Pollen Street Social* – London

Pollen Street Social: ‘A contemporary Bistro serving great gastronomical food creations’

Chef: Jason Atherton

Restaurant ‘Pollen Street Social’ was one of that kind on my priority list for the latest London visit together with Dabbous, Viajante & Dinner by Heston. I found out about this restaurant through the blog Gourmet Traveller where a set of amazing pictures caught our attention. Although a lot of fancy restaurants close between Christmas and New Year in London we were lucky in getting a table at Pollen Street Social. The restaurant is located in London’s Mayfair area. For shopping freaks this is close to Regent & Bond Street.

Chef Jason Atherton wanted to create a new flow of going out for dinner. His long list of cooking experience passed also restaurant El Bulli and mainly the various stables of Gordon Ramsey. We expected some fireworks after a Ramsey period! Very quick this chef won praise with his concept from many foodies and restaurant critics. No wonder he got quick various awards and even a first Michelin star lighted up in Pollen Street.

Jason Altherton

Jason Atherton

You can eat à la carte but we had the 8 court tasting menu (79£) as we wanted to explore as much of Atheron’s cooking as possible. There is also a long bar for cocktails and tapas or you can enjoy a dessert bar for late delights. The restaurant interior attracts with a very spacious and modern design, a wooden floor, modern lightning and some artwork lifts up the atmosphere. You could say relaxed seating but meanwhile a place full of action. The ‘Social’ touch was given creating a no-nonsense place while enjoying culinary fun.

Pollen Street Social

Pollen Street Social

I started my English Bistronomie exploring with a Hendrick’s dry Gin. As first amuse we were served some pork skin crunch with an apple & mustard dip sauce. Delicious!

Pork skin

Pork skin crunch

Pollen Street Social has a well-balanced wine list and the French lady sommelier was excellent in assisting with our wine choice, a great St Chinian Les Schistes from Borie La Vitarele.

British Nature: Sea & Farm or gambas tartare with Romney Marsh lamb and sauce gribiche

Britisch Nature

British Nature

English Breakfast or scrambled egg with potato foam, tomato and bacon crunch

English breakfast@dinner

English breakfast@dinner

Cornish crab vinaigrette, Nashi pear, cauliflower, peanut frozen powder

Crab

Crab-pear-cauliflower

Orkney sea scallop sashimi with wasabi, inspired by his 2012 trip to Japan

Sea scallop

Sea scallop & wasabi

Cornish turbot, cauliflower & cheese purée, seaweed salt, cauliflower & clam chowder

Turbot & clam chowder

Turbot & clam chowder

Black Angus fillet, miso egg plant, roasted salsify & charred onions

Black Angus beef

Black Angus beef

Pear sorbet with walnut, aerated Poire Williams

Pear sorbet

Pear sorbet

Asian mango pudding, mango sorbet, yoghurt & freeze-dried mango

Mango

Mango

Pollen Street Social serves an experience, a real fun meal full of inventive cuisine. Our table was too close to the entrance door, which bothered a little because of the wind. Although the desserts were a bit less we had an amazing and delicious dinner full of exciting culinary moments. Pollen Street Social is worth a re-visit and definitely one to watch!

Be-Gusto

Pollen Street Social
10 Pollen Street, City of London, Gretaer London W1S 1NQ
TEl: +44 20 7290 7600
www.pollenstreetsocial.com
Sunday closed
Be-Gusto score: 16/20

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