Food & Drink: Gilgamesh

16 December 2009 No Comment

I love Camden.

Well, I love most of London as we all know, but Camden really is one of my favourite parts. Redevelopment and the fire in 2008 have changed the place and its not the same Camden of old, but it still has a vibe about it – a freedom that is missing in some of the stuffier parts of this fabulous city.

It’s a place of extremes. You’ll find chain stores side by side with kooky independent retailers – mixed up in a heady haze of designer, vintage, grunge, punk…and ASOS HQ. You’ll find great music venues and cool little pubs. You’ll come across kebab shops and noodle bars….and then you’ll find Gilgamesh.

This is one of the best things about Camden for sure. In stark contrast to it’s surroundings, the rather dank and dismal entrance to Stables Market, Gilgamesh stands proud in all its Pan-Asian glory – complete with flaming torches and a red carpet marking its entrance, followed by an escalator that rises towards the heavens.

The venue itself is enormous. Made up of a gorgeous terrace, function rooms, a club space, restaurant and bar, it seems to be an endless space full of attractive people, lavish furnishings and ornate carvings, the largest of which has to be the magnificent bar (which is where I headed first – anyone surprised?!) The large lounge is full of tables and booths, where I noticed couples cosying up over cocktails seemingly oblivious to the louder, more rowdy parties enjoying themselves and making the most of the table service (it is December after all – office parties everywhere). However, despite the amount of people, the bar area is large enough to feel like you have your own space – a luxury compared to some parts of London. Service was pretty quick as I waited for my companion and I managed to pull up a bar stool, despite the Christmas crowds.

We were walked through to our seats in the main restaurant and whilst I have eaten there before a couple of years ago, my friend was visibly impressed by the opulence of the dining room. The scale of the place alone is impressive, but add to that the grandness of the fixtures and fittings and I defy you not to be dazzled; think carved wooden panels, ridiculously high ceilings, ornate tables, plush seating – luxury is certainly not spared here.

My friend rightly questioned whether the food and service would stand up to the venue, so we put them to the test. The menu is extensive and covers a variety of Asian cuisines so we asked our server to recommend some dishes based on our preferences and avoiding our dislikes. We loved every suggestion so ordered the lot…good job we were hungry. Between us we shared Duck Spring Rolls, Chicken Gyoza, Garlic Mushroom, Miso Seabass, Lamb Cutlets, Fried Rice and Asian Greens. Luckily we’re both girls who like our food.

I’m not exaggerating when I say we were both blown away by the flavours. Every mouthful was delicious; each dish was absolutely superb – cooked to perfection and an absolute pleasure to eat. The sea-bass was quite simply incredible, by far the nicest either of us have ever tasted. The texture and flavour were both out of this world. Outstanding.

We had eaten far too much already but thought we’d tuck into dessert too. Unfortunately I think this was a little wasted on us as we were both so full, but the chocolate and lemon curd pudding I chose was still very tasty, even if it went unfinished.

I can honestly say that I would rate Gilgamesh higher than anywhere I’ve been this year. OK, so its a little flashy, but the proportions of the venue allow for it. And so what? The drama of the surroundings help turn your night out into an experience. The food is some of the best I have tasted in ages, the portions generous, the welcome warm and the service good, despite the season and the inevitable busy-ness. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner for two or booking a big office party they’ll look after you well. So go. Get yourself down to Gilgamesh…you’ll have a great time. (Oooh and try the Candy Cane Christmas Cocktail while you’re there. Delish!)

(Group set menu’s from £35 per head – Dinner for 2 with wine around £120)