Roast Chicken @ The Baptist Bar & Grill
Just above Holborn station, on an unlikely stretch of busy London road, you will find L’oscar hotel, which is a new establishment in a building that you will have walked straight past up until now. But approach the shiny awnings and you will soon discover the Grade II listed, double-height, octagonal former chapel that has been turned into The Baptist Grill. Deliciously deep oak covers every surface, off-set by purple velvet furnishings with gold trimmings (plus one rather glitzy blazer sported by the head waiter). From the dining room on the mezzanine level, you look down onto the sultry bar, from which you hear a quiet hum, adding a little energy to the otherwise reverential feel (it's mild, but perhaps not surprising). And ok, so it might border on chintzy, but the menu makes up for it and, anyway, a dash of ostentation never really hurt anyone, did it?
After a preprandial inspired by the seven deadly sins, choose from a menu that proves Michelin-accoladed executive chef Tony Fleming quite simply likes yummy things. Why else would he put truffled Comté toast or mini Welsh rarebits on the side of his soups? Other starters include foie gras, white asparagus with ricotta and honey, or meaty seared scallops served with bitter chicory, sharp pink grapefruit and a sweet caramelised onion jam-type-thing. In the mains, the stately-looking butternut pithivier is an ode to the dome of the building and the roast chicken is a mollifying (and hearty) plate of food, with a delicate mushroom paste hidden under the skin of the breast and sweet potato gnocchi on the side. The custard that accompanies the rhubarb in dessert is like a wispy marshmallow and balances the fruit beautifully. The wine selection is fantastic but on the pricier side (be warned). Overall, this is an elegant new evening option.
L’oscar London, 2-6 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4AA; baptistgrill.com
Cowboy Beans @ The Gentlemen Baristas, Vinegar Yard
Happily, these trendy coffee shops boast substance in addition to their style so don’t be deterred by the hipster vibe. There are various cosy branches of The Gentlemen Baristas dotted around town, all serving coffee brewed from beans roasted at the team’s own dedicated site in Shadwell. Now's the time to celebrate the newest one, which is in London Bridge’s Vinegar Yard and set to open this week: it’ll be offering free coffee throughout the day on Wednesday, plus free breakfast buns for their first 50 takers.
But if you can’t make it on the day itself then never fear, as The Gentlemen Baristas are some of the few permanent residents in this new street food market, meaning that you have plenty of time to pop in. We recommend breakfast – it may be a succinct menu but hits the spot if you’ve got a big day ahead. Especially the cowboy beans – a satisfying pot of smoky and spicy beans cooked up with chorizo and peppers, and served with sourdough toast and sour cream on the side. It gives the ubiquitous shakshuka a run for its money.
Wednesday 3r April
St Thomas Street, London, SE1 3QU; thegentlemenbaristas.com
Mezze Platters & Pick Your Own Cocktails @ B&H Garden Room
There is one knockout new view in town, and it’s from the B&H Garden Room restaurant, which is on the top of a rather random hotel on the edge of Leicester Square. But ignore the unceremonious entrance and get yourself up there, because the perspective you get on London’s skyline is incredible. And if the sun is shining or setting or, indeed, rising, the floor-to-ceiling windows let you enjoy it to the max. If you’re still not sold, then you have many reasons to go in this week, including a special Mother’s Day brunch (at which all mothers get a complimentary bunch of daffodils) and a ‘living bar’ installation, from which you can pick your own garnishes and embellishments for your cocktails. But whilst all this is good fun, it’s simply a great dinner venue – and ideal for dates.
Share a load of mezze, including plenty of hummus, bread, crudités and olives, and then move onto subtly cheesy chicken schnitzel with a refreshing slaw. The bavette steak is beautifully tender, and there’s even some of that modish jackfruit, pulled like pork and served with avocado. Then kick back with a glass of wine (or, if fully getting into the swing of things, a Ketel One vodka cocktail made with fruit, veg or greenery you’ve gathered yourself) and just take it all in.
27-31 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0LS; bandhgardenroom.com
Chicken Lollypops @ Fatt Pundit
Fatt Pundit serves Indo-Chinese cuisine, which is a supremely tasty combination of Indian spices and Chinese techniques. It stems from Kolkata but is now available in Soho, and well worth a try.
Do start off with steamed dumplings (in a range of flavours), but it’s the sticky chicken wings for which you ought to make a beeline: they are bright orange, nice and spicy, with a sturdy crunch and lots of meat on the bones; dip in the Szechuan chutney if feeling brave. They will make you very happy. Elsewhere on the menu is the warming shredded chilli venison and a side of ‘crackling spinach’, which is amazingly lightly battered, fried, and then served with yoghurt, tomatoes, pomegranate seeds and a sweet date and plum sauce. It’s certainly a novel accompaniment and off-sets the spice a charm. Go. Enjoy.
77 Berwick Street, London, W1F 8TH; fattpundit.co.uk
Lobster Rolls & Bottomless Taittinger @ Burger & Lobster
Burger & Lobster has long been providing Instagram-worthy surf and turf, but for the next four weeks, the gimmick level has been turned up a notch: get ready for the Champagne train. Yep, that’s right. Think of it as a boozy YO! Sushi. Starting today in the Soho branch, flutes full of Taittinger rove the restaurant on a mini train set, and are limitless for just £25.
Drink them alongside the usual menu which, in case you hadn’t quite cottoned on, comprises various burger and lobster combinations. The lobster rolls are infamous, the signature burger is a beast (a Nebraskan beef patty is topped with lobster, brie, truffle mayo and slaw), and there are some new starter options including breaded lobster croquettes with chipotle mayo, and a selection of rock oysters. If you need some light relief – and a drink or three – this is the place for you.
36-38 Dean Street, London, W1D 4PS; burgerandlobster.com
