1 January 2006
So we went to the new restaurant Roast on Friday. It's big selling point is that it celebrates food from Britain in all its glory. We had a pretty good time. I was a bit dubious because the reviews had been v mixed but first impressions weren't bad. There was only one guy at the desk when we arrived, and he was dealing with phones, coats, taking us to our table etc but was perfectly courteous, if a tad condescending in his manner (but I think that was just him).
The room was huge and tables nicely spaced, but despite it being 6pm and almost empty, we got tucked in the corner by the waiters' station. We did have a view of St Paul's though. They make a bit of a thing about their view of St Paul's, but it's not all that spectacular as it's framed by lots of railway line (sorry to appear churlish).
They have a pre-theatre menu which is great, because great British food comes at a premium (especially if you source your food from Borough Market). It's £18 for 2 courses, or £21 for 3. We weren't famished so just went for 2. We had 28-day hung roast forerib of beef (apparently there are great - as in large - spits on which all the meat is roasted but I didn't see them). It was medium rare and very juicy and tender, although it could have a been a bit warmer. The plates were hot though, so they must have left the meat to rest rather long. The Yorkshire was damned fine but the horseradish a tad creamy - I prefer mine with bits. The potatoes in dripping were piping hot and crisp on the outside and melty on the inside - perfect. The mixed salad was... a mixed salad.
The dessert was bread-and-butter pudding and chocolate fudge pudding with clotted cream. The fudge pudding was very good - all rich chocolate, warm and gooey. The bread-and-butter pud was divine. It was all thin layers of bread with fantastic vanillaey homemade custard and not dissimilar to lardy cake, though less crispy. Lardy cake is something I haven't had since my schooldays and have tried to find ever since. This pud made a pretty fine substitute.
All in all, a really great experience. The waiter was a tad chatty but better that than sullen. The loos were nice and they use Neal's Yard toiletries which are very nice and not boring old Molton Brown which seems to have made its way into most bathrooms of choice.
The room was huge and tables nicely spaced, but despite it being 6pm and almost empty, we got tucked in the corner by the waiters' station. We did have a view of St Paul's though. They make a bit of a thing about their view of St Paul's, but it's not all that spectacular as it's framed by lots of railway line (sorry to appear churlish).
They have a pre-theatre menu which is great, because great British food comes at a premium (especially if you source your food from Borough Market). It's £18 for 2 courses, or £21 for 3. We weren't famished so just went for 2. We had 28-day hung roast forerib of beef (apparently there are great - as in large - spits on which all the meat is roasted but I didn't see them). It was medium rare and very juicy and tender, although it could have a been a bit warmer. The plates were hot though, so they must have left the meat to rest rather long. The Yorkshire was damned fine but the horseradish a tad creamy - I prefer mine with bits. The potatoes in dripping were piping hot and crisp on the outside and melty on the inside - perfect. The mixed salad was... a mixed salad.
The dessert was bread-and-butter pudding and chocolate fudge pudding with clotted cream. The fudge pudding was very good - all rich chocolate, warm and gooey. The bread-and-butter pud was divine. It was all thin layers of bread with fantastic vanillaey homemade custard and not dissimilar to lardy cake, though less crispy. Lardy cake is something I haven't had since my schooldays and have tried to find ever since. This pud made a pretty fine substitute.
All in all, a really great experience. The waiter was a tad chatty but better that than sullen. The loos were nice and they use Neal's Yard toiletries which are very nice and not boring old Molton Brown which seems to have made its way into most bathrooms of choice.
Labels: food, restaurants
# posted by gilamonster : 09:17
