Founded by ex-Chez Bruce sommelier Katie Exton and ex-Brawn chef Peter Hall, who both worked at The Square together, Lorne a relaxed but quality neighbourhood style joint and it’s been a hit with critics and locals alike since it opened in 2017. Lorne describes itself as ‘a creative British restaurant’, which translates to a seasonal British-European menu – dishes have included ajo blanco with melon, cucumber & fennel and grilled sardines on toast; roast duck breast with duck leg tart, sour cherry puree, potato fondant and cavolo nero; and brown sugar tart with malt barley ice cream. As you’d expect from somewhere co-founded by a sommelier, the wine is of as equal importance as the food and Lorne has a well-curated list that has plenty of variety but isn’t as a thick as a bible and isn’t full of scary prices. That really sums up the whole experience at Lorne – great service and great cooking with a laid-back attitude.
