Chiswell Street Dining Rooms

Culinary Creativity and Exquisite Ingredients Shine

Nestled amidst the bustling streets near the Barbican lies Chiswell Street Dining Rooms, a restaurant with a slightly dichotomous nature as though it's caught between epochs — combining nostalgia with forward-thinking culinary flair. Entering its tastefully refurbished space, one could immediately appreciate the elegant ambiance of the dining room, alive with soft light and muted elegance. The restaurant exudes an inviting charm, particularly elevated during quieter times when it graciously accommodates last-minute diners seeking refuge from the fully-booked Côte nearby. Nevertheless, there lingers an air of flatness around the bar area, suggesting the need for more vibrancy or bravado to match the culinary skill displayed in the kitchen.

The spirit of the menu dances somewhere between traditional indulgence and modern innovation — a real treat for any connoisseur. Highlights of this visit included the charming Isle of Wight Tomato salad, which combined stracciatella cheese, pesto, and olives into a harmonious composition of bright, refreshing flavor. It’s difficult not to wax poetic about the Salt Marsh Lamb cutlets, cooked to a whisper of perfection — juicy, tender, and unapologetically flavorful. Exquisite is perhaps an understatement. Desserts, especially the sticky toffee pudding, carry their own tale of gooey sumptuousness. Though the service occasionally verges on being too inquisitive, the commitment to ensuring everything is 'alright' is proof of a diligent, if somewhat overzealous team. Despite a few missteps such as sporadic communication lapses and exorbitant drink pricing that tarnished the experience somewhat, Chiswell Street Dining Rooms ultimately retains a reassuring grip on outstanding gastronomy, steadfast in its resolve to deliver excellence on a plate. — Nigel Gourmet