Bloomsbury's Most Romantic Restaurant Terrace Is Doing Summer Right

Dalloway Summer Estate ★★★★☆

By Lydia Manch Last edited 55 months ago

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Bloomsbury's Most Romantic Restaurant Terrace Is Doing Summer Right Dalloway Summer Estate 4

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Floral, gorgeous and well-stocked with gin.

Forgive us for expecting Dalloway Terrace to be a bit dainty, a bit style-over-substance. After all, it's packing plenty of the former.

The Bloomsbury Hotel's restaurant β€” relaunched this year as the Dalloway Summer Estate, in partnership with spirit brand Ramsbury β€” is one big mass of floral exuberance.

Vines, trellises, canopies of flowers and a summery cocktail menu are in full bloom on a quiet Bloomsbury side street: Dalloway Terrace isn't doing anything by halves. Same goes for their food, which despite the venue's delicate, pretty-pretty looks is a collection of punchy and powerfully chillied/truffled/cheesed classics.

It's a good sign, we reckon, that most people when we're there seem to be ignoring the Instagram ops in favour of getting elbow-deep in fiery-sauced prawn shell-debris or a bucket of parmesan truffle fries: Dalloway Terrace is brilliantly un-prim, despite the elegant setting and steepish price tags.

The Dalloway take on ceviche is a far more indulgent thing than usual, an elegantly-constructed slab built from sea bass, avocado, plantain and sweet potato. The tiger prawns are harissa-topped juggernauts, the Ramsbury Bloody Mary arrives beautifully murky with spice. And the two dishes we actually expected that thunk of richness from β€” mushroom risotto, from the deceptively titled 'small plates' section, and the truffle cheese fries β€” are next-level.

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#HumpDay = A mid-week excuse to treat yourself 😏 Escape to #DallowaySummerEstate this Wednesday! 🌸🌾

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Dalloway Terrace's latest incarnation is every bit as pretty as we expected, but it's also a hell of a lot more fun.

Dalloway Summer Estate runs until 24 September 2019. Dalloway Terrace, 16-22 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3NN.

Last Updated 27 August 2019