Festival Square
This
South Bank newcomer fills the gap
at the Royal Festival Hall
There
are plenty of good restaurants around
the South Bank, but they're scattered
about and when you're hungry and
pressed for time before a concert
you want somewhere really close so
you can relax and not have to rush
to get into your seats. Before Festival
Square came along there were the
extremes of the People's Palace,
a great restaurant, but one where
I'd want to linger, or the Festival
Hall caffs, where the food is adequate
but not exciting.
Update:
April 2004
Since reviewing this restaurant bar last November I've been back several
times before attending concerts on the South Bank.
The standard remains
as high as ever. Last week I
tried the tapas selections which
were just right for an early
evening meal that's not going
to sit too heavily alongside
a Mahler Symphony. The £10 menu
has been suspended between 6pm
and 7.30pm, because the place
is already packed with concert
goers at this peak time.
Other
excellent venues:
We were most impressed with the Café Bagatelle at
the Wallace Collection, while at the Barbican Arts Centre there's
the Balcony Bistro, operated by the same group. Another
place you shouldn't miss is The Refectory at Southwark Cathedral on
Bankside. It's ideally placed for visits to Borough Market, The Clink
Prison, Vinopolis, The Tate Modern and the Cathedral itself
The food is excellent and the cakes are wicked - one of the best places
in London for tea - Savoy eat your heart out!
And
don't Forget St John's!
The Footstool has
long been one of my favourites
at St John's Smith Square. I'd
no idea it was also one of the
Digby Trout family until I started
delving a bit when reviewing
the new Festival Square. They
are doing a great job in raising
the standard of venue catering. |
Festival
Square is a smart waiter
service café bar with an open kitchen
to one side so you can watch other
people slaving away while you chill
out. For those really in a hurry,
there's a two course daily set
menu for £10 which includes a glass
of house wine. The main menu is
small but imaginative. We had a
really gamey terrine, properly
home made and attractively marbled
but quite spreadable on the walnut
toast. It came with some excellent
red onion marmalade. The baked
brie wrapped in ham was nice, but
the cheese hadn't melted properly,
but it came on a very generous
bed of yummy roasted peppers.
The
grilled sirloin steak and Dauphinoise
potatoes had all gone, so my guest
had some very tender pan-fried chicken
basted with harissa, and I had a
very comforting bowl of Irish stew
which was the dish of the day from
the £10 menu. The lamb and root vegetables
were there in plenty and the gravy
was rich and thick. Next time I go
there I shall try the "bar bites" which
are really a tapas style selection
at £2.50 each or 6 for £12.95.
We
came back after the concert to enjoy
our desserts. Don't miss the organic
sorbets from Rocombe Farm - they
have the most vibrant flavours. There
is a great selection of drinks with
wines cracking off from only £11.75
a bottle. Service is swift and cheerful
under the watchful eye of Rebecca
Hansen. I've already been back for
drinks at the bar! See also the
update box, right.
Clifford
Mould, November 2003
Festival
Square is located on the South
side of the Royal Festival Hall,
in Belvedere Road
Starters £4.50 £5.25
Mains: £8.25 - £10.75
Desserts: £4.25
Tel:
020 7928 2228
Festival
Square is operated by Digby Trout
Restaurants who run cafe-bar-restaurants
in many arts locations and visitor
attractions in Britain. For a
complete list, go to their website www.digbytrout.co.uk
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