I never expected my first meal in London to be good. I was only going for edible, but I hadn’t counted on being shown around by a local. Maylea is an overachieving host, creating an accommodation so comfortable, I’d just as soon call it home. . When not giving us access to every possible amenity, she also has local wisdom to share. Her wisest choice so far is Anglo, a subtle slipaway I never would have noticed. I’m told they recently opened, and they carry a creative, reasonably-priced tasting menu that holds some promise. I know Anglo is my angle as soon as I can see inside. The space is small, a handful of tables, an inescapably intimate ambiance and a single server with a lifetime of knowledge behind a youthful veneer.
When I initially heard the name of the restaurant “Anglo”, I was very puzzled. Is that the name of a dog? My confusion was compounded as when typing the name into the oracle (Google), I was told that it was a restaurant serving Asian food. Unless I’ve missed something major, or someone has managed to re-brand all islands as being part of Asia, I was not sure how British cuisine could fit the bill.
After reading a 5 star review in the morning paper we had to try Anglo and booked lunch for the next day (Thursday). It's small, seating around 40 people, and understated with minimalist decor, warm atmosphere and perfect lighting and acoustics.
The wine menu was comprehensive and not overwhelming, although we didn't indulge since it was a 'work lunch'. We went for the a la carte menu, since we didn't have too much time, starting with the sourdough bread and yeast butter - perfect. I had the Scottish salmon with charred leek and miso - delicately-crafted combination of fresh sea flavours and the salmon was flawless. For the main course I had the cod - again, expressing meticulous passion from flavours to preparation, and the photo below doesn't do the presentation justice. The chocolate and beer desert is a chocolate lover's dream. Service was great - discreet and well-informed. I couldn't keep my eyes off all the dishes I hadn't tried - will definitely return for the tasting menu! In three words: crafted, meticulous and bold! Other fishes featured in the below pictures include the girolles with soft duck egg and the wild deer with spiced red cabbage.
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