Duck and Waffle, Sushi Samba, Dabbous, Burger and Lobster, Pizzaro, Pitt Cue Social, Hix, St John’s Bread and Wine, The Fat Duck, Northcote Manor, The Waterside Inn, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons…….just some of UK establishments I wish to visit this year.
If I was rich or lived close would visit them all imminently but unfortunately that is not the case, therefore I intend to visit them one by one over the next few years. Also as there is a waiting list for a number of them, rich or not I really don’t have a choice.
Luckily for me last week I got to check my first establishment off the list, Burger and Lobster in Farringdon. All I have been hearing about is this restaurant; people have been raving and raving about it and I genuinely haven’t heard a bad word. Although reviews have been good I have had my reservations.
The concept is a unique and appealing one, you enter one of its three venues after queuing for a while (this place really is popular) and once seated you then get told (not given) the menu – burger, lobster or lobster roll, all for £20. This is where my first concerns emerged; I can justify paying £20 for a lobster but £20 for a burger… a bit steep if you ask me! That is why I ordered the lobster and what a great choice that was.
Before the meal arrived we were given a rather unattractive bib and the correct equipment to eat the shellfish. When my lobster arrived I was in awe at the size – definitely worth the money.
I was presented with a large silver platter of lobster accompanied by a bucket of fries, a fresh side salad and a garlic butter sauce. When ordering you also get asked how you would like it cooking, steamed or grilled, I chose steamed which was beautifully fresh and delicate. My boyfriend ordered grilled which tasted smoky and totally different to mine, still delicious though.
Although I was weary of the burger price I have to admit the burgers I saw were monstrous and looked fantastic. I still think I would head to the slightly cheaper Pitt Cue Social if I was searching for a burger but if you have the money I am sure you would love it.
I was also sceptical about where the lobsters came from. Located in central London and serving so many customers, I wasn’t sure how fresh the shellfish would be. However again I was pleasantly surprised. I asked the waitress the source of the lobsters and straight away she said they were flown from Maine; that’s a lot of lobsters to fly every week so I was more than impressed.
My final reservation was about the service. I had heard how busy the Soho and Mayfair establishments were, with people queuing for hours. I actually tried to get into the Soho restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday night a few months ago but was told there was a two and a half hour waiting list. Being this busy I expected service to falter and to be thrown in and out with no time to relax and enjoy your meal. This again was not the case.
On arrival we were politely greeted and told the wait would be half an hour and to get a drink at the bar. One prosecco later we were sat at our table, which was hidden in the corner of the swanky, high end style diner. The waiter was attentive and warming, explaining the concept well and looking after us throughout the meal.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was buzzing and exciting. The open kitchen is in the centre of the restaurant allowing you to take a peek at the phenomenal kitchen operation they have adopted. There are burger, lobster and accompaniment stations manned by numerous chefs working constantly and on a sort of production line that would usually be seen in a factory. It was fascinating and worth the visit just to watch them cook.
All in all this is another London establishment that exceeded my expectations and that I would recommend to everyone. I still feel the burgers are pricey and the Farringdon restaurant seems more relaxed than the other two, however I suppose it depends on the type of person you are.
One tip, when you are given the bib don’t be vain and not wear it, trust me you will get messy!
Pantry Secrets 