British Restaurants - Roast

It's a bit weird (and scary) wandering through the deserted Borough market in the evening to reach Roast but my friend and I ventured out to find out what the fuss was about. We loved it from the moment we came up the stairs into the reception area with the real grass growing across the counter - we half expected a lamb or something to graze across it...

Actually, we weren't up to a full blown meal although we did look at the menu - which had all the old favourites like most types of roast meat, steak, liver and bacon, chops and some fish dishes (mackeral). It all looked tasty albeit a little expensive - but no more so than any other London restaurants. We laughed at the "Rare breeds Monday" - surely focusing on selling rare breeds would increase the rarity of those breeds! But full marks for having a serious policy of local and seasonal sourcing...

We parked ourselves in the bar which was furnished with big squidgy sofas and low tables with views out from large windows over the empty market. We were sure that the views of the market in full swing would be much more interesting than the eerie night time view - so guess that lunch times are popular.

Anyway, the staff fell over themselves to be friendly and helpful - which is a rarity these days as many restaurants emulate the French model of "insult your customers". We enjoyed glasses of fine wine, some lovely non alcoholic cocktails (rhubarb was a frequent ingredient)a bowl of chips with curry dip and some designer fish fingers. The bar menu was really extremely reasonable.

Roast is famous for its lovely location - the floral room architecture is really rather stunning. And also for the famous table where the profits are donated to the Princes Trust - so you can reduce your guilt with charitable giving whilst eating great food and drinking fab wine...

We had a marvellous time and it was only because sitting so near those fantastically panoramic windows became a little chilly that we moved on....But it gets our thumbs up and we will return to enjoy a full meal soon...

:)