There’s something quite fabulous about going out to a central London restaurant on a Saturday night when everywhere is buzzing and full of the weekend spirit.
A few Saturdays ago, Steven and I dined at Holborn Dining Room, which has been on my foodie wish list for quite some time. It’s one of three exciting restaurants at five star hotel Rosewood London and is overseen by esteemed restauranteur and chef Des McDonald.
Holborn Dining Room is a chic grand brasserie serving seasonal, locally-sourced British classics with a twist. It feels both sprawling yet cosy with plenty of intimate nooks, separate sections a bar and a charcuterie counter. There’s also an adjoining deli and a terrace in the beautiful courtyard, so you can enjoy al fresco dining in the warmer months.
Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the restaurant has attractive features such as plush red leather banquettes, reclaimed oak tables, antique mirrors and tweed detail – even the staff look dapper, sporting braces and waistcoats.
We were shown to a lovely corner table in a central section that soon filled up but didn’t feel overcrowded. The atmosphere is stylish yet informal, helped by a really good indie-rock soundtrack and friendly staff. It’s small touches like these that create an ambiance and make you want to stay longer in restaurants.
We kicked off the evening with some delicious cocktails while deciding what to order. My Sicilian Negroni (£10) was a sunny, uplifting mix of Campari, Limoncello and blood orange juice. It was pleasantly sweet but with that signature bite from the Campari and was an ideal aperitif.
Steven tried a much stronger British Columbia (£10), made with Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, Fernet Branca, maple syrup and blood orange juice. It had lots of character and depth of flavour – a real treat for fans of Whiskey cocktails.
To start, I was tempted by the Griddled Prawns with lemon garlic butter (£15). The large, partly shelled king prawns looked so perfect and natural and were a joy to eat. The plump, fresh prawns were cooked just right and doused in a moreish, zesty and slightly sweet garlic butter. It was a light yet substantial and satisfying starter that I have since daydreamed about on more than one occasion.
While my starter was all about quality produce cooked exceptionally well, Steven’s Maldon Smoked Salmon with crab and spiced avocado (£15.50) was a stunning marriage of flavours.
The smoked salmon had a deep smoky flavour and was artfully puncuated with flaky, chilled white crabmeat and velvety avocado puree with a touch of piquant chilli. Both dishes were out of this world and I highly recommend ordering both and sharing.
My typical dinner pattern is seafood followed by meat to get the best of both worlds, but the Grilled John Dory (£26.50) with butternut squash and shrimp butter sounded too good to pass up. The two fillets of John Dory were succulent and ever so tasty with crispy, golden edges and nicely scorched skin.
The brown shrimp butter gave a rich seafood flavour and I loved the butternut squash cooked two ways – roasted and pureed. The finishing touch was crispy sage, which ideally complemented the dish. The high quality fish was elevated by the well-chosen accompaniments and the butter sauce made it more indulgent – every mouthful was an absolute pleasure.
Steven couldn’t resist a Saturday night steak and went for the Roast Rib Eye ‘Club Cut’ with pepper sauce and crispy onions (£26.50). The excellent cut of beef had a lovely smokiness from the grill to match its mature flavours and was cooked perfectly medium and tender.
The rich meat juices ran into the subtle pepper sauce and the crispy beer battered onion rings were a tasty extra. My main course didn’t really need anything else, but we still shared a side of Roseval Potatoes (£4.50). The sweet and slightly nutty red-skin potatoes were sauteed with caramelised Lyonnaise onions and were a delicious alternative to fries.
Desserts are as British and retro as they come – think bread and butter pudding, apple crumble, gypsy tart and steamed marmalade sponge.
I was in the mood for a chocolate fix, so I ordered the Warm Chocolate with poached pears and vanilla ice cream (£6.50). The dark chocolate fondant was quaintly served in a tea cup and had a cake-like texture, with the sliced pears baked inside adding moistness and a fragrant flavour. The dessert was dreamy and not at all heavy, so it won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Steven’s Poached Yorkshire Rhubarb with sorbet and set ginger cream (£6.50) was another delightful dish. Served in a Kilner Jar, the dense, silky ginger-infused cream was topped with a refreshing sorbet, crunchy crumble topping and sweet, delicate poached Yorkshire Rhubarb. The long biscuit stick tasted like Speculoos and was perfect for scooping up the cream.
At the end of our glorious meal, we enjoyed pots of lovely, warming Jasmine Tea (£3.25) and Earl Grey Tea (£3.25), which was served with a cute mini bottle of milk on the side. We were left to relax and leisurely sip our tea while chatting and soaking up the atmosphere – what more could you ask for on a Saturday night out?
Our meal at Holborn Dining Room was just so memorable and I can see it becoming one of my favourite spots in central London. I’m sure I’ll be lured back for lunch or breakfast soon and am keen to check out the Weekly Slow Food & Living Market in the courtyard every Sunday.
For more information and booking, visit: www.holborndiningroom.com
Chérie City was a guest of Holborn Dining Room
Photos by Holborn Dining Room and Chérie City
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