EXCEPTIONAL FOOD & A LAID BACK ATMOSPHERE.
Social Eating House was the third restaurant in the ever-growing Jason Atherton empire and won a Michelin star within 6 months of opening. It has been successfully producing great dishes for over 5 years now, hence I was eager to see if it was still hitting those early heights.
The welcome into the restaurant was friendly and the service made you feel at ease. There is a purposeful design to the venue and menu to remove any pretentiousness.
I must mention the freshly baked bread and smoked butter that was placed on our table as we perused the drinks menu. This was ideal to help get the chill off from the early winter weather outside.
Credit: Social Eating House
The highlight course for me was the Cured Hampshire Chalk Stream trout, beetroot, horseradish, crème fresh and fennel. This fish was so delicate and was matched brilliantly by the accompaniments.
The Cornish cod, smoked bacon, celeriac, mustard, truffle, leeks and buttermilk was perfectly balanced and maximised the flavour from each element on the plate. To end the meal, I had a ‘Blackberry cheesecake’ feuille de brick, balsamic caramel, blackberry sorbet and blackberry cheese. Being a fan of sharp and sour tastes I was satisfied with the dessert. However, for some people it may have lacked a little sweetness.
Social Eating House has a number of flexible menu options. The Pre Theatre Menu offers 3 Courses for £28 – this is particularly great value for a Michelin starred restaurant. There is also a 5 Course Tasting Menu with Champagne for £75. For those looking for a bit more of an unusual dining experience, the restaurant offers an exclusive chef’s counter dining space in the kitchen. This option places you at the heart of the kitchen and a tasting menu is available at £85 per person.
Credit: Social Eating House
It’s worth noting that there is the Blind Pig cocktail bar on the first floor. This would be a great place to have a few pre or post dinner drinks. This bar offers playful and creative cocktails including Apples & Pears (Apple and gooseberry shrub, Cider brandy, Poire, 30&40 Eau de Vie, Sassy Pear Cider) and Rhubarb and Custard (Rhubarb wine, Martini Bitter, English vermouth, Hayman’s Sloe, Custard and Wafer). The prices range between £11.50 and £14 which is quite typical for this part of town.
“THE MOST RELAXED MICHELIN STARRED RESTAURANT I HAVE BEEN TO”
This is the most relaxed Michelin star restaurant I have been to and think the industry should take note of this simple formula – exceptional food and a laid back atmosphere. I appreciated there are those who like the white cloth fine dining spectacle, and it is no doubt suitable for certain occasions. However, sometimes you want the top quality cooking without the pomp and ceremony that often comes with it. In this instance you need to get down to Social Eating House.
58 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 7NR
020 7993 3251
socialeatinghouse.com
Nearest Tube Station: Oxford Circus / Piccadilly Circus
Article By: Gurpreet Singh
