London is a city with so many dining options that it can be difficult to decide where to go. Usually, I prefer deciding beforehand and making a reservation. But when you are on vacation, it can be hard to know exactly where you will be at a certain time. If you do not want to rush from one attraction to the next, it is probably best to stay a bit more flexible. At least that is what we decided for our weekend in London. Apart from afternoon tea at The Goring and Sunday roast at The Engineer, we did not book anything in advance. Since we had also booked an evening with ABBA, we only managed two dinners. You can read below how that went. Yours, Pollybert
Rosa’s Thai King’s Cross: Dinner on our first evening took us to Rosa’s Thai at King’s Cross. This Thai chain has locations all over the United Kingdom, but we chose this branch simply because it was close to us, without even realizing it was part of a chain.
We shared the summer rolls with prawns, which contained a bit too much rice noodle and not enough herbs or salad. The dipping sauce was also not quite what I expected or remembered from Thailand.
For the main course, we ordered the minced chicken salad, Larb Gai, a dish I first discovered in Laos, although it was made with pork there. I absolutely loved it back then. Unfortunately, the version at Rosa’s Thai contained far too many onions and was a disappointment. I did, however, love the Toasted Rice & Pandan Old Fashioned, which was the perfect drink to end the day.
Rosa’s Thai is certainly a good choice for a casual meal, but with a little more research I am sure you can find even better Thai restaurants in London.
Larb Gai and summer rolls with prawn @Rosa’s Thai
The Gloucester: After spending the day visiting the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition and wandering around central London, we ended up at The Gloucester for a pint that eventually turned into dinner. I have since learned that the pub has permanently closed, which is a shame as it was the only one in the immediate area. The beer was excellent and the gin and tonic even better, but unfortunately the food was rather mediocre. We shared a steak and ale pie with mash and a wedge of cabbage, as well as fish and chips. The batter on the fish had definitely seen better days, and there were no mushy peas to be found.
steak and ale pie @The Gloucester
fish and chips @The Gloucester
The Engineer: Sunday roast at The Engineer was a mixed affair. I loved the location and the service, but the Trio of Roasts, featuring lamb, roast beef, and chicken, was a plate of both hits and misses. The roast beef was wonderful, juicy and tender, while the lamb was fully cooked without even a hint of pink. Fortunately, it was still tender and full of flavour. The chicken, on the other hand, had a lovely golden colour from the roasting but was completely underseasoned.
upper dining room @The Engineer
The vegetables and the potatoes were the clear winners, especially when paired with the rich gravy and the extra sauces. A side of Taw Valley Cheddar Cauliflower Cheese was particularly delicious and, although we left some of the meat behind, we polished off the entire bowl of cauliflower.
Trio of Roasts @The Engineer
There was even room for sticky toffee pudding afterwards, although that is definitely a dessert that should be shared rather than ordered individually. Overall, we had a great experience at The Engineer. I just cannot help wondering whether it would have been even better had we come a little earlier. Perhaps the lamb would have still been pink?
cauliflower cheese and sauces @The Engineer
