Octopus And Orzo Octopus And Orzo

Tender octopus served with flavorful orzo, combining Mediterranean ingredients for a delightful seafood dish.

Prix Fixe Brasserie

Prix Fixe Brasserie

39 Dean Street Soho London, W1D 4PU, United Kingdom

Steak • French • European • Brasseries


"Came here for an early birthday celebration with my friends on a Friday night. I had made a reservation beforehand but it was very empty when I walked in so it wasn't needed. There were 4 of us and we decided to order a couple starters to share so we could try different things. One of my friends is vegetarian so we went with the trio cheese croquettes and then the grilled mussels. Both were really nice, but I wish the garlic butter sauce for the mussels could be stronger. The mussels also weren't the most fresh but tbh I wasn't surprised since central London isn't known for seafood and for the price it was what it was. For mains, I went for the Entrecote steak with fries. I loved the garlic butter that came with it and the refreshing salad on the side. The steak was a little too rare for my liking even though I asked for medium so I couldn't finish it but the portion was huge for its price. The fries were a little soggy and didn't taste freshly fried so it was slightly disappointing. My friends went for the sea bass, duck breast and cauliflower steak which were all really good apparently so that balanced out with my main I suppose. Service was great. One of my friends made a special request with the staff for my birthday and they came sing a birthday song for me with the desserts we ordered which was lovely. For desserts, we went with the raspberry crème brulee, affogato with vanilla ice cream and the apple tarte tartin also with vanilla ice cream. All were really good and we all agreed that the apple tarte tartin was the best of them 3 because the apple was rich and the pie was well-made and went well with the ice cream. Overall, I had a great time with my friends there as we stayed for 4 hours and we didn't get kicked out at all since it was so empty! I would be happy to come back soon and try other things on the menu."

Plate

Plate

151-157 City Road, London, United Kingdom

Fish • Coffee • Cheese • Chicken


"Plate Restaurant in Old Street at M by the Montcalm Hotel offers top notch dining in a relaxed and modern setting. Although there is a ground floor bar and cafe in the hotel, my tip would be to head straight on up to the restaurant on the second floor. Here you can sit in the sleek glass fronted building, watching the hustle and bustle go by. Owner and Chef Director Arnaud Stevens has previously worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Jason Atherton and Richard Corrigan. With that experience, Plate restaurant in Old Street is bound to be something special. A particular highlight of my visit were the signature Plate cocktails – designed by the bar’s own mixologists. These amazing cocktails are worth visiting for alone! My absolute favourite was the Naked Negroni – light, summery and refreshing, this cocktail was very drinkable! The staff were knowledgeable and attentive – they definitely knew the menu inside out, as they came up with spot on recommendations for me. I had the Plate signature bread flight to start, which is an absolute must if you visit this restaurant. The trio of warm, freshly baked breads were outstanding with the accompanying trio of whipped butters. The mushroom brioche was so light and flavoursome (not an overpowering taste of mushroom) and the onion whipped butter with crispy shallots on top was stunning. For mains, we had the Parmesan gnocchi with sprouting broccoli, almond puree and elderflower dressing and the Rump of lamb, with tomato fondue, anchovy, basil dressing and charred gem lettuce. If you are hungry, I would suggest getting a side to accompany your main. The buttered green beans were a great accompaniment to the lamb. Although the portions are not huge at Plate restaurant, the well balanced dishes were spot on to allow you to enjoy three courses and not feel utterly stuffed. This is particularly helpful, as saying no to desert here is not an option. This desert menu will appeal to anyone with a sweet tooth. I tried the Valrhona caramel chocolate mousse, with pain perdu, hazelnuts and passion fruit. This beautifully presented pudding didn’t leave you stuffed, as the passion fruit cut through the mousse and brioche perfectly. I was reliably informed that the British menu with a French twist is frequently changing to match the latest seasonal produce available. The relaxed, but smart setting, stands this restaurant apart from your average hotel restaurant. Whether you pop in for just a cocktail, or a three course meal, Plate Restaurant at M by the Montcalm is definitely worth a visit."

The Willow

The Willow

16 The Triangle, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom

Steak • European • Vegetarian • Contemporary


"We booked a table at The Willow for a birthday celebration and it didn 't disappoint. We were initially intrigued by the restaurant 's website and the range of food it offered and we were curious to see if it lived up to its promise. On arrival we were greeted and taken to our table all the tables were beautifully set out and the lighting was soft and ambient. Each table had a lily in a little vase and coupled with the shining glass and silverware and the unobtrusive music in the background, the impression was very positive and welcoming. Excellent first impressions! I ordered brill in a black squid ink batter, pea shoots and sweet potato fries and my wife, a vegan, ordered a Rainbow Salad and Falafel burger with sourdough bun and sweet potato fries. Both meals were of a very high quality: the fish was expertly cooked, fresh and delicious and the batter was remarkable and delectable. It was a revelation to us both to try sweet potato fries a first. They were delicious and very moreish and we will definitely be having them again. My wife was very taken with the Rainbow Salad and asked to see the ingredients for future reference. The Manager willingly showed us the restaurant book where we were able to see colour photos of all the dishes and their ingredients and any allergens and dietary information. For dessert my wife had a B Raw raspberry cheesecake (made with coconut) and on finding out that it was her birthday, the chef wrote 'Happy Birthday ' in dark chocolate sauce across the plate a really lovely touch! I had Almond and Chocolate Dome with raspberry ice cream: delicious too. All in all we had a wonderful, relaxed and enjoyable meal at The Willow. We will definitely be returning to sample more of the dishes on their extensive menu. There is something for everybody at The Willow: meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans are amply catered for and their philosophy of food is encouraging and to be recommended. Thank you very much!"