When my Parisian friends Coralie and Sunny came over to London for a whirlwind birthday trip, I knew exactly where they would be staying. They’re pretty much Hoxton Hotel regulars now and this was the first time they would be trying The Hoxton Holborn.
Whether we meet in Paris or London, I’m usually tasked with finding a good restaurant for us to catch up in (a duty that I definitely enjoy).
I always look for a buzzing yet informal spot and in the past few years we’ve had dinner at Hotel Amour, La Maison Mère and Ferdi in Paris and Pizza East, Polpo and Off Broadway in London. These are the kind of places that allow you to chat away long into the evening without being rushed or fussed over too much.
I first tried and loved Hubbard & Bell’s food at the launch party of The Hoxton Holborn, although the restaurant itself had been temporarily transformed for the Backstage Tour immersive theatre event. So after much deliberating about where to eat in central London on a Saturday night, I said, “err, how about the great restaurant in your hotel?”
We met in the lobby and managed to score a comfy booth table in a cosy spot close to the open kitchen. It was busy when we arrived and there was a DJ playing Detroit house and disco, although we could still hear ourselves talk easily.
The menu is nice and varied with light bites such as charcuterie and toasts, indulgent burgers, fresh salads, grilled or smoked meats and indulgent porterhouse steak and lobster if you’re splashing out.
Coralie and I both went for a delicious Shrimp Burger (£10). The juicy shrimp and crab patty was packed full of Thai basil and chilli and had an aromatic flavour. It was served in a fluffy potato bun with slices of cool avocado, lettuce and a tasty, piquant tomato salsa.
Steven and Sunny both tried a decadent Patty Melt Sandwich (£9). The high-quality medium-cooked beef was well-seasoned and accompanied by sweet caramelised onions and gooey cheese in buttery, griddled caraway bread.
We ordered a few sides to share, as the vegetables sounded particularly tempting. Brussels Sprouts (£5) were full of flavour, sautéed with tart sour cherries and pieces of chunky, sweet-cured bacon.
Another veggie hit was Roasted Pumpkin with hazelnut praline (£6). Thick slices of melt in the mouth pumpkin were perfectly roasted and the crunchy toasted hazelnut praline was a fantastic accompaniment.
The all-round favourite side was Leeks with Taleggio cheese and caramelised onions (£5). The soft, nicely charred leeks were smothered in a satisfying bechamel sauce and topped with fresh herbs. It was a comforting winter dish that I would order again and keep all to myself.
Dessert followed the sharing theme and we all went for Americana classics. Our S’Mores (£6) were simple yet decadent with molten toasted marshmallows and velvety melted milk chocolate, sandwiched between a stack of Graham Crackers and finished with chocolate shavings.
Coralie and Sunny’s PBJ Ice Cream Sundae (£6) looked impressive and seemed to go down very well – I was too enamoured with my S’Mores to demand a spoonful.
We washed everything down with a lovely bottle of Treviso DOC, Luna Argenta Prosecco, which was light, uplifting and ideal for sharing. As usual, we stayed chatting for ages and Coralie and Sunny had the luxury of rolling upstairs to their room afterwards.
Hubbard & Bell fit the bill perfectly for our catch up dinner and we were all super impressed. The food and ambiance were both excellent and the staff were attentive and never rushed us, even though it was a busy weekend evening. I can’t wait to go back and try more of the menu or one of their tempting breakfasts.
Have you tried Hubbard & Bell? Where do you take your friends when they are in town?
Photos by Chérie City (interiors by Hubbard & Bell)
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