Pollen Street Social, 8 Pollen Street, London W1S 1NQ

Pollen Street Social, 8 Pollen Street, London W1S 1NQ
19/05/2012

http://www.pollenstreetsocial.com/

She said…We found ourselves hungry for lunch in Mayfair after visiting a gallery and remembered that we wanted to try the Pollen Street Social. After glancing at the menu at the entrance I wanted to go somewhere else (mains start at £26) but then he noticed the set price menu of three courses for £25 so we went in. After you wander through a smaller room where the bar is located you enter a beautiful, fine dining room with soft leather banquettes, white table cloths, bulbous lighting and a sense of calm. We were one of the first to be seated for lunch and were presented with the a la carte, a special vegetarian menu and the fixed price menu. After we ordered, we were brought fresh, warm breads and an amuse bouche which consisted of delicious green olives and some sort of cod-based buttery spread which was compulsive. For my starter I chose an asparagus salad with tomatoes in a warm tomato juice; when it arrived I didn’t know whether to eat it or frame it – the presentation was stunning with edible flowers and the salad presented as a work of art. It tasted fantastic. For my main course I ordered cod which came with a caper sauce, smooth mash and some thick honey which combined perfectly again satisfying with every spoon. We were then invited to the ‘desert bar’; which involved sitting at a bar where we could watch the various restaurant deserts being prepared. Even though we had gone for the cheaper set menu option we were given a palate cleanser of passion fruit and lime ice cream, followed by a pineapple granita. At first I thought they hadn’t realised we were the set menu folk but then they took our order and I had the most beautifully presented chocolate pave in an orange sauce which again was perfect, accompanied by a big pot of tea. Complimentary warm, mini sponge cakes filled with some sort of honey or toffee came with the bill and despite being completely full, I enjoyed every mouthful. Pollen Street Social is a wonderful place. The food, setting and service all came together to deliver a great dining experience. The glass kitchen was fun to look into and see the army of staff at work. I would only say that next time I would stay at our dining table for the deserts. The bar was fun to watch but much busier and less comfortable than the laid back dining area.

He said… Wow. This place is really, really good. There had been so much buzz about it that, I confess, I had mixed feelings about going; yes, I’m that kind of guy, who goes right if someone says left. We ate here on a whim: no booking, no prep; just happened to be walking past, hungry, and (me, at least) looking pretty shabby. The hostess didn’t even blink at my t-shirt and flip flops, and took us straight to a good table (away from traffic/toilet) in a bright, quietly opulent but laid-back room. I remember this joint when it was a pub; they’ve thrown a lot of money at it, that’s for sure. Not that you would know it by the bill; Pollen Street Social turns out to be remarkably good value (lunch came out at about £35 each). Plenty has been written about the food here, so I’m not going to add my drop to that ocean of ink. It’s all true: it is very, very good. Very thoughtful combination of flavours, the freshest, seasonal ingredients, presented really well. What was really memorable for me was the generosity of this place; not necessarily the portion size (the food here is about flavour rather than fill-up) but the complimentary bits that came all the way through the meal including desert; and just the generosity of spirit overall. This is a place without pretence and attitude; it’s all about good food and good times. The only false note for me was the desert bar: you have the option to relocate here to mix things up a bit (and to free the table for the hordes desperate to eat here). On the face of it this is a good idea: you get to watch your desert being made for you, and look through the glass wall into the kitchen. The drawback is that you are right next to the kitchen, with lots of traffic. But it’s easily avoided – just say no thanks if asked, and keep your precious table. Pollen Street Social is definitely one of the best bets in London right now.