Amazing place in London. I love the food. can’t wait to come back here again. Congratulations to the staff.
Great setting, excellent food and service with a smile!
Having been a few times now, I’m happy to say a wonderful first experience was no fluke. Staff are friendly, helpful and expeditious. Would certainly recommend working through a selection of smorgasbord and whilst I’m a fan of the duck, the meatballs are also very good.
I was curious to try it, given the restaurant has two Michelin stars in NY. It was also my first time in a Scandinavian restaurant in London, I was quite interested to see what they would have proposed.
We used the formula "after theater" with a fixed menu at 26 pounds. For the price, the place is definitely worth it.
The service is very fast and the waiters are very kind.
We could decide two starters and I choose the duck liver and the herrings. Both were really good, although I found a bit too sour the sauce combined with the liver. This probably depends from personal tastes as I never combined before sour cream with foie gras. It seems to be a more Nordic tradition.
I had meat balls as a main dish, which had the same taste of the ones I got in Stockholm, delicious.
I decided to try a desert with raspberries, I believe it was the Artic bird nest. It was the best part of the whole dinner.
Strongly recommended, very different from all the other restaurants I tried in London.
Been there for a brunch. Had the Nordic breakfast; it was rich and good. With more poached eggs and bacon we ended up having a full meal. Atmosphere calm and nice. Friendly and helpful staff and prices are reasonable for this area. Dessert was the rhubarb cheese cake.. so delicious. Oh yes and say no to the bread, just exquisite.
My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary and we were not disappointed! The food, ambience and service was absolutely amazing - we didn't even mind the pricey bill.
The beef tartare I had to start was very nice and light. We also shared the matje herring, which had a nice salty flavour. The paired drink that was suggested was a nice complement.
For mains we ordered the beef and the sea bass, along with the Johannes' temptation for a side (it's a potato dish with crime and anchovies). All three were divine. The beef and fish were cooked perfectly, and the accompaniments were very tasty.
For dessert we had the artic bird's nest and lemon posset. As a fan of goat's cheese, the former was delicious. The posset was lemony without being overpowering.
Overall, a wonderful meal - pricey, but you definitely get your money's worth. The staff were friendly, and I adored the decor. I totally recommend!
Came by to celebrate a special occasion. Really enjoyed the meal; particularly enjoyed the smoked eel, mackerel tartare and duck. The meatball dish was mostly mash- only 5 meatballs- but was otherwise good. For drinks I had a Nordic Bramble which I really enjoyed, but was disappointed by the Arctic Egg dessert which, while very visually appealing, wasn't really to my tastes flavour wise, with blueberries, chocolate and what tasted like a goat milk sorbet. Service was lovely, though I found it a bit pricey overall.
Aquavit‘s much anticipated launch finally arrives tomorrow and London officially has a new gem to add to it’s Scandinavian restaurant collection. As a Swede, I had been patiently waiting for this opening since mid year and had very high expectations!. Aquavit has two additional fine dining branches, one in Tokyo and the original one in New York which holds 2 Michelin Stars. The London St James branch is labelled as contemporary Nordic dining but I’d actually call it fine dining. Not only because of the quality of the food but also the interior. The design is beautiful with very high ceilings, large pieces of artwork on the walls and warm wooden décor throughout.
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Have eaten at the two star Aquavit in New York recently, so was very excited to have a meal in the new London outpost.
The dining room is a lot more open and less intimate than it's New York counterpart. There are very high ceilings, a moderate noise level, and a lively vibe. The menu looks to be a bit simpler than it's New York counterpart at a pretty steep price point that is typical of this area.
Blood pudding, melted lardo, lingonberries (7/10) - The blood pudding was well made. It was seasoned well, and was bursting with minerality. I found the lardons to be an odd addition, as a cured, salty fat is not something you'd think of to be paired with blood pudding. However, with the addition of the lingonberries, the dish was balanced and delicious.
Herrings 3 ways (6/10) - I love herrings. These were all of good quality, but they all seemed a bit too similar to one another. The curry serving had largely similar flavor profiles to the mustard. The baby quiche was delicious. The eggy mixture within it was a perfectly set and delicate custard. The crust was buttery with a pleasing granular texture.
Foie Gras parfait (7/10) - This was a very simple an adequate version of a dish that is often seen on menus. The aspic above provided much needed textural intrigue while balancing the fattiness of the foie.
Mackeral tartare (8/10) - The fish here was expertly cut and of high quality. The chosen accoutrements were worthy team players as the greenery did well to contrast with the fishy and oily mackerel. The generous dollop of caviar added much needed salt and ocean to the dish.
Crab and fennel salad (6/10) - I found this dish to be adequate, yet boring. The bread was a bit dry. The crab was of good quality, and the pickled fennel was punchy enough.
Langoustines in shellfish broth (6/10) - I found the langoustines to be a tad over for my liking. The root vegetables perhaps a bit too crisp for me. However the broth was incredibly rich and bursting with shellfish flavor.
Swedish meatballs (6/10) - Well it would've been a crime to not give these a shot. I found the meat to be a bit on the dry side. I think the meatballs could have used a tad bit more fat. The potato puree however was lovely. Velvety smooth and very generously ladened with butter. The pickled cucumber and lingonberries seemed almost unnecessary with how lean the meatballs seemed to be.
Duck breast and parsnips (8/10) - The duck was beautifully prepared with just enough chew left to the fat. The root vegetables prepared in various ways paired perfectly with the duck and rich pan sauce.
Salted codfish (4/10) - I found this to be overly salty, even for salted cod. The emulsion that dressed the cod was also quite salty. The green puree beneath it could not do much to relieve me from the salt bomb.
My meal at Aquavit was good, and certainly ahead of the curb as far as new openings in London lately. However, if I were to compare it to the 2 star Michelin in New York, it would seem that this one is a few leagues below and not exactly what it aims to do anyway.
Absolutely loved the meatballs. Have visited several times and I would say it is the best meatballs I had so far, such a comfort food to have especially on a rainy day. Nice selection of cocktails as well. However service was little disappointing the waiter was a bit rude and impatient when we try to get their attention to order.
Very interesting restaurant. Went as part of a work party and we had a blast. The decor was minimalist but warm and comfortable.
We were up stair in the private room with the round table, which worked so well.
FOOD
I really appreciated the Presentation of the food. It really did wet the taste buds.
The Shrimp Skagen, toasted sourdough, dill mayonnaise was just average and nothing special at all.
Roasted duck breast, Jerusalem artichoke, Madeira jus - I really enjoyed the duck. It could have been a little bit more crispy on the outside and there could have provided more source, I think on this point, they went more for presentation, but they could have given a little pot of source. That said, the duck was well cooked and was very delicious.
As part of the set menu, we had the Warm chocolate fondant as a selection for a dessert, but I don't see it on their main menu. It was lovely, but again the there could have been more ice cream.
Absolutely wonderful!! Our waiter was attentive, kind, knowledgeable, and professional throughout the evening. The dishes were delicious!! In our party of five, three of us had a Swedish grandmother who was an amazing cook! Your dishes took us back to our childhood memories eating at her table. Highest compliments to the chef, and thanks so much for a fantastic dinner!!
A wonderful and nice super-scandinavian restaurant in London.
The Swedish classics, with snaps and drinks that fits with the dishes.
Book in advance, difficult to get a table during weekends. Strict, clean and wooden interior adds to the Scandinavian ambiance.
Great food, good wine list and attentive staff.
This is our second time returning to Aquavit, one of our favourite restaurants in London. My husband is a seafood lover and loves trying every dish on the menu. For me, I was completely blown away by the Arctic’s bird nest. It was unlike any dessert I’ve ever eaten - the contrasting textures (crunchy and soft, hot and cold, sweet and bitter) makes it a dessert that is unforgettable.
We had a wonderful dinner at Aquavit, and I loved absolutely everything we ordered. Plus the atmosphere! Thanks for the team serving us brilliantly and for four and a half hours! I will definitely visit again.
Held a dinner for 24 in their private dining. Spacious, refined and a calm vibe thanks to the decor and the quiet and effective service. Menu was light and interesting although the vegetarian options were a bit unimaginative. There’s a Danish flair to proceedings - from the Georg Jensen cutlery to the Danish crockery and the slight take on the cuisine. It’s a quiet hideaway off the main streets.
Central location,this restaurant can't leave everyone indifferent. Modern, elegant atmosphere inside, pleasant service and a food,
What a food! I even don't remember so tiny ingredients what being included in the dishes) And how it was presented !
If you going to be close by, just open a door and a Pleasant evening will be guaranteed to you.
Great food and dining atmosphere. Went there for brunch and we had a small plates and bigger brunch plates each. Flavours were really nice but the portions of brunch dishes varied from one to another. For example, the smoked salmon plate had 2x more food than the smoked eel, would be nice if the portions were similar. Overall, it’s a lovely restaurant and certainly living up to its name!
Absolutely incredible food and great service ina quiet and fun atmosphere. It was my first time trying Scandinavian food and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the Swedish meatballs for a main and the scallops as a starter. Highly recommend this place!
A meal that very much surprised me. Opened my eyes to how sophisticated Swedish food can be. Really enjoyed my meal and the experience and would return. I had the smoked salmon with dill sauce, Swedish meatballs and crepes for dessert which were all lovely and dishes I would struggle not to order again.
I’d been wanting to try Aquavit for ages and it surpassed my expectations. The team was accommodating and so lovely, the food was beautiful and full of flavors, and the atmosphere was vibrant yet soothing. This may have been my best dining experience and I’m looking forward to going back soon!
Aquavit is by far and away one of the best restaurants I’ve eaten in across the world.
The restaurant is beautifully decked out with typically Scandinavian clean shapes and subtle class and style.
We went for their lunch set menu which really didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t keep my hands off the rye bread even before the starters came out - it’s smoked and absolutely delightful. We shared everything which included an ornate herring starter, a to die for black pudding, obviously the meatballs, the mushroom dumplings, the plum compote dessert which was insanely good and washed it down with some German reisling.
All round lovely place, great staff, really cool bathrooms, great setting. Hope to go again sometime but will leave it for a special occasion.
Thanks guys.......
I only came here for a drink, but I loved the decor. Very Scandi with plenty of wood and high ceilings. Great location away from the chaos and tourist traps of Piccadilly. Service was friendly and efficient. I think I would like to eat here one day.
Really liked the food and decor here. I've been to the restaurant in NY and I think the one on London is better. Delicious herring and venison to start followed by lovely duck and lamb. Good value given the quality. Would happily return.
Delicious food. Me and my friend are really big foodies and we both loved this place. Sat viewing the window, facing outside. A really nice view when the lumiere festival was on.
The waiters were super friendly and knew the menu like the back of their hand. We had the smoked eel, venison, Swedish meatballs, and the duck. For dessert we had the bird nest and the meringue dish. Such amazing food.
Also go to the bathroom and use the hand lotion. Its smells devine.
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