London food scene has completely changed in the eleven years I have lived here and we are now spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out without breaking the bank. One area that didn’t use to offer a lot for foodies, Victoria, has recently had a revamp with the launch of Create Victoria. One of the most exciting restaurant openings within the Nova Food complex was Rail House Café.
Rail House Café is a modern bar and brasserie – sister restaurant to Riding House Café – offering international food all day every day, in a relaxed and comfortable setting.
The décor is remarkable, with beautifully designed interiors inspired by train carriages and bespoke furniture. Despite the cold and modern glass and steel exterior, inside the café is a warm and cosy space.
Rail House Café has an impressive 330 covers, yet the space is divided into different areas so that guests can still enjoy an intimate experience. The restaurant features a large dining room, a bar, a raised private dining room and outdoor terrace.
There are small and big sharing tables alongside the glass walls, but my favourite area is the pretty corner with velvet sofas and emerald green tiled tables.
The food menu is devised by Head Chef Etienne Bruwer (previously Galvin at Windows, Rhubarb Food & Design).
What I love about Rail House Café is that they offer brunch every day until the afternoon. I am a big fun of eggs for lunch, but many cafés in London stop serving breakfast at 10:00 or 11:00 on week days. That’s not the case at Rail House, where brunch is available until 16:00.
In addition to the regular menus, this summer Rail House Café has launched a Bloody Mary’s Menu – to pair the popular brunch cocktail with breakfast dishes.
There are five alternative twists on the classic Bloody Mary to suit all tastes. From RHC Bloody Mary with Ketel One vodka and Worcester sauce to Pale Mary with mezcal, pale ale and sriracha hot sauce. From Smokey Mary with Rittenhouse 100 rye whisky and smoked German beer to Basil Mary with Basil infused Tanqueray gin and green tabasco.
I visited Rail House Café for brunch on a Wednesday a few weeks ago with my friend Sally, The Cafe Cat.
I ordered a dish from the brunch menu (one of the most popular dishes, I imagine): Avocado Sourdough with dill salsa, hazelnut and seed dukkah with poached egg and crumbled feta. You can have it with streaky bacon or hot-smoked salmon instead of the cheese.
It is the ultimate brunch dish for me, and I especially loved the addition of seeds to create a crunchy texture.
Sally ordered Sandwich La Sandwich with aged Comtê, buttermilk fried chicken, pickled carrot, harissa aioli and chips. Sally said that the sandwich was good and the chicken perfectly fried, although she had expected this to be a sandwich, rather than a burger.
I couldn’t resist also ordering the Green Tea Belgian Waffles with coconut and berries to satisfy my sweet tooth. These were very good, with a delicate taste of matcha and a delicious cream on the side.
The Rail House Café, like its sister restaurant Riding House, is a great brunch spot and among one of the best in London. It’s great to have a place like this open every day, especially in Victoria.
Disclaimer: I was a guest of the restaurant. All opinions are my own.
