Harvey Nichols might not be the first place that pops into your head as a great dining option.
Designer gear, sure. A beauty section that just begs you to pull up a chair and have a makeover. A delicatessen that has some of the best olives for a dirty Martini in the city.
But behind the wines. Beyond the cakes and nibbles is actually a very good bar and a restaurant that for all it’s department store location, offers delicious food at excellent prices.
Take their Wine Dine and Sunshine deal. Myself and two friends fancied a little get together – but as we were all feeling the pinch post summer holidays, this three courses for £22, including starter cocktail was an absolute bargain. Now, admittedly, we probably didn’t have high hopes as to our food for this price. There are plenty of casual dining options that will set you back more than this, even without a cocktail as part of the menu, let alone a more formal restaurant.
The restaurant was quiet – certainly not unpleasantly so, but our expected dining compatriots of ‘ladies who lunch’, post shopping opportunists and even those just resting their feet from a heavy day of flexing the plastic were few and far between. Not that this was a bad thing – we had an unobstructed view of sunny skies, Exchange Square and that other large luxury department store next door.
Our cocktail was light and refreshing – a tangy mix Martini Bianco, Prosecco and lime, garnished with lime and mint – perfect for a warm summer evening. And let’s face it, we’ve only had a few of those.
As expected, the menu options were limited – three choices per course. Both of my companions chose the Heritage tomato with mozzarella, Thai basil, croutons and olive oil for their starters. Light, clean, fresh – the contrast between the fresh sweet acidity or the tomatoes and the mozzarella, and in texture of the cheese fruit and the mozzarella had taste buds tingling.
For myself, it had to be the bresaola with grilled peach, rocket and honey vinaigrette. Peaches are a definite weakness of mine and the soft, sweet, warm fresh with the richness saltiness of the meat and the peppery rocket was delicious. Simple but full of flavour.
Onto mains, and again we were split. Sea bass with artichoke risotto and pickled shimeji mushrooms was the chosen course of my dates. They loved the nutty, earthy risotto, the astringency of the mushrooms and the perfectly cooked fish.
As it wasn’t quite as summery as it could have been outside, I selected the chicken – roasted chicken with baby onions, bacon boulangere potatoes and lots of rich, warming gravy. I wanted soft, umami and it’s exactly what I got. Posh comfort food.
For dessert, there was an altogether different kind of split. Sweet versus savoury.
The sweet selected was almost a deconstructed Black Forest gateux. Chocolate crumb, chocolate ganache, cherry sorbet and Cherry Heering were piled elegantly on the plate. As one of my dining companions was all but silent for the whole of the dessert, I can only presume that it was delicious.
For me and my other date, as ever the cheese board called. With sweet fruity quince jelly, a tiny pot of summer fruit chutney and home made oat biscuits, we were in a very happy place. The only way we’d have been more satisfied would have been with more cheese, but bearing in mind we were paying £22 per head for all of this, to grumble would be churlish. And I do try hard not to be churlish, especially when there is cheese in front of me.
Overall we had a lovely evening – not only down to the great company (thank you ladies) but also the lovely service and fabulous food. Yes, it’s not the restaurant you’d think of for dinner, or date night. But you know, maybe it should be on the list.
This meal, addiitonal wine and tip was paid for by ourselves.