Harden's survey result
Summary
A “great setting” next to the Regent’s Canal, with a large and attractive terrace that comes into its own during the summer months, isn’t the only feature that raises this bar/dining room to being a destination rather than merely an arts-centre amenity – “its farm-to-plate ethos is something special” too, with a dedicated Northumberland farm providing all beef and lamb (hung onsite in their own hanging room, and with an in-house butcher). A recent refurb has added an open kitchen and large meat-aging cabinets on view.
Summary
A wonderful waterside location, and “smart and buzzy” interior place this canalside dining room very much at the upper end of your typical arts centre venue, as does its ‘farm to fork’ ethos, with meat sourced from its own Northumberland farm. Results here – generally good – can sometimes be “run of the mill”, but may see a boost from a significant summer 2018 refurb to mark its 10th year. Changes include an open-to-view kitchen (relocated from the lower level of the building), a large meat-ageing cabinet, and chef’s counter heaters, enabling the terrace to be used all year round.
Summary
“Especially on a sunny day, overlooking the canal” (by which it has a large terrace), this “buzzy” arts centre brasserie provides a “beautiful setting”. Some dishes can seem “run-of-the-mill”, but, Top Tip – “they serve wonderful meat” from their own Northumberland farm (and it’s “very good for Sunday lunch”).
Summary
“Amazing views over the canal” from the outside terrace, are a highlight of this “very relaxing” arts centre brasserie. Service is “first class” too, and the food is “very respectably cooked”.
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £19.50 |  |
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| Pretheatre | £19.50 | |
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Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £9.50 | £16.00 | £4.50 | £7.00 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £21.50 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Harden's says...
Rotunda N1
In the impressive new King's Place arts-and-office building, a good-all-round British brasserie, occupying a bright canalside site.
Only the French ever really seem to have had particular success at elevating the big-city, semi-formal dining experience they call a brasserie to anything resembling an art form, It's such a useful, all-purpose concept, we've often wondered why there aren't more French-style brasseries in London.
There may be few enough successful French brasseries, but British attempts at something similar seem, if anything, to have fared worse. Till now, that is. It's just possible that the dining area in the new King's Place development is part of a new style of operation that's beginning to appear - 'British brasseries' that work!
King's Place would certainly be a suitable place to figure in a 'new wave', It represents a truly enlightened bit of capitalism which has given London its first major chamber music hall since, ooh, the Purcell Room, and one of the most elegant 'venues' in London of any type. On top, a landmark office building, which is home to the Guardian/Observer group.
There's frankly nothing actually individually special about Rotunda - this is one of those place notable for doing everything reasonably well, rather than having a particular stand-out attraction. But establishments which can bring a touch of pizzazz to doing everything reasonably well are likely to be pretty satisfactory for all sort of occasions.
The dining room here, if a bit Identikit-contemporary, is a bright room, overlooking a canal, and the young staff, if not super-efficient, have that sense of 'ownership' that's still relatively rare.
It was the large and nicely balanced menu, however, that seemed to us to be an emulation of what you might see in a good French brasserie, without seeming in the slightest to be some sort of pastiche. Somehow they'd managed to combine the proper Englishness of a gastropub with the width of offer you might find in a good Gallic outfit (plus a wine list with a range you'd rarely find on the other side of the Channel).
Our own meal was consistently satisfying. Stilton salad was both subtle and English (which is nice). It was followed by the day's very tasty 'fish special', a pretty decent treacle tart, and a good espresso. And all reasonably priced too.
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG
| Number of Diners: | |
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Opening hours
lunch noon - 3 pm, dinner 5 pm 10.30 pm
Last orders: 10.30 pm, Sun 6.30 pm
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