I have been to the other Caravan branches in London, and the experiences have been mixed. My friend and I were in the vicinity of the City branch, so it made sense to visit their latest branch. Was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Meeting up friends or colleagues in the City
Trying something different and quirky
Intimate dinner for two
Ambience & Décor
I love a restaurant with glass walls and Caravan’s glass front was no exception. The main room décor was minimalist with a smattering of neon lighting, light-coloured but monochromatic furniture and complementary beechwood fittings. Felt more corporate than other Caravans but it was in keeping with the area. The bar and mezzanine levels have that more rustic vibe with the exposed barbed wire, steel fittings and cheaper furniture that was more synonymous with Caravan. Ambience for a regular weekday was demure front of house and more lively on the mezzanine and bar. Split personality suitable for any occasion.
Service
The service in the main area was quite professional. Perhaps my suit helped. The waitresses were quite attentive and added to the dining experience by giving good suggestions.
Food
The bonkers concoctions at Caravan always make for intriguing reading and pushes boundaries of what you think works. The cod dumplings (left) were the best dish. The sambal and soy combo was packed full of spice and flavour, making the bland cod sing. Dumplings can retain water and become soggy, but not here.
Crispy pork belly (left) was very good. The tamarind caramel was the sweet sauce-like accompaniment synonymous with pork. Pork was perfectly cooked but the additional flora on the plate added nothing and padded out the dish.
Lamb is easy to mess up but this Moroccan prep was enjoyable. Authentic Chermoula is predominantly cumin and
lemon juice, and both were aplenty. The pickled veg added much-needed texture and taste with the tahini tempering the spice. Did not even notice the aubergine, which is a plus for me.
The hot-smoked salmon with romaine hearts, buttermilk and herb crumb was a bit of an oddball. The salmon and buttermilk combination was a pleasant surprise but the rest was devoid of flavour and bizarre texture. Not a happy bunny.
The ample portion of Spiced Cauliflower (right) bathed in harissa and pomegranate yoghurt was the surprise of the night. The spice levels from the harissa was perfect, with the yoghurt tempering the dish beautifully. Fantastically well made. Cauliflower also had some natural flavour. This was a moreish dish.
The cod dumplings and cauliflower dishes were the best with the salmon a flop. However, the meal was cheap, presenting great value that is tough to beat. My biggest issue with Caravan is its ethos. Despite being marketed as being Australian, the menu is a dysfunctional array of dishes from around the world. Despite the lovely night, the bizarre salmon and the confused ethos gives Caravan City an A- rating.
Photos of Caravan City and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: A-
Final comment: The best Caravan for me but the whole ethos of Caravan is confusing!
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