Caravan King’s Cross Restaurant Review

Posted by Emyr Thomas

Caravan King’s Cross, the second outpost of Caravan Restaurant on Exmouth Market, opened in King’s Cross in August 2012, located in the Grade II-listed Granary Building, behind King’s Cross Station and St Pancras International.

The interiors reflect the area’s Victorian industrial heritage, which exudes a cool, current vibe with low hanging lighting, exposed brick work and reclaimed furniture.

On our evening visit, the atmosphere was spot on, with an excellent buzz. Caravan is known for its coffee, and the coffee roastery sets the scene at the back of the restaurant.

The restaurant has 80 covers and serves a menu of ‘food well-travelled’, from breakfast and weekend brunch through to lunch and dinner, with outside seating for 40 people on Granary Square

The evening menu includes a large selection of small plates, a section called ‘Bread, Cheese, Meats’, a handful of large plates and a new pizza menu that can also be ordered for take away.

The highlights on our visit were the small plates, including ‘Goat’s curd, nectarine, braised onion and pine nuts’, with the nectarine working surprisingly well with the curd; the ‘Chorizo and butternut squash croquettes’, which succeeded in being crisp on the outside and unbelievably smooth on the inside, with no need for the accompanying saffron aioli; and polenta-like grits, which came with girolles, Pecorino and subtle truffle oil.

The original Caravan excelled in its weekend brunch, featuring in Bon Vivant’s guide to the best brunch in London, and I really can’t wait to return to try out the new brunch menu at Caravan King’s Cross.

Being a big fan of the original site, I know how much the owners have put into both restaurants and it was great to see them at the King’s Cross site with a mix of relief and pride that the restaurant was already full only 2 weeks in – on our first visit, it will surely be a resounding success.

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The Best Brunch in London

Posted by Emyr Thomas

The best part of a weekend has to be long, lingering brunch with family or friends. Here are Bon Vivant’s suggestions for the best brunch in London.

Caravan, Clerkenwell

Caravan offers a weekend brunch menu to rival any in London in a relaxed and effortlessly cool setting on Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell. The New Zealand influenced restaurant has its own coffee roaster, so flat whites are very popular too.

The open plan layout and double facing glassed front make this an ideal location for enjoying a vibrant part of London. Caravan has a second outpost on Granary Square behind King’s Cross station, Caravan King’s Cross, both of which serve some of the best coffee in London.

Hawksmoor, Shoreditch

Although more widely known for being one of London’s best steakhouses, Hawksmoor is fast becoming renowned for its weekend brunch menu offering a mammoth Hawksmoor Full English for two people to share and roast beef with all the trimmings available on Sundays.

The Modern Pantry, Clerkenwell

Anna Hansen’s acclaimed Clerkenwell restaurant The Modern Pantry serves an excellent weekend brunch in light, bright surroundings on a beautiful square in Clerkenwell, claimed by many to offer the best brunch in London.

The restaurant also has a large terrace to make the most of the sunshine in the summer months, making The Modern Pantry one of the best alfresco restaurants in London.

Cecconi’s, Mayfair

Serving fine Italian food from the morning until the early hours, Cecconi’s is a perfect spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch and a great way to break up a day’s shopping on nearby Bond Street.

Cecconi’s is fun and glamorous, with a real buzz about the place – and Prosecco on tap in never a bad thing, especially for a weekend brunch.

The Wolseley, Mayfair

The Wolseley has maintained its place as one of London’s chicest destination for breakfast, with businessmen and fashionistas flocking there for the grand dining room and people watching.

The Wolseley is one of the classic restaurants in London for a power breakfast meeting and certainly offers some of the best brunch in London.

34 Restaurant

The new brunch menu at 34 Restaurant offers eggs with a twist – lobster, crab, grilled asparagus, black pudding, smoked salmon, chorizo and much more. Grills include spatchcock chicken, pork belly, swordfish and steak; and brunch staples like buttermilk pancakes, pasta and Caesar salad are also available.

A Sunday roast with all the trimmings is available for Sunday brunch.

The Delaunay, Aldwych

The Delaunay, sister restaurant to The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel from restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, sits on the corner of Drury Lane and Aldwych.

The restaurant is open seven days a week – until midnight from Monday to Saturday and 11pm on Sunday – serving breakfast, afternoon tea, and à la carte lunch and dinner menus ‘inspired by the grand cafés of Europe’. They also serve some of the best brunch in London.

Riding House Café

The team behind the acclaimed Garrison and Village East in Bermondsey opened the Riding House Café, an all day Brasserie offering a selection of small plates to share as well as traditional main courses in Fitzrovia. The restaurant has a great vibe and a ‘buzzy’ bar area too.

Pizza East, Shoreditch

Housed in the Tea Building, adjacent to Shoreditch House, Pizza East forms part of the Soho House Group, where the vibe is a cool mix of American and Italian. While the menu focuses on pizzas, including a full English breakfast pizza, the menu does offer more traditional brunch items as well.

Dean Street Townhouse, Soho

Dean Street Townhouse serves classic British cuisine from first thing in the morning until the early hours. The weekend brunch menu offers a full range of breakfast classics as well as a traditional Sunday roast. The pitchers of Bloody Mary are always popular too!

York & Albany

A short stroll from Regents Park you’ll find Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany, housed in a converted coaching inn. After brunch, you can visit the adjoining deli, Nonna’s, to purchase items to take home with you, or you could even check in to one of the bedrooms in the hotel upstairs.

Lantana

This delightful coffee house is nestled down a lane in Fitzrovia. Lantana’s Australian ownership is reflected in the brunch style dishes, flat whites and relaxed atmosphere.

The cakes are particularly good and breakfast dishes always delight. Lantana offers some of the best brunch in London.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club, just off Upper Street in Islington, offers a casual, quirky environment for a weekend brunch. Serving a range of classic brunch dishes, from pancakes to eggs Benedict, at an affordable price, the café is very popular, so expect to queue!

Fifteen London, Old Street

Fifteen London is the flagship of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen group, which aims to give opportunities to disadvantaged youngsters. An emphasis is placed on making everything in-house and particular praise must be given to the homemade jam, which alone is a reason for visiting.

Saturday Jazz Brunch at Le Caprice

Le Caprice has launched its Saturday Jazz Brunch featuring the musical styling of Dom Pipkin. Best known for his soulful New Orleans sound, Dom has played sessions with the likes of Ray Davies and Morcheeba, and is currently the man leading the band for Paloma Faith. Saturday Jazz Brunch happens twice a month from 12.30pm to 4pm.

Apero at The Ampersand Hotel, South Kensington

Set in the bright and airy cellar arches of The Ampersand Hotel, Apero brings a stylish and satisfyingly gentle twist to a weekend brunch.

The menu covers pretty much all the classic choices, from the Full English Breakfast, Grilled Kippers and Eggs Benedict to some slightly more adventurous alternatives such as O’Sheas Beef Onglet and Fried Egg, Beetroot Risotto or Pancakes with honeycomb butter and caramalised banana.

There’s also an excellent selection of cocktails and mocktails. The feel is relaxed, fresh and crisp; with glossy white tiles, beautiful teal and navy leather seating and dark wood finishes.

London’s top hotels are also well known for their brunch offerings, including Helene Darroze’s champagne brunch at The Connaught and the St John Hotel on Leicester Square is popular for their the ‘Breakfast Buns’.

If you liked this top 10 feature on the best brunch in London, why not read our guide to the most romantic restaurants in London, the best cocktail bars in London or the best alfresco restaurants in London?

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Best Restaurant Openings of the First Half of 2010

Posted by Bon Vivant

Emyr Thomas, founder of Bon Vivant, a concierge and lifestyle management company in London, shares his thoughts on some of the best restaurants that have already opened in London during the first half of 2010.

Bar Boulud, Knightsbridge

Daniel Boulud, one of the most coveted chefs in the US, has opened his first restaurant in the UK at the Mandarin Oriental with Bar Boulud, which was already a big success across the pond. The room may lack real character, but the mix of rustic French brasserie fare and a New York style buzz has been an instant hit. With almost universal praise for the charcuterie boards and the burgers, Bar Boulud has certainly made its mark.

Caravan, Clerkenwell

From the former chef at The Providores, Caravan has been the surprise hit of the year. Offering a weekend brunch menu to rival any in London, along with an excellent evening menu that is ideal for sharing, Caravan is a relaxed and effortlessly cool newcomer on Exmouth Market. The New Zealand influenced restaurant has its own coffee roaster, so flat whites are very popular too.

Viajante, East London

Following the success of The Loft, his supperclub in Dalston, Nuno Mendes opened Viajante in Bethnal Green’s new town hall hotel earlier this year. Nuno’s cooking is described as experimental with echoes of the grand master, El Bulli, and while not every dish gets it just right, Viajante is seen as a breath of fresh air from a chef with real passion.

Bistrot Bruno Loubet, Clerkenwell

The Zetter hotel in Clerkenwell has welcomed Bruno Loubet back on to the London scene with his eponymous restaurant, Bistrot Bruno Loubet, having spent the last eight years in Australia.

The space may be a bit crammed, with tables packed in next to each other, but the crowds keep flocking here for the rustic French cooking with intense flavours.

Gauthier Soho, Soho

Alexis Gauthier, who achieved a Michelin star at Roussillon, has opened his eponymous restaurant at Lindsay House, once occupied by Richard Corrigan, in Soho. Gauthier’s cooking is classic French with a large focus on vegetables and, despite the rather sedate mood, the restaurant brings a touch of refined class to Soho.

Zucca, Bermondsey

Zucca is a bright and bustling modern Italian restaurant in Bermondsey, described by many as a River Café at half the price. The reasonable prices and generous portions mean that the restaurant is usually booked up, so book far in advance or try your luck on one of the stools at the bar.

Other Highlights

Other notable highlights include Koya, an affordable udon noodle restaurant in Soho, Roux at Parliament Square, Brasserie Joel at The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, Gordon Ramsay’s new Petrus and Paramount, the members’ club that has now opened its doors to us all.

Coming Soon

Heston Blumenthal’s first foray into the London restaurant scene will be at the Mandarin Oriental later this year with ‘Dinner’ by Heston, St John and Hawksmoor both have plans to roll out their brands at other sites in the West End in the autumn, The Savoy Grill will re-launch at The Savoy later in the year, and Pierre Koffman will open Koffman’s at the former Boxwood Café site at The Berkeley Hotel in mid July.

To make a reservation, please contact Bon Vivant on 0207 278 0642 or please visit http://www.bonvivant.co.uk