Had an impromptu late Sunday lunch yesterday at London House and couldn't have been happier. After a very warm welcome we were quickly seated in the bright open area of the conservatory (if that's what it's called), by a slick and courteous staff. I'd called 15 minutes earlier at 3.00pm to ask if the kitchen was still open, and they couldn't have been more obliging.
Excellent homemade bread and butter to whet the appetite, a reasonably priced Albarino off a simple but very good wine list to open the palate and we were ready to gorge ourselves. I had the crab tortellini in broth (light and exquisite) and my friend the pigs head croquettes with caper sauce and quails eggs (delicious combo of textures and taste).
Main course for me was sea bass with fennel and a sardine beignet – utterly sublime combination of flavours. My friend was less fortunate with the baked haddock in squid ink – the fish was superb but was completely blown away by a cockle and lemon sauce – the bitterness of the lemon was far too overpowering for the gentle haddock.
Cheese followed; a delicious Irish Blue, an English Goat and the ever tummy warming Lincolnshire Poacher.
Battersea Square has a new top dog, and the ever challenging site looks like it has finally been filled with an enduring formula. Apart from the haddock affair, my only other observation would be a lack of meaty treats on the main menu – chicken, beef or venison it was, and whilst delicious I'm sure, it would be good to see something a little more adventurous.
Either way, we both strolled the 10 minutes to home in a state of foodie contentment.