The Northall

Brasserie in Westminster
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8 / 10 from 1 review
Address
The Corinthia Hotel London
Whitehall Place
Westminster
London
SW1A 2BD
Map
Telephone
020 7321 3100
Cuisine
Brasserie
Region
Westminster
Nearest Station
Embankment
0.14 miles

The spacious brasserie-style restaurant will be overseen by three times Michelin starred Executive Head Chef Garry Hollihead. The Northall encapsulates quintessential British hospitality, whilst offering views over Victoria Embankment Gardens.

The Northall Picture Gallery

The Northall Picture
The Northall Picture

All In London Review

Restaurants in hotels always pose a bit of a worry... but The Northall in the brand new five star Corinthia Hotel blows any preconceptions away.

Restaurants in hotels always pose a bit of a worry – Will it have ambience? Will it be empty? Will it be full of tired or solitary hotel guests and tourists? Will the food be up to scratch? But The Northall in the brand new five star Corinthia Hotel blows any preconceptions away.

The room is airy and spacious (due to having large windows completely around the large curve of two walls) without appearing soul less. However, it was a little too cool for my liking – but I guess we all expected August to be warm so the air conditioning was functioning well. There is a massive tan leather banquette around the perimeter with crisp white tablecloths and matching modern designer tan leather winged chairs set at small tables. The enormous pillars and tall vases of flowers add an elegant and classical feel.

There’s an open mezzanine floor (Minstrel’s gallery?) in one corner – apparently for private dining/parties – and the staircase up to this level is an art masterpiece itself. There are modern coned lights on the chandeliers. It all says elegant and tasteful, discrete luxury.

The staff were phenomenal. Our waiter couldn’t do enough to help us – without interrupting our conversation – and was friendly. The maitre d’ was clearly extremely proud of the place, watchful of everything and everyone in his space and had a great sense of humour (“Not too bad eh?” he answered as we left saying how much we had enjoyed our evening).

The menu is extensive. We admired some nearby diners’ steak choice. The menu indicates that they use 28 day aged native breed Cumbrian short horn cattle (slow growing, smaller muscled with a dense texture) from Lake District Farm, Cumbria – prices ranged from £29 to £32. There was also veal and lamb lion chops on the menu (£24). They are served with a choice of sauces: Bearnaise, sharp peppered, ale mustard, Harbourne Blue cheese, red wine and shallots.

For my starter I selected a simple dressed crab, mayonnaise and melba toast (£15) from Paignton Devon. It was a generous portion, there was plentiful toast and the mayonnaise appeared in a small pot perfectly whipped and swirled.

My colleague scored the best on the starters though – her sliced sea scallops with fermented lemon dressing and micro cress salad (£15) from Ross-shire in Scotland was unique. The scallops were almost like a carpaccio and the lemon was sharp and refreshing.

Her roast cornfed Goosnargh duck (from Lancashire), dauphinoise and buttered hispi (£26) was expertly cooked. But my main course (£28) of lemon sole with razor clam (in its shell) with vierge sauce (olive oil, lemon juice, chopped tomato and basil and crushed coriander seed) was a joy to behold and even better to taste. The mushroom and creamed leek sides (£3.50 each) were excellent too. And it was nice that they were piping hot when they arrived.

The wine was scarily expensive – the cheapest was around £30 and prices quickly escalated to £40 and £50 a bottle. We choose a South African Elgin Sauvignon Blanc at £39 which was lovely but still expensive.

Our bill for the meal – and this included £12 for 100g selection of designer chocolates, £27.50 VAT and 12.5% service charge – was £166.50 which we thought was rather steep. However, they do offer two courses for £18 and three courses for £22.50 on their daily market menu.

What’s also nice is that one of the bars in this hotel – The Bassoon – is absolutely stunning. However, if your budget can afford it The Massimo restaurant which is also hear looks even more exciting. I’ve added it to my wish list.

Reviewed by KimT
Published on Sep 19, 2011


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