtle punch. For a seriously boozy hit though, you can’t go wrong with the Chita Whisky Sidecar, a take on the classic favourite featuring delicious Japanese Whisky. Almost too potent for a Wednesday.  Image ©Laurel Waldron The Food The food is the star of the show. Cooked fresh to order in front of your eyes on the terrace, with the soundtrack of a live DJ in the background, it's the perfect way to get over the hump of the week. The Wagyu is clearly as pampered in death as it inevitably was in life. The Rock Shrimp in a crisp tempura scattered with shiitake mushrooms, on a bed of yuzu-dressed greens and drizzled in the most sublime creamy, spicy sauce, was fantastic. Sticky Umami chicken wings featured a spicy ‘dragon’ sauce with a decent kick. The Wagyu gyoza were two perfectly crisp parcels, stuffed with sweet melt-in-the- mouth beef, accompanied with yet another sauce that had every last drop mopped up. Wagyu gyoza was an intriguing take on a classic; presented three ways with a trio of different finishes and flavours dabbed on top.  Image ©Laurel Waldron The verdict
We can't think of a better way to while away a Wednesday than a delicious spread accompanied with a pair of perfect cocktails. The Details The menu is currently ongoing so get date in your diary. Available at Nobu Shoreditch, 0-50 Willow St, London EC2A 4BH. Tel: 020 7683 1200. www.nobyhotelshoreditch.com/nobu-restaurant-bar Our experience overall Food and drink: ★★★★ Ambience: ★★★★ Staff attentiveness/friendliness: ★★★ Laurel Waldron *During my visit I was hosted by the team at Nobu Shoreditch. All opinions are my own. |
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