Allegra

"Allegra All of our previous visits to Allegra have been on a sunday so we thought it was about time to try the Tasting Menu which looks incredible value for money when you consider the quality we know they produce. So on Saturday lunchtime we did just that. After walking through the shopping centre you head to the Stratford Hotel and the oasis that is the seventh floor. Here you will find peace and tranquility and a fabulous way to spend an afternoon. We arrived on Saturday via their private lift on the ground floor which takes you straight to the restaurant. We were given a fabulous warm welcome before being escorted to our table. Now we could relax with the anticipation of great food , wine and service that we know Allegra provides. A complimentary glass of bubbles arrived from sommelier Seyit to welcome us back. The tasting menu was already on the table and consisted ten courses including snacks and petit fours for the amazing price of just £62. Even if you added the two supplement courses it would still be under one hundred pounds. Now on to the menu which started with a fantastic selection of Snacks. These were the Beef Tartare , green peppercorn and watercress tarts , Hazelnut and Onion gougeres , Focaccia with tomato , basil and parmesan from the menu. They also treated us to a couple of their classics in the Pistachio Choux buns and the Waldorf Tarts. We now needed some wine to pair with the majority of the menu and from their Bin End wine list sommelier Seyit recommended a Valdespino 2020 Palomino from Spain that was an absolute delight. Our first starter course was the Beetroot , winter leaves , blackberries and pecan a very interesting combination of flavours that worked together beautifully. This was followed be the second starter a heavenly Bouillabaisse with hake , mussels , fennel , croutons and basil. This led us to the supplemented Roasted Scallop with pickled celery , champagne and caviar which was literally one of the best scallop dishes I’ve ever tasted. Next to arrive was the Barbecued Monkfish with carrot , lardo , ginger and shellfish sauce that was simply a triumph. Now it was time for the main course and fantastic it was to . The Confit Lamb Breast with purple sprouting broccoli and anchovy dressing was delicious. We decided having tried it before not to have the second supplemented course of Parker House Rolls which I would definitely recommend. This meant it was now time for the amazing pastry chef Kelly to work her magic and she did not let us down in the slightest. We started with the pre dessert of Sour Cherry , buttermilk ice cream and olive oil before moving on to a dessert feast. Firstly from the menu a fabulous Rhubarb and Vanilla Tart. This was accompanied by two extra dishes newly created by Kelly. The Cherry and Chocolate Tart was a delight and the Orange and Caramel Mille Feuille was an absolute dream. We finished with a coffee and petit fours to bring to an end to a fantastic afternoon. The food was amazing , desserts were stunning , the wine was fabulous and the service was first class. When you consider that this tasting menu with one additional supplement dish was a mere £81 then it really was an exceptional dining experience. I would without doubt recommend a visit to Allegra and for one are looking forward to many more visits in the future. Ten Course Tasting Menu (including snacks and petit fours) £62 Value for money i think is outstanding Thank You to the chefs , Kelly , Seyit , Palumi and all the team for an amazing afternoon and look forward to seeing you all again soon."

"The restaurant is located within a hotel. The signs for the lift up to the restaurant are small and slightly hard to find. Once you enter the restaurant, you are greeted by slightly uninterested staff, lacking a warmth and friendliness. We went for my friend's birthday, which I included in the reservation notes, however this was not recognised at all upon entry and seating. We had the tasting menu. Food overall was very good, except for the bread, which was served cold, and slightly hard, lacking flavour and seasoning. The amuse bouche, however, were excellent, creative yet still familiar. The starter courses were also of a very high standard. The main course beef was an exception in the savoury courses, feeling one dimensional in an otherwise creative tasting menu. Dessert courses were excellent, well balanced and perfect at the end of a long tasting menu. Upon mentioning to the staff that we were celebrating a birthday, we were presented with a slightly disappointing birthday cake, composed of what felt like offcuts of a cheap cake, sandwiched with grainy buttercream and topped with sprinkles. Service overall was ok, lacking a friendliness and passion. The waiter did try some humour, but it was overall a cold experience. As a whole, a good restaurant, with strong cooking, and a great bar. Atmosphere and decor is excellent, but generally let down by cold service. "