New Restaurant Review: Food Secret

By tikichris Last edited 173 months ago
New Restaurant Review: Food Secret

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Newbie Soho eatery, Food Secret, invited Londonist along to a lunchtime press event yesterday allowing us to have a go at their “bold new concept in fast food.” After sampling some nibbles as well as a massive “tailor made” salad, we walked away pleased enough with our experience but wondering if the place had the right ingredients for the long run.

So what's the “food secret” behind this health conscience breakfast and lunch spot? Food Secret founder, Sergio Mottola, reckons he's unlocked the code to healthy eating with his creation of a database that converts complex nutritional facts into quick read information about the food his customers order. Such a system involves fifteen projectors and thirty screens displaying the low down as orders are placed.

We're not so sure that much was revealed in any truly revelatory fashion on our visit. The projectors and screens seem more distracting gimmick than wholesome enhancement. But maybe on another go, we'd have a better feel for it all. We admit that we were impressed to see so immediately the protein, carbs, fibre, saturated and unsaturated fats and total calories of the salad that was constructed for us at the “tailor made” bar, and Food Secret's five star rating systems seemed to us a good way to grab-n-go more healthily. The food was tasty and reasonably priced too. Expect to pay about £4 or £5 for a sandwich such as tomato, Parma ham, Parmesan and rocket on focaccia, £7 or so for a heartily large salad (ours had quinoa, mustard greens, beans, seared tuna, tomatoes, onions and more).

For calorie counting patrons keen to consider the nutritional value of what they stuff in their pie holes, Food Secret offers a readily accessible account of what's been prepared. For folks simply looking for a relatively inexpensive and halfway healthy lunch on a strapped-for-time lunch break in Soho, pop your head in and see if Food Secret intrigues you enough to continue inside.

Food Secret is located at 59 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9QQ. Visit www.foodsecret.com for more details.

Photography by Chris Osburn

Last Updated 08 October 2009