“Dine and Dash” menu helps launch Barbican restaurant duo

London arts hotspot the Barbican Centre is set to open two new restaurants at its premises this month, including a “Dine and Dash” bar menu which guarantees guests will be fed and out the door in 50 minutes or their money back.​

Work is underway putting the finishing touches to the Barbican Foodhall and the Barbican Lounge, which will replace the centre’s current offerings, the Waterside Café, and the Balcony Bistro respectively.

Barbican Lounge​

The Barbican Lounge, situated on the first floor, will comprise a bar and restaurant which will open into a terrace area with seating pods overlooking the riverside.

The restaurant, managed by ex-Maze operations manager Nikki Woods, will feature small plate dining, including Pork Pie and Garlic Farm Reslish, Lochmuir Fishcakes and Beetroot Tart Tatin.

Meanwhile, the bar menu offers a “quick feast” for guests in a hurry, with the “Dine and Dash” menu that claims to guarantee guests will be out the door in 50 minutes or their money back.

According to the Barbican, the menu may include Braised Oxtail and Hand Cut Papparadelle, Salt and Pepper Squid, or Seared Salmon Cutlet with Leeks, Bacon and Cider Dressing.

The bar will also feature London’s first Macaroon Mixologist, which twins the classic French delicacies with a range of new and traditional cocktails.

Barbican Foodhall​

Downstairs, the Barbican Foodhall will comprise a massive street market, with food stalls and a 200 cover restaurant where resident chefs will create a different menu every day, depending on the season. Prices will start from £7 for a main course.

The food stalls will serve a variety of dishes such as Cornish Pasties with Branston Pickle; Marjoram-Infused Mackerel; Fennel, Glazed Damsons and Goats Cheese Pie; and New Orleans Shrimp Étouffée with visitors able to purchase products to eat in or to take away.

Sir Nicholas Kenyon, managing director of the Barbican Centre, said: “The spaces are being stripped right back to the original wall textures and fittings, so it really feels like a natural and organic development of our iconic centre. We’re confident regular visitors to the centre will enjoy the new experience and that this transformation will also help to introduce new people to the Barbican.”

SHH, the design and architecture team behind Umu, Aura Bar, Nolita, Dion and Apostrophe, have branded and designed both spaces.