Set within a Grade II listed building, and recently given a revamp, the period features of Roux Parliament Square do give this place character, and the location right near the Houses of Parliament is very impressive. We did think the clientele might be stiff politicians dining out on veal and glasses of port but luckily, this wasn’t the case and it was the classic style menu with a modern twist that has us falling for Roux.
In charge of the kitchen is Head Chef Steve Groves, winner of Masterchef: The Professionals 2009, who met Michel Roux Jr while filming the series. The evening sitting gives us three choices of menu, a la Carte, tasting or set. Committing to the a la carte, we went for Dorset crab with apple, fermented chili and Dashi – this was loaded with fresh crab, was light and paired with a crisp white. Asparagus topped with girolle mushrooms, spenwood and wild garlic was a perfect asparagus dish. With asparagus season coming to an end, if this is the last one we eat, then we’re glad it was this one.
While we waited contently for the mains, more artisanal breads arrived and the sommelier whizzed by briefing us on why we’d experience magic again with our next pairing. Yes, service is on point. Herdwick lamb with wild garlic, panisse and this time white asparagus was warm, juicy and melted away like it should. The Halibut, served inside little parcels of fergola with trombetta courgette and drizzled in a shellfish sauce was nothing short of awesome, full of flavour, rich and deeply satisfying.
[easy-image-collage id=112229]Ending on a sugary high we hit our sweet spot with a Guanaja chocolate dessert with banana, peanut and yoghurt, which isn’t as messy as it sounds. If we could sum up Roux in one word, it would be ‘bulletproof’.
Roux, Parliament Square, 11 Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AD
rouxatparliamentsquare.co.uk