Pollen Street Social

Last Thursday night was potentially the best meal of the year. David and I ate at Jason Atherton's 2 Michelin starred restaurant, Pollen Street Social.

I had prosecco to start because I was in the mood for bubbles but the cocktail list was excellent, as was the selection of 20 odd gins. The menu was fantastic. Unlike some Michelin starred restaurants that serve technically accomplished meals I am not inspired to eat, I could have chosen most of the menu here.

For starter I had Cornish crab vinaigrette, nashi pear, cauliflower sweet ‘n’ sour dressing, frozen peanut powder and the sommellier chose a very different glass of Greek smokey white to accompany it. Both excellent.

For my main course I had Roasted venison, baked parsley root, venison faggot, wild cabbage,                 golden chanterelles. Beautiful. We had a St Emillion Bordeaux to accompany it.

Dessert was a beautifully presented, deconstructed “Lemon meringue”, cream cheese & lime sorbet. With the tart citrus the sommelier recommended a light muscat.

David hadn't quite finished his selection of five cheeses so with a couple more oat crackers selected from the silver I tried the delicious Vacherin Mont D'or and Comte.

The service was impeccable from the front desk to the waiters and sommelier who really knew their stuff. And I liked the design of the place - pared back, modernist furniture, tres cool light fittings.

Definitely going back. Oh, and as a last treat, they gave us a little goodie bag with breakfast for the next morning!

The Opera Tavern

I love Spanish tapas and have had some great food at Dehesa and Salt yard so I knew I'd like the third restaurant in this stable.

We started with prosseco (me) and sherry (David), bread and San Daniele ham. And over the next three hours of lively conversation, Lucy, David and I ate some truly delicious tapas plates with really interesting flavours - the chicken and pork where particularly good:

• Jamon Croquettes, Manchego Dressing
• Chargrilled Venison Haunch with Chestnut Mash, Red Cabbage, Sprouts and Walnuts 
• Chargrilled Free Range Chicken with Butternut Squash, Spinach, Raisins and Pistachio Sauce 
• Confit of Old Spot Pork Belly with Rosemary Scented Cannellini Beans 
• Warm Salad of Romanesco, Cime di Rapa, Cavolo Nero and Truffled Gorgonzola Cream, 
• and their signature courgette flowers stuffed with goats cheese and drizzled in honey. 

Lucy and I couldn't resist pudding, and the accompanying pudding wines. Panacotta with clementine jelly and blood orange granita, and poached quince with honey and rosemary ice cream. Subtle but delicious flavours.

As per my usual tapas dining experiences, I walk away loving the food but can't help thinking I've eaten way too much. Perhaps more regular visits would curtail my need to order everything on the menu?

Cecconi's

Discovered by David (or the Dukes Hotel concierge!) a couple of visits ago, this is a lively lunch spot. I've written about it before but it warrants another mention.

It's a classic dining experience from checking your coat at the door to the waiters in white jackets. It feels a bit like an Italian or American film scene from the '50s, and a bit showy. 

The Italian food is good. I had pappardelle with oxtail and a bloody mary yesterday (having been at Jaimee's Xmas party til 4am the night before!). David religiously orders the veal cannelloni. I think they're missing a classic lasagne from the menu though. 

Absorbing the buzzing atmosphere and people watching from the seat at the bar is the best part about the place. 

Hawksmoor, Covent Garden

People always appreciate a good steak and it seems they always have done. The Hawksmoor concept is inspired by the 18th Century London beef steak clubs whose members were dedicated to the cause.

The underground, industrial setting for this new, not-so-secret but equally sublime steak society feels appropriate. Brown leather banquettes, timber tables and a low ceiling bar adds to the atmosphere.

Pacing ourselves David and I both opted for the smallest 250g fillet mignon from the individual options (as opposed to the sharing steaks). The steak was cooked just as I like it and was delicious with horseradish, triple cooked chips and English lettuce and herbs. David had a perfect cauliflower cheese and creamed spinach with his. All washed down with a good bottle of French red.

For dessert I had a marmalade pudding and custard. Like an upside down cake made with their homemade marmalade. I don't often order puddings but it was simple, yummy and not too filling.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening of good food, wine, service and atmosphere. I'm just glad I wasn't paying!

Meat & Liquor

On Saturday night I went with some friends to a pretty new joint in town. They specialise in burgers, but this is no burger joint. False arches and ceiling domes are splattered in paint and dark lighting make it a bit more edgy.

Food is served directly on a tray with no need for a plate, and kitchen roll (paper towel) instead of cutlery.

We had BBQ chicken wings, chilli cheese fries (with so much topping they were like nachos), and burgers. My 'dead hippie' burger with two huge beef patties (one too many for me), cheese, lettuce and pickles beat any Big Mac!

The cocktails were great and you can drink them til 2am which is handy to know.

Granger & Co

Ana and I queued for forty minutes last Sunday morning for a table at Bill Granger's new cafe in Notting Hill, Granger & Co. It's only been open for two weeks so west London is still all a-buzz. I've had the pleasure of starting my day with Bill's breakfasts before so I understand why and didn't mind the chilly Autumn morning breeze whipping at my legs (I'm still refusing to bring out my winter coat just yet).

To expedite proceedings we sat at the marble bar. It's enormous so there is plenty of space for diners on one side and service on the other without any disturbance. The large room is nicely finished, has pale timber and ceiling-high windows so its light and open - one of my favourite features of any antipodean cafe in town. Fresh flower arrangements bring some colour to the room - I liked the touch of eucalyptus. I might add that the downstairs bathrooms weren't ignored with flowers to greet you at the foot of the stairs and the smell of fresh paint!

Deciding what to order took all of two minutes. The classic Bill's menu is on offer and while I did momentarily consider the scrambled eggs and the sweet corn fritters, I had to have the ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycomb butter. And a flat white, and fresh orange juice from the Zummo juicer.

The two delicious hotcakes were piping hot, thick and fluffy (is that why they aren't called pancakes I wonder?) with the maple syrup served on the side. Chewing on the real honeycomb was fun - no flavourings here!

Despite the queue still at the door 2 and a half hours later, we weren't rushed out. The service was friendly and attentive. The prices are reasonable - £20 each. Coffees are only £2.50 which is just as well because when they're this good I can't have just one. 

I'm hoping to go back the next weekend I'm in town but I very much doubt the crowd will have died down.

Welcome to my new blog, Emma Eats

Inspired by the School of Life's 'How to Realise Your Potential' class I attended this evening, and by a lady I spoke to at the class (hello Kirsty!), I have decided to start a second blog all about my eating out experiences in London, and no doubt further afield. 


Over the last 6 years in London I've been treated to some amazing meals in some fantastic restaurants - Michelin starred and not - and now it's time to start capturing those. 


It's early days (or late evenings as the case may be), so please bear with me while I decide what the format for this blog might be and what stories I might tell. 


I have a few great restaurants booked in the coming weeks that I'm really looking forward to trying out - I'll report back!