High dining was a craze in London, and Fenchurch Street within the Walkie Talkie building was the latest to offer premium food with a quality view. Was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Dining somewhere quirky
Dinner and drinks
City Slickers
Ambience & Décor
The secluded restaurant feels like a hideout amongst the Sky Garden's flora. The long bar upon entering, with its impressive drinks collection, quirky low hanging lights and wood panelling has a retro feel. The glass walls and the designer furniture give it a modern twist. Diners beware! Views of London are obscured by the Sky Garden when eating which diners would expect. Sedate Saturday vibes made conversation flow easily.
Service
Coiffed, manicured waiters and waitresses were on hand to cater to our every whim. The service was as well-polished as they were. Great service from start to finish.
Food
The Roast breast of quail (confit leg, salt baked celeriac & pickled walnuts) (left) was a lovely wintery dish. The quail was cooked to perfection, the viscous purée added sweetness and celeriac the earthy, salty tones. The pickled walnuts added texture depth, making this dish a good allrounder.
For the table, Lindisfarne oysters were ordered so that we could try oysters for the first time. Being salty and slimy can be off-putting, but the dash of lemon, and swallowing it whole made it palatable. I am not a fan, but the presentation was very appealing.
The shared Chateaubriand (right) came with béarnaise and peppercorn sauce. Some steak slices were succulent and tender, whilst others were overcooked. The accompanying sauces are synonymous with steak, and were a good complement, especially for the overcooked pieces. With so much meat on offer, I was fully sated upon finishing. However, the good/excellent steak restaurants I have been to do chateaubriand better than Fenchurch Street. This was a good effort.
The standout dish was another game meat; Pheasant in pearl barley risotto, heritage carrots & leeks (left). The game meat was tender but the risotto was outstanding.
Fenchurch Street promises much, but the dishes ranged from fantastic to the forgettable. With no views whilst dining, it felt underwhelming given its £55-60 per head. For dining with a great view, go to The Shard. Fenchurch Street gets a B rating.
Photos of Fenchurch Street and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: B
Final comment: Good British meal in a quirky setting, but it does come at a price.
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