Food: Brompton Quarter Brasserie

30 January 2010 One Comment

I feel a bit ashamed of myself.

You see, until last week I had never heard of Brompton Quarter Brasserie. Not even in passing. Even worse…I have often walked by those huge glass windows after shopping pit-stops at Harrods or Harvey Nicks, but never given it a second glance.

I have been missing out.

You see, Brompton Quarter Brasserie (or Brompton Quarter Cafe) is seriously good. So good in fact, that The Boy proclaimed last nights meal there to be one of the best we have eaten together – and seeing as our favourite hobby is eating – that is high praise indeed.

You kind of get a good feeling when you push open the doors and take a look at the clean decor – a mix of white, wood, excellent chandelier style lighting and glass…huge, expansive walls of glass. Surprisingly though, the interior is warm and welcoming rather than clinical or austere, thanks in part to the deli style counter packed full of delicious treats and the huge blackboard wall announcing exactly what’s on offer.

The staff are friendly and polite, attentive but not overbearing. The menu was unpretentious and uncluttered – fabulous British and Mediterranean dishes without fussiness, just what we like.

Choosing wasn’t easy…not because the menu was complicated, but rather because we wanted everything on offer. Eventually, we opted for the Mussels with Chorizo (me) and Beef Carpaccio (him) to start, followed by Rib Eye Steak (me) and Salmon (him) for our mains.

The Mussels were incredible. Big, juicy mussels, accompanied by delicious chorizo – none of that plasticky supermarket style rubbish, but fantastically flavoured, mildly spiced pieces of meat that complimented the mussels perfectly. The creamy sauce was so good that I even scooped up any remainders in my spoon in the absence of any bread…and I think if I had been in private I may have even licked the bowl. They really were that good.

The Carpaccio was equally impressive. Served with shavings of Gran Pardano cheese and a dressed rocket salad, the flavours combined perfectly and every bite was a delight. The Boy didn’t let me have much as he was enjoying it too much, but the few mouthfuls I negotiated were heavenly.

Mains arrived swiftly after our plates were cleared, but not so fast that we felt like we were being rushed. My steak was perfectly cooked – Medium Rare as I’d requested, soft, tender and absolutely mouthwatering. Served with roasted cherry tomatoes, grilled flat tomatoes and an additional side of beans with broccoli, I don’t think I could have chosen better. The portion was spot on – any less I would have missed it, any more I would have been stuffed. I was a little upset when it came to an end though, my taste buds were rather enjoying themselves.

The Boy’s Salmon was also good – although out of the four dishes this was probably our least favourite (although not by much). The Salmon itself was a touch dry – although the wilted spinach, grilled jersey royals and chive beurre blanc that came with it were absolutely fantastic.

Much as we both would have loved to tuck in to one of the desserts on offer, both of us had eaten our fill and decided to finish off the meal with a mint tea instead (good for the digestion you know!). Again, both the peppermint and green tea with mint were a pleasure, as was the bottle of red we shared (and which I have absent-mindedly forgotten the name of…sorry!)

I loved almost everything about Brompton Quarter Brasserie. Our Waiter, Leo, was absolutely fantastic and extremely helpful. The decor and atmosphere were perfect – ideal for a romantic meal or dinner with friends – and the food was outstanding.

My only tiny concerns would be that we weren’t warned about the nuts in the bread at the start of the meal – I usually check as I have a mild nut allergy so prefer to know upfront – and the very slightly overcooked salmon. However, that is me being ridiculously picky, as we had a fantastic night and would rush back there to enjoy more of the same. So much so, that I am considering booking the smaller downstairs area for a dinner event in the near future.

Price : around £40 per head (including wine)
Rating : 9.5/10 – SUPERB!

For more information or to book online, please visit the BQB website.

BQB can be found at 225 Brompton Road, SW3 2EJ. Telephone: (020) 7225 2107