- Overall 4
- Food 3
- Service 4
- Ambience 4
Located in the Coal Exchange, this restaurant opened in October 2024 in the space formerly occupied by the Culley restaurant. The interior combines exposed brickwork, wood paneling, and art deco lighting, with a bar at one end and a large dining area featuring banquette-style seating in the middle.
Food:
The starters were a mixed bag. The spicy crispy prawns were heavily over-battered, with five pieces that ended up having to remove their coating as it was too thick. The accompanying tiny portion of salad at the bottom of the dish of carrot and greens was the saving grace, adding some freshness to the dish.
The cocktail “Full Moon” (bourbon, sake, lychee, wild strawberry, calamari, and mochi) was a disappointment—it tasted unpleasantly like bath wash and had to be sent back. Fortunately, the “Ford” cocktail was much better and came as a welcome replacement.
The roasted picanha beef roast was a hit-and-miss. While the swede purée was sweet and delicious, and the peas and mangetout added a nice touch, the meat itself was chewy, with only two thin slices served. The sauce was thick and flavorful, and the rotkohl (red cabbage) was good but overly sweet. Unfortunately, the wrong knife was provided, making cutting through the meat a struggle.
Atmosphere and Service:
Live music at 1 pm created a relaxed vibe, with popular classics adding to the ambiance. The service was attentive and friendly, though the automatic 12% service charge on the bill may not be to everyone’s liking.
Overall, this is a stylish venue with potential, but the food quality needs to be more consistent to match the promising atmosphere and good service.