The Modern Pantry, London – Review
These days you need to head east and for all that is truly trendy in London living & fine fining. When artists and architects migrated to the city for more space and lower rent rather predictably so did media land – which is how EC1 became founder of the modern gastro pub, the vintage fashion fair and the home of contemporary design.
The Modern Pantry in St John`s square epitomises the spirit of this creative community. Just hop, skip and lunchtime jump from Alexander Mc Queens headquarter nestles its listed Georgian townhouse. The restaurant /café serves amazing cuisine throughout the day, it`s the perfect setting for that agency meeting or sophisticated date night. Wooden floorboards, simple furniture and soft farrow & ball muted tones lure diners into an informal sense of security- but don`t let that fool you. On closer inspection you`ll find everything is run to military perfection with sophisticated dishes all beautifully presented which considering the parentage this should come as no surprise. Anna Hansen is an award winning chef from New Zealand who`s been trailblazing the way is fusion food since the nineties. She`s impressed her peers and foodies for sometime time now and the Modern Pantry serves as a showcase for her flavoursome food.
With `grilled quail egg with pomegranate molasses` as a typical starter so you`d be forgiven for needing to as a few questions, I did and found the charming staff to be both helpful and informative. The highlight of my evening was a roast olive crusted halibut. Rested on a beetroot polenta and decorated with parsnip crisp it was both stunning to look and incredible to taste. My partners roast lamb was also exquisite, a rhubarb pickle and spicy chickpea relish made an otherwise traditional dish both exciting and delicious.
For those looking for inspirational cuisine, a stylish evening out and somewhere with guaranteed five star service please look no further than the Modern Pantry.
The Modern Pantry
48 Saint John’s Square
London EC1V 4JJ
020 7553 9210
