LONDON | Grain Store Unleashed Clerkenwell is a short-term concept being run at boutique hotel The Zetter by chef Bruno Loubet. It’s a companion restaurant to Loubet’s Kings Cross restaurant Grain Store, with a focus on vegetables (although there’s still meat). The audience is those people who enjoy meat, but perhaps think we eat too much of it and have no problem with great vegetarian food. Fans of Yotam Ottolenghi’s cooking and philosophy will feel right at home.
The space is suitably light, bright and homely, and fits with the overall philosophy of the venue.
The food is very experimental, with dishes like pickled flowers, kohlrabi and broad bean ravioli, and white chocolate and parsnip pudding just a few of the options on offer. We visited for breakfast, and were keen to see how the experimental lunch and dinner options would carry over to the breakfast menu.
Mango, Coconut & Lime Smoothie (£4.50)
This one speaks for itself – summer in a cup with a good balance of key ingredients combining perfectly.
Curly Kale, Cucumber, Apple & Lime Juice (£4.50)
Again, a really simple drink that’s light, refreshing, healthy and well balanced.
Pea Pancake With Poached Egg, Crispy Pancetta & Balsamic Syrup (£7.00)
The pea pancake had a really nice density to it and combined well with the perfectly poached egg and the crispiness of the pancetta. Delicious.
The Works (£10.50)
The works is the Grain Store Unleashed version of the full English breakfast and is the perfect example of how the best quality ingredients can elevate the most traditional of dishes and bring out something unexpected. Two free range eggs of your choice (in our case poached), Applewood smoked streaky bacon, meaty Cumberland sausage, black pudding, grilled tomato and roasted field mushroom. Great British produce combining to make the perfect great British breakfast.
Crushed Avocado On Grilled Sourdough With Condiments (£6.00)
As with everything else on the menu, it’s all about the quality ingredients with this dish, and here’s an option that’s as simple as it gets. Just what you expect, and that’s not a bad thing.
We haven’t yet had the chance to eat at Grain Store Unleashed for lunch or dinner, but after our great breakfast we’re keen to get back soon, and soon it will have to be – come 31 July 2015, this experiment comes to an end.
Grain Store Unleashed
St John’s Square
86 Clerkenwell Road
London EC1M 5RJ
United Kingdom
Telephone: 020 7324 4455
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.grainstoreunleashed.com/
Open
Mon – Sun: 7:00am to 10:30am; 12:00pm to 2:30pm; 6:00pm to 10:30pm