Rocket (City)
Italian Restaurant in The City
Rocket in Adams Court has two very different bars and an exciting restaurant serving huge pizzas and a great selection of fresh salads. In addition to the seasonal menus, they have regularly changing specials available in the bar and restaurant. Rocket is open from 8am serving breakfast in the ground floor bar and outside terrace. Lunch starts from noon both downstairs and in the top floor restaurant. In the evening they serve food in the lounge bar in addition to the top floor restaurant and ground floor bar.
A little oasis of relaxation and space in the hustle bustle of the City
Most restaurants in the City are either fiendishly expensive or impossibly busy so I count myself lucky to have found this gem. It’s a little off the beaten track – in a pedestrian courtyard just near Bank Station - and you might need a map or SatNav to help you find it.
My guest was familiar with the bar on the ground floor and the outside terrace which is apparently rather busy in the summer with the countless nearby office workers. We went through the busy bar with its booths and high stools and up numerous flights of stairs – on the first floor there is apparently a further bar for private hire – but the restaurant is on the third floor.
A little out of breath after all those stairs, there is a reception area (and a cloakroom) which opens on the left hand side into a surprisingly light and spacious restaurant. The contemporary art (I love those dog paintings!) on the walls and the general décor is strikingly similar to Rocket in the West End although this one feels larger and a bit more upmarket.
The staff led us through the main restaurant area until we reached a smaller room at the end – separated by a wall of wine racks – with massive burgundy curtained windows and a large wide screen TV on which there appeared a flickering log fire. Both my companion and I swore that we felt warmer sitting next to it!
To start I selected one of my favourites - buffalo mozzarella with a cherry tomato, oregano, balsamic and extra virgin olive oil salsa with toasted artisan bread (£6.85) – this was really fresh and light. My guest opted for the fried spicy baby squid with rocket, garnished with peppers and spring onions and served with a sweet chilli and lemon dressing (£6.25).
As we were sort of celebrating the start of the Christmas season we had a couple of glasses of wine – the place is meant to have one of the best wine lists in London – but we were quite happy with an unoaked Chardonnay from Sicily (£5.00). Not being very original, we declined the good selection of salads and main courses and both choose calzone (folded over pizza) four formaggi with melting mozzarella, ricotta, dolcelatte and goat’s cheese with broccoli spears, caramelised onion, pine nuts and basil (£12.25).
These were veritable feasts – more cheese than you could shake a stick at (I don’t dare think how many calories we consumed) and each bite presented a different texture and flavour – from the mild and creamy mozzarella to the stronger and firmer goat’s cheese.
The food was good, the service was efficient if a little anonymous without being rushed and the modern, clean atmosphere was a good fit for the City. I’m glad I found this little oasis of relaxation and space in the hustle bustle of the City – and I shall return again soon.
Reviewed by KimT
Published on Jan 5, 2012
City Bar honours Brazilian Carnival with funky new cocktails
In honour of the Brazilian Carnival which takes place every March, the bartenders at Rocket have created a selection of cocktails using Salto, an alternative to the more famous cachaça, which is oddly enough more popular in its native Brazil. Less alcoholic than its sibling (24% proof as opposed to 40%) and with a more citrusy flavour, it is surprisingly palatable when drunk alone as a shot (it can even be sipped rather than downed), but it combines just as well with maraschino cherry, strawberries, mint and lime to make the aptly named Brazilian Cherry, or with crème de banana, apple juice and banana puree in the Copabanana. Luckily these two drinks, along with the spicy, muddled chilli Favela Shake are staying on the menu at the Old Broad Street branch of Rocket.
In terms of food, the bar offers a selection of appetising pizzas, tangy goat’s cheese and sweet honey and spicy sausage and aubergine being two of the delectable toppings. The pizzas are served on wooden trays ideal for sharing, and other snacky options include coconut squid, antipasto and mini sausages wrapped in bacon, reminiscent of a high brow party menu but with accessible prices (pizzas are between £5 and £7.25). Being in a prime Square Mile location means there is a steady flow of after work punters finding their way to the courtyard where this attractive City bar is located, helped along by the 2 for 1 cocktails on Monday to Wednesday and live music on Fridays.
Reviewed by Leila
Published on Mar 16, 2011
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