The team behind the excellent, sustainability-driven Fallow in St James’s have a new restaurant called Roe.
This one’s in Canary Wharf. And after getting their ducks in a row, they decided to put this Roe in a dock (the South Dock to be specific) where it sits at the base of an impossibly tall building overlooking the canal and the huge Hawksmoor that’s floating in it.
Step inside, and you’ll discover both a miniature indoor garden suspended above the entrance, and a rather striking support structure propping up the wood-lined ceiling, standing like a stark white tree trunk reimagined by a surrealist. It’s quite a sizeable venue too, laid out in a large L-shape that curves itself around the open kitchen, which itself is skirted by a long dark marble bar. And apparently, some of the pale walls here were 3D printed from plant-based and compostable materials. Clearly, their focus on sustainability has gone far beyond the menu.
And speaking of the menu, there’s a lot to recommend. It’s not the simplest affair, being split up into about seven sections (not counting sides or desserts) including snacks, small plates, skewers, flatbreads, large plates, steaks, and ‘feasts for two’. But you should definitely navigate your way to the flavoursome cuttlefish fried toast; fall-off-the-bone lamb ribs; one of those chunky skewers (particularly the one packed with venison & mushroom); a somehow meaty, mushroom-filled Cornish pasty; and some fluffy flatbreads loaded with scallops, bacon butter & parsley.
But save room for dessert, because there’s an absolute belter to be had: the caramelised banana parfait arrives looking identical to a banana, with a dollop of peanut ice cream & a crisp twig of toasted vanilla. It’s absolutely delicious. And it goes particularly well with one of the venue’s frozen margaritas.
Oh, and the name? Like its predecessor, it’s named after a species of wild British deer, meaning that their next restaurant will be called either Sika, Munjac, Red or apparently…
…Chinese Water.
NOTE: Roe is open now, seven days a week. You can find out more, and book a table, here.
Roe | Five Park Drive, Wood Wharf, E14 9GG
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