It was New Year Eve daytime and after a full on morning scouring Peter Jones and the White Company for bargains we were a touch peckish. We hadn't planned to eat out but my lovely wife suggested we pop in to Botanist. I am always a bit wary about places near Sloane Square as they can be very pricey and there is more style on display than substance. However the Botanist was to prove me wrong. The decor was indeed smart but there was a nice airiness to both the bar and the dining room making you feel relaxed upon entering.
We popped in at 12 for the start of the lunch service it was quiet but soon filled up. They thoughtfully gave us a table by the window with plenty of room. My arm was still up in a sling so I was a bit worried about what I would eat easily. However they had a macaroni cheese on the menu and I thought it would be ideal to eat with one hand and a good way to see if the kitchen was as impressive as the decor. My wife wanting to chase away the cold outside went for the same. The dish was extremely good, well cooked pasta, nice cheese sauce and a gratin on top off cheese and breadcrumbs which drew out any oiliness from the dish. It was really tasty and a bargain at £11.
This was so nice we thought why not treat ourselves to desert. I went for a very nice triffle which though good was perhaps a little too modern for me. My wife went for one of their ice cream sundays which was resolutly old school and all the better for it, a superb blend of strawberry, vanilla, chocolate pieces and cream. It looked great and it tasted even better. This was really good lunch in a fun restaurant. The service was very good, friendly and helpful. The bill was reasonable for the standard of food we had. We had a great time and I now don't mind going up to Peter Jones so much.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
This is a nice place that gets busy with the Made In Chelsea wannabes, don't let that put you off though!