At first glance, One Aldwych is an unassuming building tucked away between theatres in Covent Garden. But hidden beneath the grey exterior is a five star hotel boasting one of the few dairy- and gluten-free restaurants the capital has to offer. Indigo sits on the first floor mezzanine level, lending itself to both a business lunch spot as well as a date night dinner, with large windows that flood the room with natural light by day, and dim lighting to switch up the ambience at night.
Upon arriving, we’re swiftly escorted to our table at the edge of the mezzanine level with a prime spot overlooking the lobby - a people watchers' paradise. Whilst nothing groundbreaking, Indigo brings contemporary British food that gives a nod to the country’s favourites, like a seasonal soup or fish and chips, via an a la carte or a six course tasting menu.
Opting for an a la carte, the evening starts with warm bread rolls presented at the table alongside some bacon butter that was wonderfully soft - a small detail that never goes unnoticed or underappreciated.
Scallops with pressed chicken leg, parsnip and truffle make it as the standout dish. Delicate, yet ever so slightly sweet scallops are cut through without a single ounce of excess force, the chicken is intensely flavoursome from generous seasoning, and the sauce is rich and velvety, perfectly coating the other elements. The truffle however gave nothing more than a hint of flavour, but was appreciated nevertheless.
The mains remained consistent with the rest of the meal as they came beautifully presented, along with plenty of flavour in a respectable portion size. Our favourite dessert was the spheroid of chocolate mousse, encased in a chocolate glaze so shiny we could see the excitement on our face as we dug the spoon in.
By and large, Indigo comes at a cost, but is redeemed through its immaculate service and attention to detail on plating.