Perched high above the London landscape, Aqua Shard serves contemporary British food in a fantastic setting. I had heard such good reviews of the brunch but was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Casual lazy weekend catch ups with friends
Seeing the cityscape during the day
Intimate meals with your date
Ambience & Décor
The panoramic views of London hit you instantly. The natural daylight illuminates and accentuates the contemporary look. The designer chandelier, stylish bar, and chic furnishings are a testament to interior design. From the table's vantage point, the winding Thames, ethereal Tower Bridge and corporate Canary Wharf were visible. I never tire of Aqua’s stunning views.
Service
Smartly dressed, slick and knowledgeable table service, the staff effortlessly served courses with a vibrant smile. Their recommendations were also amazing, as seen below.
Food
The Weekend Brunch menu at prix fixe of £48 for 3 courses is not extensive. Whilst not ideal, we all found items of interest. Skipping the amuse bouche, started with the Tor Bay Harbour Lobster Benedict (below) with a garnishing of salmon roe to add elegance. This dish comprised of Cackleberry Farm egg, roasted lobster, hollandaise sauce and sea greens.
This was a culinary masterclass. The egg was poached to perfection. The lobster was buttery, moist and bursting with freshness. The earthy undertones from the sea greens complemented the richness from the hollandaise. Beautifully toasted muffin base mopping up the gushing egg yolk. The red roe garnish made it feel premium. Stunning presentation and sublime flavours.
The Roast Dingley Dell Pork Belly's (right) generous portions on first sight set me in a good mood. Pork and apple are a British institution and the two mixed exceedingly well here. The crackling, seasoned to taste, did not feel fatty but gave a rustic twist. The fluffy potatoes and slightly al dente greens added texture depth, whilst their delicious flavours rounded off the hearty meal.
The other main of note was the Crispy cod cakes served with pickled lemon, samphire, cucumber salad and a spiced kelp aioli. Cod cooked to perfection, lovely thin & crisp coating, and the intruiging aioli added the heat the dish needed. Delicious and filling.
For dessert, the Raspberry Fool made with Oakchurch Farm raspberries and chopped pistachio (left) was ordered. The organic taste and smooth texture of the raspberries complemented the decadent, yet fluffy, fool very well. The nuts added a savoury note to temper the richness. Overall, the dessert was just the right balance of sweetness and richness. Due to it being light and airy, I could have had more!
The Sea Buckthorn Posset with Candied and Crunchy Orange Meringue (right) looked more appealing. Full of finesse, and amazing flavour combinations. A balanced medley of sharp-tasting, citric and tart flavours that come together with the sweetness of the candied process and meringue. For citrus lovers, this is the dessert for you!
The award for the most visually stunning dessert was the Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse (left) with crispy mandarin and dark chocolate shavings. From the moment my brother took the first bite, he was in culinary heaven. Chocolate lovers' paradise. The mousse was incredibly fluffy and light with the citric tones from the mandarin an intriguing yet complementary twist.
Aqua Shard’s brunch service can be summed in one word. Superlative. Décor, service and food were unforgettable. The best brunch service I have had to date. The stunning views are Aqua’s party piece, but today the food was the highlight. I know it is a steep price to pay, but I thought it was totally worth it. The aim was to make it special for my brother, and Aqua Shard delivered. Easy A+ rating.
Photos of Aqua Shard and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: A+
Final comment: The best brunch I have had today. It is pricey but totally worth a visit.
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