Latest opening: Provisioners
What: A new restaurant in the newly opened super stylish 193-room The Dixon hotel in London’s Tower Bridge.
Who: Blixen owner Clive Watson has joined forces with the hotel for his trademark all-day offer in cool surroundings. The kitchen is headed up by Lerrico Messina, former executive head chef at Boulestin in St James’s before taking on the same role at patisserie and bakery chain Paul UK, where he opened its first restaurant, Le Restaurant de Paul at Tower 42.
The food: Serving food from 6.40am, the breakfast men includes a fry up of eggs, Toulouse sausage, Aubrey back bacon, mushroom, tomato, beans, black pudding and bubble and squeak; grilled kippers and a London rarebit as well as a vegan fry up of Moroccan spiced cauliflower, avocado mash, spinach and wild mushroom. Lunch items stick with a European theme, with the likes of white anchovies and olives to nibble on and then burratina with pepperonata, frisée and pistachio; and a broccoli and almond salad; and sandwiches including one made with salt beef brisket, watercress, pickles, mustard on caraway bread; and an avocado, crème fraîche, bacon, tomato jam and egg flatbread. Dinner dishes go more substantial again, a highlight of which is culurgiones - Sardinian dumplings filled with pecorino and winter truffle.
The drinks: The drinks list suits the all-day approach, with two wines on tap and a dozen or so white and reds that start at £6 a glass and £22 a bottle. The beer list is also well considered, with some 12 options from the UK, Europe, Japan and the US, as is the cocktail list of interesting drinks, such as the Twisted Negroni made with Lapsang tea infused gin, Campari, vermouth blend, chocolate bitters and absinthe; and the Disco Whiskey, comprising coffee, Scotch whisky, Chambord, kummel and JT Bitters.
The vibe: As with Watson’s other projects, which have included Bermondsey pubs Village East and The Garrison and Fitzrovia favourite Riding House Café, Provisioners is a cool spot with design quirks throughout. Standing on the grounds of a former magistrates court room, the dining room features an original cellar door, low hanging lighting and patterned tile flooring. The pastel pink, dark green and royal blue colour palette - depending on which part of the restaurant you are seated - create a light and welcoming all-day vibe with diners able to sit at a long curved marble bar or in one of a number of booth areas.
And another thing: If you’re wondering what the strange lines are on floor, they mark out where the cell walls would have been in the original court house.
4 Queen Elizabeth Street, SE1 2LL
www.provisioners.co.uk
