And now for some tasty news: we think a waterside restaurant off York Way is doing the best lunch deal in the capital right now.
We stumbled across it this week while in King’s Place, where posters trilled an appealing 50% off Rotunda’s lunchtime set menu in Jan. That means instead of the usual hefty £19.50 a head, it’s a highly respectable £9.75 – for two courses of top seasonal modern British cooking, which we have paid full price for and enjoyed on numerous occasions over the years. We had, of course, to try it.
After a little difficulty in checking that the offer was actually running – the waiter seemed uncertain and kept telling us (wrongly) that £19.50 was already half price – we got the green light. So while they’re not exactly shouting about it, it exists if you ask (it’s also flagged up on flyers on the tables).
There’s a tiny but tempting choice of just three starters and three mains. Sicilian-inspired stuffed sardines with pine nuts, tomato and black olive salsa happily recalled a Mediterranean summer – on what was actually a freezing January lunchtime. Spiced lentils, on the other hand, were packed with cumin and topped with a soft poached free range egg, wintry and warming.
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Despite the bargainous price, there was really no scrimping on portion sizes, either. A grease-free boat of fluffy moist haddock – light as a feather – arrived in crunchy batter, with textural, moreish mushy peas, and skinny fries. Best of all? A Josper-grilled lamb T-bone: rosy and juicy, it was accompanied by richly smoked lamb ragu, a butternut squash puree and creamy garlic mash. That’s the one we’d return for (if we have time).
Sure, there are some amazing deals to be had everywhere this month, but this has to be one of the best in the capital.
The downside is that it only runs until Jan 30. But why not take a leisurely lunch break next week and sample this underrated King’s Cross destination – on the cheap?
