Dinner at Tredwells – Restaurant Review

For the longest of time I’ve been meaning to have dinner at Tredwells – it’s been languishing for too long at the top of my London restaurant ‘to try’ list (which is as long as the Thames – but more neatly sectioned than the relative hodge podge of London bridge placement.) 

Sorry, that was quite a laboured metaphor. Back to dinner. The Work Wife and I were both celebrating 3 successful years of self employment, both having cast off the shackles of corporate life for businesses a little more flexible, metaphorical ships steered under our own steam.

“Found in the heart of Covent Garden, Tredwells delivers seasonal menus that showcase the very best in British produce. With sustainability at the heart of the offering, it emphasises locally sourced produce, plant-based eating and sustainable methods of production.”

I have to admit that aside from the menu, for me one of the biggest draws to Tredwells, is that the Chef Patron is a fellow Kiwi, Chantelle Nicholson. Having operated in Covent Garden with Marcus Wareing for years, a couple of years ago Chantelle took over the full ownership of Tredwells.

We began with a delightful crispy lamb belly dumpling (pictured above), served with szechuan pepper & runner bean salad, followed by a second tasting course of hake with scallop emulsion, brioche and pickled vegetable. 

(The WW swapped her hake for the seasonal vegetarian option of miso grilled cabbage, miso aioli, crispy linseed wbich gave me all the plate envy.)

For the third tasting course, we enjoyed a mouthwatering slowcooked beef with bacon jam, watercress and cashew cream. Every tineful was rich, balanced and meltingly tender.

The fourth course was intriguing to say the least – simply titled ‘strawberry apple and custard’ it was a lovely palate cleanser. That’s all I’m going to say – I won’t spoil the surprise…

The fifth course was Tredwell’s Chouxnut with plum & elderflower. I’m going to be honest and it was the weakest course for me – it was nice but it didn’t quite rock my world.

The space itself is lovely – 3 floors with touches of Art Deco. (I pinched these last two images from About Time and Time Out.)

Quite the surprise just off Covent Garden.

Tredwells is a restaurant that lends itself well to a variety of reasons to eat there; lovely enough to take clients and dates (like the work wife) it was the perfect place to sip cocktails and celebrate our anniversaries.

What’s your favourite cuisine for celebratory meals?