This week saw us heading to a local bar the Lady Ottoline in Bloomsbury. This has been on Franc’s wishlist for a very long time, so it was high time we went there. Joining us on the quest are Darren, Franc, Roland, a very pregnant Vera and baby Bethany, Matthieu and Alice.
History Lesson
Lady Ottoline Violet Anne Morrell (16 June 1873 – 21 April 1938) was an English aristocrat and society hostess. Her patronage was influential in artistic and intellectual circles, where she befriended writers such as Aldous Huxley, Siegfried Sassoon, T. S. Eliot and D. H. Lawrence, and artists such as Mark Gertler, Dora Carrington and Gilbert Spencer.
The Pub
http://www.theladyottoline.com/
The Lady Ottoline boasts an extensive choice of drinks including four ales and two lagers on tap and more that 100 world wines. The food menu at The Lady Ottoline offers dishes made using fresh and locally sourced produce.
Lady Ottoline
Sunday Menu can be seen here http://www.theladyottoline.com/?page_id=145 and I am really liking the idea of the chicken liver parfait, the mixed roast (nomnom pork, beef, lamb and chicken) , and then it is a toss up with crème brulee and the STP.
What others are saying
Disclaimer. The views hereafter are not representative of the Quest for a Sunday Roast or any member of the Quest team
“Went here for a friend’s birthday and it was great. Had a large table in the pub for Sunday lunch and we were looked after so well. The roast I had was fantastic and the service was friendly and attentive. Can totally recommend.” www.timeout.com “Went here last Sunday, great service and the food was amazing. We will be back.” www.timeout.com “I liked everything about this restaurant (I got a table in the pub area). The food was excellent and the staff was so warm and helpful. They especially were great to let me try several different wines (and ultimately suggesting a moderately priced Nero d’avola) that complemented my meal perfectly. Great experience and even though I am in London for work for only one more week I am definitely going back before I head home to the states.” www.timeout.com “Beautifully and stylishly reburbished, it creates a cosy but relaxed and sophisticated setting. The food is high-quality gastropub food, and not too expensive. There’s a much greater range of bottled beer than draught, and a good wine list with good quality lower-priced options. The staff are super-friendly. It’s the perfect place when you’re just a bit too tired to go home and cook for yourself.” www.squaremeal.com“I had a blinding Sunday lunch here yesterday, as recomended by a friend who works in the area, I had the mixed roast the beef was buttery pork melt in your mouth and the chicken was nice and tender, best roast i’ve had for a long time, the only down side was the red cabbage although beautifully spiced not appropriate for the start of April Gastro pubs should know better.” www.viewlondon.co.uk “In less than a month, this place has already achieved it’s aim of being the best pub in the local area. Indeed, the definition of ‘local area’ needs to be expanded as this is a gastropub worth crossing town for. An enticing menu which exceeded any prior expectations upon delivery of each course, very friendly and attentive service, and a tastefully refurbished venue will make this THE hot new place to check out.”www.viewlondon.co.uk
So all well and good there then. Almost all the reviews are positive and, going into the pub, so are we.
Need to Know
So waking up on the Sunday morning I checked the email confirmation to find out that:
- There are no children permitted in the dining room. I am thinking this is the first floor dining room. We had Bethany with us.
- The dining room is on the first floor and we had Alice joining us. Alice currently walks with sticks as she goes through physiotherapy. I didn’t specify eating in the bar when I put in the registration.
- Anyone booking table after 8 only gets a 2 hour sitting max.
Initial Thoughts
The Lady Ottoline
Lovely breezy space, two floors, clean, jazz, welcoming polite staff and newspapers (shame Sue isn’t here as she would love it)
Happy, family venue, downstairs anyway unless your kids are all grown up. Music is cute, akin to Amelie soundtrack and not at an offensive volume. I am liking this place and the food going by looked amazing.
Tom Sturridge and Sienna Miller on the next table which is kinda cool.
The Food
Appetisers
(From left to right – Asparagus Benedict – Alice, Scotch Egg – Roland and Vera, Soup of the Day – Francoise and Matt, Venison tartar – Darren)
Mains
(From left to right – Mixed roast (Beef, pork and chicken) – Darren, Vera, Roland, Matt, beef – Francoise and Alice)
And a new photo selection – the Bethany kids menu – On this occasion roast chicken
Dessert
(From left to right – Burnt lemon tart – Alice, Roland and Vera, Eton Mess – Francoise, STP with caramel sauce – Darren)
Observations and Comments (Collective and Individual)
- The toilet it is downstairs which is glorious. There are little hooks by the basins which are for handbags which is cool, even if you don’t have one – Francoise
- Nice hand soap and cream although the gents stank of mildew – Darren
- Francoise – mmmmm when tasting Darren’s tartar
- That’s good – Alice when tasting darren’s tarter
- How is it? – Darren
- It’s delicious – Francoise on her soup
- It’s good – Alice, the Hollandaise is very good, the asparagus is only peeled at the bottom which is perfect the egg is deep fried, it’s the scotch egg with the sausage
- Darren – great venison tartar
- Scotch egg was quite nice – Roland
- It’s really nice – Vera It’s really good. Outside is really crunchy and the sausage has been marinated in something – Vera
- This was nice but a bit to salty – Matt
- The food here is already better than the other place – meaning the Electricity Showroom – Matt
- Yeah, but it cost 4 times as much – Alice
- Sunday roast is not a summer meal – Francoise
- This is undoubtedly my favourite roast of 2012 – Darren
- Long gap between starter and main – matt echoing alice, although I was happy to have a gap – Darren
- Apple sauce, horse radish and mint sauce – really nice touch – Darren
- Mixed roast – beef, really tender, a lovely piece of meat. Pork was great, crunchy skin, perfect. Chicken, on the bone, which is a no no for me normally – Darren
- I think the potatoes are really good – Alice
- I think this is a really good one – Roland
- Chicken with skin, even on children’s menu. – Darren don’t really like that. Saying that, arguably the best chicken I have eaten
- I like that there are a lot of green veg – Francoise
- Broad beans have had the sacks removed which is a labour intensive bean dish – which is good – Alice
- Potatoes are awesome, beef is a little done for my taste, happy with my food – Alice
- This is really nice – Matt
- Thumbs up from Vera – this fulfills the humans desire for a Sunday roast
- I did quite like the roast – I have no particular comments but they did it very well 4 for food 4 for atmosphere as it wasn’t expensive – Roland
- Heavily pregnant Vera had a baby mummy moment with Sienna Miller – both rubbing bellies
- Oh my goodness – Vera on my stp
- That is amazing – Alice on my stp
- Yup, everyone loves my dessert – Darren
- Roland – I thought the dessert was nice but it wouldn’t change my score
- Mine was not life changing – Francoise
- Service was slow – Alice
- I tend not to notice if service is slow because Bethany demands our service – Roland
- Vera – Bathroom is really clean, no baby changing room but it was really clean
- Franc score – It was nice but had no character. It was new, too perfect. Your character cannot come from pictures on the wall.
Scores
Afterword
Okay, I really liked this place. It is leaps and bounds ahead of the places we have eaten at this year and it is justifiably in the lead for the much coveted Quest For A Sunday Roast certificate (currently held by The Red Lion and Sun, The Gun and The Well). Francoise thought the place lacked character but I think she may be thinking of dirt, as this place was impeccably clean. I did like it, and I think with the three courses, really nice staff, celebrity sighting, loos etc that we may have even scored it a little low. Still, I have to ask the questions – would I go back? Absolutely! Would I recommend the Lady Ottoline? Definitely, and I will as soon as I can hit the Twitter button.
All in, a lovely pub, with great food, ambiance and…. well, you get the picture. How would Bethany, our own little monster score it?
