Bird of Smithfield’s relatively new Head Chef, Tommy Boland, has now been successfully cooking there since October 2016. He has a strong background of working at Michelin starred restaurants and this is reflected in his delightful dishes. Tommy’s summer menu includes starters such as Cured Cornish Mackerel, kohlrabi, dill, yoghurt, cucumber, followed by a main course of Roasted Loin of Cornish Cod, ‘nduja, cockles, samphire, coco beans. Cleanse your palate with dessert such as Lemon Curd, agrumes, arlette biscuit, orange sorbet or Fresh Charentais Melon, lime, mojito granita, … [Read more...]
Disappearing Dining Club’s Little Quiet
August 11, 2017 by
Little Quiet – a new restaurant on Newbury Street (a short and very lightly trafficed street running parallel to Long lane and about 50 metres to its south between Cloth Street and Kinghorn Street) – probably takes the prize as being the area’s smallest. It seats only 16 guests (it’s licensed for 18 so might be able to squeeze a couple more in) and will only survive if it can pretty much fill it every day it is open – currently Wednesday to Saturday evenings between 6pm and 10.45 pm (local residents are probably even more noise conscious than those of the Barbican). Currently it is close to … [Read more...]
Eating on the Ned’s rooftop
August 5, 2017 by
The brand new Ned hotel, which has been opened in the old Grade 1 listed Midland Bank HQ building and which occupies a big area opposite the Bank of England between Princes Street and Poultry, has no less than nine eating options. The Ned (named after the building’s original architect, Edwin (Ned) Lutyens) is both an exclusive club and a 252 room five star hotel. (One hopes that Scottish visitors are not put off by the name as Ned is something of a derogatory term north of the border!) Two of its nine restaurants are only available for use by club members and hotel guests, which is a … [Read more...]
Piano Works in Farringdon – one for the bucket list
July 26, 2017 by
The Piano Works is on Farringdon Road a short walk up from the tube station and on the left hand side in a listed Victorian basement. It is perhaps as much a night club as a conventional restaurant but is definitely a fun venue and around a 15 minute walk from the Barbican. Before starting to read this review and just in case you don't get to the end, I urge you to visit at least once. The place is enjoyably different in that the music takes centre stage. As you go downstairs from the entrance, you enter into an abyss of a basement with lots of types of seating and zones to get … [Read more...]
Rabezzana revisited
July 23, 2017 by
We last reviewed Enoteca Rabezzana on Long Lane a little over 2 years ago (See Enoteca Buonissima) but were tempted back with the news that the Wine Bar/Restaurant was now under new management with a new chef and a new menu. It is still an Enoteca with a great range of Italian wines on offer, together with reasonably priced food. For Barbican residents it is only around 250 metres from the west end of the Estate, and will be conveniently located too for the Elizabeth Line when it opens at the end of next year being almost opposite the Farringdon Long Lane station entrance. We went on a … [Read more...]
The Localist
July 7, 2017 by
The Localist is a larger bistro and lounge bar, restaurant and cocktail bar on St John Street on the right hand side as you walk up the road from Smithfield Market, about 50m past the Michelin starred St John. This is the location of the original Vic Naylors, a bar and restaurant which was supposedly the start of the Clerkenwell bar/restaurant scene and had something of a celeb/gangster clientele. (It was a featured location in Guy Ritchie’s East End gangster film, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.) It must have closed down around 12 years ago. Since then, none of the other restaurants … [Read more...]
Exciting Long Term Pop-Up Eateries in Broadgate Containers
July 3, 2017 by
British Land has announced the launch of a new pop-up food concept at Broadgate, EC2. Shipping containers in Finsbury Avenue Square have become home to an exciting line-up of five independent street-food operators. These include WOLF, which offers authentic Italian food akin to a neighbourhood-style restaurant; and Claw Food, serving crab burgers sourced from traceable, sustainable and fresh crabs from Start Bay in Devon, and Yolk, which offers breakfast and lunch including its famous poached egg pots and speciality Black Box Coffee. Baba G Bhangra Burgers serving up massive … [Read more...]
Crab Tavern joins BA discount scheme
June 19, 2017 by
Crab Tavern in Broadgate Circle is a seafood restaurant and bar that boasts a menu that merges New York style with classic west coast American fare. Choose from an abundance of hero crab dishes, rolls and salads, as well as more refined dishes from the classic grill and seafood selection. Th restaurant has just joined the Barbican Association Discount Scheme and offers a 15% discount on food only to Barbican Association members. Crab Tavern is at Unit 37, Broadgate Circle, London EC2M 2QS, UK. Tel: 020 7096 2044. Website: crabtavern.co.uk To view all the discounts offered to Barbican … [Read more...]
Ned Hotel – 5* and Nine restaurants/bars at Bank
June 7, 2017 by
London-based Soho House & Co and New York’s Sydell Group have joined forces to create The Ned: a five star hotel with a collection of restaurants, members’ club and spa in the City of London, close to Bank Station and opposite the Coq d’Argent restaurant. Set in a former Midland Bank building, The Ned was designed by Sir Edwin 'Ned' Lutyens in 1924. The space includes nine restaurants, two of which are reserved for Club members and hotel guests (who get temporary Club membership for the duration of their stay), 252 bedrooms channeling 1920s and 1930s design, a range of men’s and women’s … [Read more...]
New Sourced Market opens on Goswell Road
May 16, 2017 by
The fourth location for the Sourced Market independent food and drink market has opened on Goswell Road, in collaboration with the Citadines hotel, two minutes walk north from Barbican Station and almost opposite the Barbican’s newest block, Blake Tower, and John Trundle Court. The concept is both a shop and a café which is open through the day from breakfast time to the evenings featuring food and drink from independent suppliers with the option to purchase and take-away, or to eat in on site. Dining in menus may be viewed on the company’s website. If you are quick you can take … [Read more...]
