Bowling Bird.
Thankfully, it’s not a turkey.
Hidden down a Clerkenwell side street, you’ll find on the corner of an alleyway that would take you straight to Smithfield Market a few yards away, should be inclined to follow it. The place comes to us from a pair of chefs, one of whom worked at the Goodman steakhouse nearby, and another who moved to London form Glasgow to start a wholesale wine business.
The space itself has large, multiple pane windows splashing light into a homely interior, with a grand fireplace (now serving as a makeshift bar), wooden tables, and a collection of antique furniture, fixtures and mirrors which have been “collected over the last 20 years”, lending it all a very lived-in feel.
THE FOOD
Foodwise, they’re aiming for a fairly equal-opportunity menu, picking things from across the globe when it suits. You’ll find starters including the likes of blue corn tostadas with chicken, spinach puree and hibiscus; some chargrilled octopus with a slick of beetroot puree; and a hearty stew of fish & langoustines, all neatly offset with a little tuscan sausage.
Sizing up, you’ll find the very literal meat of the menu; there’s a glorious (and sizeable) cote de boeuf decorated with roasted shallots, as well as meaty line-caught cod loin, or a rack of Borders lamb with a cumin & caraway crust, among others.
THE BOOZE
Washing everything down, there’ve leveraged their contacts in the wine business to create a solid 250-strong list covering all the classic Old/New World regions, as well as few more unusual spots including Hungary, Switzerland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. If you’re after a beer? They can furnish you with something from their list of 25.
It’ll bowl you over.
NOTE: Bowling Bird is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday-Friday. You can find out more, and make a booking at their website right HERE.
Bowling Bird | 4 Cloth Fair, EC1A 7JQ
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Carpe Diem!