Urban
Coterie is a new restaurant atop the M by Montcalm Hotel (the one that looks like something from Inception) in Old Street. Located on the 17th floor, the restaurant has incredible views out over London, especially if you can nab the table we had, right in the far corner.The man behind the menu is Anthony Demetre (Arbutus and Wild Honey) who has teamed up with the hotel to create a seasonal British offering. We loved the selection of snacks including potato doughnuts; octopus and sweet potato; and especially the crispy pig’s head with ndjua mayonnaise. Both starters were beautifully presented, the fresh Brixham crab coming with with thin discs of apple and celeriac, and the scallop set against a dark XO sauce. Our ‘must order’ from the mains would be the perfectly cooked pork belly, with a thin layer of crispy skin and served with carrots, grapefruit and liquorice. For dessert, it has to be the chocolate mousse with toasted rice ice cream.
Service was slick throughout and the recommended wine pairings worked very well indeed. London has another sky high restaurant to be proud of with Urban Coterie and if you go for the set lunch menu, it’s also pretty amazing value at £23 for three courses.
M by Montcalm, 151-157 City Road, London EC1V 1JH
www.urbancoterie.co.uk