Though SilverSpoon London is first and foremost a food blog, my focus is nearly alway restaurants and dining out… unlike my other lifestyle blogging buddies, a never include recipes or cookery among my posts. My friends may find this a little odd as I’ve always loved cooking for other people and entertaining in my flat but I decided not to feature any of my recipes in my blog… I am still a keen cook and I really enjoy watching cookery shows and and reading recipe books for inspiration.
For this reason Boulestin in St James’ struck a chord of interest for me. The restaurant is inspired by Xavier Marcel Boulestin, a French chef and author of cookery books, famous for introducing French cuisine to the English home. He previously owned a restaurant on Covent Garden which opened in 1927 and closed in1994, and was turned into one of the many fast food restaurant’s dominating Leicester Square. The current Boulestin in St James’ is very much influenced by his classic cookery.
We settled down into the our buttery soft leather seats and ordered a glass of champers to kick things off..
The interior of the restaurant was certainly beautiful; art deco style with a checkerboard floor, quirky mirrors and pictures and green chairs adding a pop of colour.
Outside was a pretty terrace that certainly looked more Champs Elysees than Bond Street.
Though as you can see, there was one thing missing…other people. Perhaps it was that we’d come for a late lunch (it was 2.45 by the time we arrived) or maybe it was because it was the weekend but it seemed a shame that the pretty restaurant was practically empty and sadly lacking in atmosphere.
However, the food certainly made up for it.
I chose an artichoke salad with fennel, rocket, capers and lemon. The salad was dressed lightly with a touch of seasoning. The perfect summery starter.
Mr S opposed my Summery choice with a hearty fish soup served with garlic mayo, gruyere and croutons. Total comfort food, delicious and creamy.
My main course was a roast cod with a tomato broth, artichokes (yes, more artichokes) and samphire.
Mr Silver went with my usual favourite, sea bass with haricot beans and chorizo. Both pieces of fishes were cooked totally perfectly and the accompaniments complimented them perfectly.
I had a simple tomato salad on the side while Mr S had a pommes Anna, which was a slightly more calorie friendly version of potato dauphinoise. That’s minus any cream and less butter…
I’m sad to say the Boulestin was a little disappointing, while food was excellent, service great and the room gorgeous, a restaurant really only works when it’s alive with people. I’d love to see the place at a more busy time.
The waitress offered us the dessert menu, but I was really craving a bar with a little life so we headed off round the corner to the Le Meridien Hotel. I’d seen some pics on twitter of the fab Moet and Chandon Terrace at the hotel and I was keen to get a piece of the action.
And under a rather cloudy sky we enjoyed a big white glass of Moet and Chandon Ice Imperial with our choice of accompaniments…
Sorry, the terrace is now closed but let’s hope it pops up again next year!!
Boulestin
5 St James’s Street
London
SW1A 1EF
020 7930 2030
Disclosure: My lunch at Boulestin was courtesy of a twitter competition win
