Review: Sanderson London
Dining al fresco is something I tend to avoid. Hayfever, buzzing creatures and, usually, the obligation to eat food from a Barbecue are not things I consider desirable in a dining setup.
However, ignoring my initial gut feeling, I walked myself down toSanderson in central London. The hotel recently welcomed the incomparable top chef Allan Pickett who has been serving up his divine sounding summer menu to guests who are seated in the outside dining area.
Admittedly, upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised by the setup of the outside area. Lines of small tables with a minimalistic place settings sat on two sides of a pretty area with greenery, a hanging chair and a water feature. There was something about it that felt very spa-esque, and I'm a definite spa fan.
Upon being seated, we noticed that the ceiling was lined with outside lamp heaters; something which came in useful later on when the cool summer breeze picked up in momentum. The waiting staff also offer pashminas to pop over your pins, which I thought was a unique and charming touch.
We decided to browse the cocktail menu instead of the wine list, and chose two different fruity drinks. The Margarita I was handed a prompt 5 minutes later was, hand on heart, one of the best I'd ever had. My friend, who is more of a gin girl (and who wretches at even the sight of tequila) picked a cucumber mixed beverage which she enjoyed equally as much.
The staff at The Sanderson were all incredibly friendly, and eager to share their personal recommendations from the menu. While I opted for starter with crab and rice on a bed of watermelon, my dining partner chose a summer salad. Both were excellent. I often tend to avoid starters as I find them heavy and too filling. The crab dish, however, was perfectly light but sufficient in size.
Next we chose our main courses. Duck is my favourite meat, so naturally I went for that, while my friend chose the guinea foul. Both meats were succulent and cooked to perfection. The seasoning and dressing that accompanied our meals were matched perfectly, and the size of the dish was just right. If I was being ultra-critical (which, I'm ashamed to say, I often am) the duck could have been served in slightly thinner slabs.
For dessert I picked a strawberry tart with pistachio and elderflower accompanying flavours, which all worked very well together. The textures were great too, and I didn't have any of that awkward tough tart crust shooting-off-the-plate business. Kirstie, who is slightly citrus crazy, went for a lemon sponge with accompanying fruit. Upon eating her first spoonful, she transformed into a bit of a food critic, noting that the texture was "exceptionally moist", the flavour was "perfection" and the plate was decorated "flawlessly". It must have been good.
The whole experience made for a rather perfect evening. The location was sweet, the food was delicious and the staff were attentive and helpful. It's fair to say I may have changed my mind on al fresco dining…
