When I worked in London I was based in the Notting Hill / Holland park area. It’s far from shabby with some really cool little spots dotted in and around. Portobello market on the weekends is also buzzing and a fab place for a lazy Saturday morning of people watching! I’ve got to be honest though, I just never thought I was quirky enough to live around that area. Everyone there is super stylish, artistic, and ‘cool’ and I’m much more of “I’m starving, let’s eat” and find the quickest piece of clothing I can, kinda girl!
Despite this, it is without a doubt a great evening spot for drinks or dinner. It’s a close second to my favourite go-to ‘night-out’ just a little further east on the central line; Bank. I actually wouldn’t choose to live in Bank nor have I worked there but the bars and restaurants are right up my street. If you want that city vibe on a Thursday or Friday night after work, you can guarantee it will be a hive of activity, especially when the sun is out. I had 2 weeks in London before flying to Spain and it was pretty much a given that as much of that time possible would be spent with my better half – my sister (sorry, Jack). There is just something about spending time with the person who is closest to you – how things have changed since we used to pull out each other’s hair, destroy the other ones’ dolls and fight over boyfriends. Good times.
We are both passionate about food and always interesting in seeking out cool and new places to eat with delicious menus. Luckily in Bank you’d be hard-pressed to walk even half a mile without finding somewhere that fits the bill!
Upon her recommendation, we went to check out a place that I hadn’t been before. Just a minutes walk away from Bank tube station lies Coq d’Argent. It describes itself as a rooftop French brasserie and didn’t fall short of the amazing pictures I had scoured online beforehand. It has an outside garden area that overlooks the City and is a perfect location for summer drinking and dining.
Out of the lift lands you directly in the bar, a place buzzing with suited and booted 25-35 year olds, drinking vino and sipping on summer cocktails. It’s clearly a hot spot for after work drinks – duly noted. The restaurant itself is ideal for a romantic evening; the tables are far enough apart to feel secluded and I literally sank into the comfy chairs that fall under the white table cloths – the right balance of refined and relaxed.
It’s not a surprise that the food was delicious, and made even better by the fact that the service was impeccable. I swear for every table there was one waiter – sometimes I think that’s too much but actually it’s such a big space it works well. For starters, we had a goats cheese parcel with a cumin and honey dressing, and formans London smoked salmon with condiments and Melba toast. The condiments worked really well to cut through the smoky flavour of the fish and the salmon was excellent quality. The goats cheese parcel looked like a beautifully wrapped present – the flakey, crunchy pastry and the creamy cheese offered two completely different yet complimentary textures.
(Please note these images aren’t the exact dishes we had, unfortunately the light in the evening wouldn’t have done them justice – but the foodie in me needs to share these with you as they are too good to hide! All Coq d’Argent’s own dishes)
The sea bass with artichoke and fennel was a light main course with delicate flavours and perfectly cooked. I had the yellowfin tuna with ratatouille and basil pesto dressing. Just a note, pay attention to how you ask for your fish cooked. I asked for rare…and boy did they deliver! I actually try to make a point with steaks and good quality fish to stress I like it rare because I find things quite frequently overcooked. However, on this occasion I should have trusted the chefs and asked for ‘pink’ because it was a tad rare for me – completely my fault! However because of the first class quality of the tuna, it was still delicious and OK to eat.
By the time it got to dessert we were starting to struggle for room but they were worth waiting for. The macaroons were typically French and beautifully light, and exactly what you need to finish off a meal – this is also quite a nice option to have when you want something sweet but not filling. I found the ‘Verrine d’abricot’ (effectively a beautifully deconstructed apricot crumble) not so much to my liking, the lavender ‘balls’ were too overpowering for the apricot and also quite hard on my teeth. The star of the desserts for me was the ‘Pomme Verte.’ A completely unique and exciting take on an apple parfait which was made to look exactly like a granny smith apple, all edible. It’s the head chef, Damien Rigollet’s own creation and thoroughly enjoyed it!
A memorable evening with excellent food. It’s a shame we didn’t come earlier to enjoy more of the rooftop bar but my recommendation would be to make a night of it and come for the whole experience, inside and out.
For bookings at Coq d’Argent, please go to their website or call the number below:
Website: http://www.coqdargent.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7395 5000
You can also have a look at their set menu here.
