I am sure you gathered from my last post, but it is SO good to be back. Although it’s been over a year since I was last here, London will always be home for me: new restaurants may open up, venues may close down, months may pass where I don’t come back but that sense of familiarity will always remain.
Home Sweet Home
While I am enjoying re-visiting old favorites in London (ahem Nandos), I also want to try as many new restaurants while I’m here. Yesterday a friend and I headed out to Bank for lunch, which is where 2 other friends of ours work. For those of you not acquainted with London, it’s a financial area nearby to the Monument to the Great Fire of London.
As it is a 20-minute tube journey away from my place, that whole area is completely novel to me. When we exited the tube station, we had the option to either eat at a generic sushi chain or The Folly, where they had earlier booked a table just in case. Between the atmosphere & food, I am glad that we chose the latter. Along with being a restaurant, it’s also a deli, flower shop, restaurant and bar. I instantly loved the restaurant’s layout. The décor is so loud (in a good way): think flowerpot lamps, sleek communal picnic tables, chi-chi mismatched chairs, and detailed floral patterns across the walls.
While it’s always great to dine at a restaurant with ambience, the make or break for me ultimately boils down to the food. Almost every table was full, which alone speaks volumes about the restaurant. The menu is extremely diverse and features local seasonal produce. From Lobster Burgers to Superfood Flatbreads, Parma Ham & Roast Nectarine Salad, Crab & Crayfish Linguine, and Chocolate Fondue, the options overflowed. This might have been my favorite bit of the menu:
Between the 4 of us, we ordered 5 dishes and al l walked away very happy with our choices…and stuffed:
Aubergine & Feta Flatbread
Herb Grilled Salmon with Goat Cheese & Butternut Squash Salad
Truffle Fries w/ Parmesan & Rosemary
Mediterranean Platter: Warm grilled flatbread with hummus, oven-roastedtomato with goat cheese salsa & taramasalata
Grilled Salmon With Citrus-Soy Dressing & Rocket Salad
It’s a shame that The Folly isn’t closer to home, because it’s definitely somewhere I would happily return. If you’re in London (now or ever), it’s worth a visit: it’s about a 7-minute walk away from the Bank-Monument tube station, reasonably priced, atmospheric and most importantly delicious!
Any eats this week worth mentioning? Share…
Oh wow that salmon looks incredible! I’m so excited you’re having such a great time in London so far girl 🙂 Enjoy every second!!!
Thanks Alexandra :)!
The food looks so beautiful, yet yummy of course. Glad you are having a blast.
The presentation was almost too pretty to eat…almost 😉
The Folly sounds so good! I would have inhaled that flatbread!
Hahah trust me ..we did ;)!
I’ve never been to London..Heck, I’ve never stepped foot in Europe for that matter. I wanna go…someday..
The Folly sounds a lot like this one restaurant in Houston that my mom and I like to go to. It’s def not an inviting ambience for men ;). It also serves as a flower shop, a bakery, and a restaurant. Lots of flowers, pastel colors, impressive selection of teas, freshly baked goods that smell so intoxicating, and really fresh menu. Superfood flatbreads? I’ll eat anything with that kind of description ;). What is taramasalata? I’m guessing it’s the one that’s pink. I wanna try, I wanna try..
I believe taramasalata is made from salted, cured fish….sadly for my vegetarian friend, she only found out AFTER eating it haha!
That aubergine bread looks gooood! Enjoy your trip!
After the herbed salmon, I think it was my favorite!
Salmon is always a treat 🙂 I have begun to appreciate aubergines much more now. Earlier all I used to eat was baingan bhartha!
I was going through their menus, not so bad for a mid-day snack or dropping for a cuppa too 🙂
I’ll definitely try next time I’m in city.
And that herb grilled salmon looks a catch, definitely.
Haha love the pun- the salmon really was a “good catch” ;)!
Okay, so that all looks good, but that flatbread especially! It helps that I’m on an eggplant/aubergine kick lately, but yep, I’d love one of those.
Yep you definitely would’ve…it was one of those dishes which I wish we ordered two of!
I am so psyched for your and this adventure you are on! The salmon looks delicious here, as does the flatbread!! Mmm
Thanks Tess- trying to make the most of it while I can!
I am going to make a note of all these amazing places in London that you are going to share. I am definitely going to plan a vacation there once my son is a bit older.
Whenever you do plan a vacay here, let me know- I’d be happy to send you a list of recommendations 🙂
I <3 sharing food with friends it is the best way to get a taste of everything without breaking the calorie bank! My diet has been so bland it is nice to see some inspiration! Love and Shine CourtStar
Exactly- I love variety when I’m eating..and ordering family style helps a lot especially when there are too many good options on the menu!
I made lasagna earlier this week that was awesome and I did have an awesome ice cream treat that was salted caramel ice cream rolled in coconut and hazelnuts and topped with hot fudge!
Oh boy that ice cream sounds UNREAL…to another level of yum!
This food and scenery is amazing!! I NEED to go to London!
For real…you would it!
Ironic that the restaurant is called “The Folly” but it tastes so good!!! =) I want to go to London so badly.
Haha I never even considered the restaurant’s name! :)!
London looks fabulous! This week, I discovered Luna bars that taste exactly like Caramel Delite Girl Scout Cookies…oh my goodness, *bliss*. 🙂
I LOVE Luna Bars- what flavors have you tried! My fave is Cookies ‘N’ Cream!
YUM! I can’t wait to visit London sometime soon! 🙂
And I’ve had my fair share of yummy eats in DC. I love discovering a city through food!
I totally agree- food is great way to embrace a country/city’s culture!
That looks sooooooo good. I’ll have to check out Nandos on the website. K, you have to go to Paul’s and try their HOt Chocolate, it is freakin delicious. I know it is a chain, but still. it’s like thick, liquid hot chocolate. Crazy good! I”m making a list of places to eat at, please suggest a few places… cafes, bakeries, restaurants in Central London. I can’t waitttttttttttttttt.
That hot choc sounds yum! Even the hot choc from Pret a Manger is fabulous! Will drop you an email of recommendations..Nandos will defo be on the list :-)!
truffle fries!!! mediterranean platter! bring it home with you. i’ve been crazy about experimenting with coconut flour lately. lol.
I need to buy coconut flour- would you recommend it over almond flour?
The Folly is now on my list…looks amazing. I got food poisoning from Nando’s! I was so disappointed…
Ah that’s such a shame about Nandos- it’s one of my all time favorites. Please give it another chance 🙂