It feels like yesterday that I was on a beach in Formentera, sunshine on my face and summer still going strong…but summer is definitely over now, the weather is colder, the days are shorter, brown leaves are on the ground and Halloween decorations are up. Two weeks ago I officially kick-started the autumn season with a Sunday Roast at Holborn Dining Room!
Sunday Roast is typically served all around UK during autumn and winter, when all you want to do on a Sunday afternoon is eat a heart-warming dish of tender meat, crispy potatoes, buttery vegetables with a glass of red wine.
My Sunday Roast was served in an elegant dining room located within the Edwardian Grade II-listed building of five star hotel Rosewood London.
Located just ten minutes’ walk from Covent Garden, Holborn Dining Room is a classic British brasserie serving up seasonal, locally sourced British cuisine.
I had already been to the Rosewood Hotel to try their “bottomless” Sunday brunch buffet, but this was my first time at Holborn Dining Room. I loved the space: a grand room with marble floors, chandeliers, reclaimed oak tables, red leather banquettes and chairs.
The Times described it as “something between grand Parisian station restaurant and Vienna coffee house” and I think that describes it perfectly.
Des McDonald, formerly at Le Caprice Holdings, is behind this restaurant while Calum Franklin is the Head Chef. His focus for the Holborn Dining Room’s menus is on flavours and provenance of the food, while the style and presentation of the dishes is kept natural and simple.
It’s the kind of restaurant that you would choose for a date or equally for a nice meal with friends or family. It’s a place where I can easily see myself spending many hours: chatting eating and drinking.
Homemade bread with Abernethy hand-made butter.
My Sunday Roast was classic roast beef with duck fat roasted potatoes, seasonal greens, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It was honestly one of the best roasts I have ever had.
I ordered my meat medium to well done (my friend ordered it medium done, you can see the photo below) and it was perfect for my taste: still juicy and tasty, not to dry or hard at all.
The roast potatoes were so crunchy and tasty, the next day I tried to re-create them at home! I think the secret is coating par-boiled potatoes in flour before roasting them. I got a decent result, but nothing compared to the ones at Holborn Dining Room! You have to try them to understand.
The Yorkshire Pudding was also the best I have ever tasted: well-cooked, crunchy at the top and soft enough at the bottom to soak up the gravy and meat juice.
The green vegetables were light, sweet and buttery and a perfect accompaniment to the roast beef and potatoes.
On Sundays, some of the ingredients featured in the restaurant’s menu come from the Slow Food & Living Market, which takes place in the grand Edwardian courtyard of the hotel.
The market itself fits into the ethos of the hotel. It’s sustainable, artisan products where you can see people have really concentrated on the details of what they are producing. [Chef Calum Franklin for The Staff Canteen]
The market is open every Sunday from 10am to 3:30pm, selling a range of good, clean and fair produce from local growers and artisans. There’s lovely bread, cheese, charcuterie, fruits and vegetables, eggs, wine, oil as well as accessories and clothing.
There’s no dessert menu on Sundays at Holborn Dining Room, instead diners are invited to choose a dessert from the adjoining Holborn Delicatessen. The deli is open during the week, selling a range of food products, pastries, sandwiches and take-away salads.
I loved the chocolate tart, but the Carrot Cake was my favourite: perfectly balanced with the flavours of the sponge and icing.
I would highly recommend Holborn Dining Room because the food and service were fantastic, I loved the space and atmosphere (not too quite, not noisy / elegant but not over the top), and the location is great!
Disclaimer: I was a guest at the restaurant. All opinions are my own.
Well, that’s a perfect Sunday! I visited the Slow food and living market the last time I was in London, but if I come back I’ll make sure I’ll add a Sunday Roast to the plan!
By the way, I discovered Seaforth chocolate in that market and now it’s my favourite brand! You should try it!