Yeah that’s our title and we’re sticking to it. However, we could have just as easily named this post “Chic Food and Cocktails in an Innovative Setting.” Located at 131 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 5BB (nearest Tube is Great Portland Street Station), Vanilla’s about as glam a venue as we’ve come across recently. From its all-white, dream-like bar and lounge to its black on black dining room (with silver features), this resto-bar with LED mood lighting (for “infinite colour combinations”) is where we’d take that special someone (or big-eyed out-of-towner) if we were lookin’ to wow ‘em with our discriminating style.
London’s first restaurant to offer “Tasting Menu Only” dining in the evenings, Vanilla seduces palettes while delighting them with a sophisticated array of flavours. The Tasting Menus include: Just a Taste (4-course for £40); Taste Experience (6-courses for £50 or £75 with paired wines); and the gastronomic Journey of Taste (10-courses for £75). On our visit we enjoyed everything we gobbled down but went particularly ga-ga for Head Chef Izu Ani’s black pudding served with scallops, potato terrine and Chinese pear. French toast for dessert wasn’t such a bad thing either. In fact, it rocked our socks off. Yum.
Beyond the enticing tasting menu, Vanilla enchants with an inventive cocktail menu and reasonably priced, appetizing lunches too. Cocktails are named after the predominant flavour of the drink, such as Raspberry, Apricot or Pineapple and are mixed using fresh seasonal produce. Londonist thoroughly enjoyed sipping their Almond cocktail. Lunches start at two courses for £14.50 or three for £18.50. Vanilla is open on Tuesday to Friday for lunch, from Noon to 3pm, and for dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm; and on Saturday from 6pm to 10.30pm. They’ve got all sorts of other specials in addition to what we’ve mentioned, check their site for details.
Go for the mood, stay for the food.
Photography by Chris Osburn
