[Editors Note: Union Jacks Holborn, that features inwards this review is closing,
but the Covent Garden branch only a curt walk away yet serves the same food.]
Last calendar week I hopped on the develop upward to London to run into upward amongst my friend Katie who was inwards town from Los Angeles; nosotros used to sit down adjacent to each other inwards Ancient Greek Epic inwards Fall Quarter at UCLA. The in conclusion fourth dimension we'd had luncheon out together in addition to reviewed a eating seat nosotros went to Blue Plate Taco; something real 'LA' inwards Santa Monica. I'd been reading her go diary weblog she's been writing this Summer for friends in addition to family, in addition to I caught a stereotypical American persuasion close British nutrient non beingness equally good good. So, I decided this fourth dimension to a greater extent than or less we'd become for somewhere real English linguistic communication in addition to caput to Union Jacks, the most British of Jamie Oliver's restaurants for a real belatedly lite lunch. I took her to Ottolenghi's inwards Notting Hill for dessert. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 picayune potted British eating seat history of our nutrient revolution over the past times 10 or fifteen years or so, if y'all like.
Strangely for me, when I unremarkably start on the decor, lets start amongst the wine. While in that place were others listed, the real overstep of the carte was made upward totally of Chapel Down wines, local to me inwards Kent in addition to a vineyard I'm e'er real impressed by, therefore needless to nation this impressed me. I retrieve I kickoff tasted their wines when my friend came to the door for a dinner political party amongst a bottle of ane of their sparkling numbers, in addition to afterwards tasting it my Mother turned to a greater extent than or less in addition to told him to laissez passer a that to a daughter if he wanted to pull. Anyway, I went for a drinking glass of their Bacchus white, in addition to it was fresh, fruity in addition to rich, but yet perfect to become amongst fish pate in addition to chips; real versatile. Whenever y'all consider Chapel Down on a vino listing in addition to y'all desire to become 'Best Of British', drive it!
Instead of a large plate, equally it was quite a belatedly luncheon in addition to nosotros were non equally good hungry, nosotros both went for 'Small Plates' rather than larger ones, each amongst a side. I'd nation that they were similar large starters. Katie's looked fantastic in addition to real British, a spiral of Cumberland Sausage topped amongst a mustard sauce, sage in addition to crispy bacon.
For her side she had a broccoli, which looked similar it would entice fifty-fifty the staunches non broccoli eater, in addition to I intend nosotros both commented that amongst the roasted garlic, chilli in addition to lemon it reminded us of the modest plate of broccolini served upward at Gjelina on Abbot Kinney Boulevard inwards Los Angeles, the best vegetable I had inwards LA.
After lots of combat over if I should accept the Prawn Cocktail or the By-Catch Fish Fingers amongst my side of crinkly chips (which trounce out Jamie's Bread) I finally went for Smoked Wiltshire Trout Pate on Rye Bread, in addition to I did non regret my choice! The pate was rich, the perfect residuum of smoothen in addition to chunky, but non overwhelming. Very more-ish. The rye staff of life was thin, chunky, homemade in addition to the best rye I had ever tasted, nutty in addition to unique in addition to the pate in addition to the side were dredged inwards only the correct gustation in addition to amount of olive fossil oil to add together rather than detract from the dish. I desire this again, in addition to I desire to drive to recreate it at home.
I liked the decor in addition to I felt that I actually had to become dorsum ane time again for an level meal; to sample their pizzas, desserts in addition to most importantly the impressive cocktail listing to a greater extent than or less the bar area, perchance to play on the tabular array football game table? This was my kickoff foray into ane of Jamie Oliver's restaurants, but at ane time I've had such a nifty repast at Union Jacks, I've added his new(ish) Recipease inwards Notting Hill, ane of his Italians, his novel Diner, in addition to Fifteen to my 'Places To Eat In London' list. Barbecoa is already on there, in addition to has been for ever!