It’s about time somebody showed Westminster how it’s done.
And by ‘it’, we more specifically mean ‘all-day dining in a stylishly retro ode to the traditional English bistro’.
Enter: Old Queen Street Café.
It’s the newest spot from the Lantana team, but in many ways it feels like the longest-standing of all their outposts. It’s positioned down a side street just by St James’s Park and the houses of Parliament, sitting behind a smart wood-panelled exterior that could have been taken from a film set. Inside is a tasteful fantasy rendition of an old-school British dining room, with dark green corduroy seating lined up against cream walls dotted with old black & white photos and Martin Parr snaps, and dainty bespoke china plates emblazoned with the café’s heraldic logo.
Unsurprisingly for its location – an area not exactly starved for good food, but somewhat lacking in the trendiness department – it’s already proving a sure-fire hit, from the first coffee of the morning to nightcaps up at the counter. It’s open all day, and a steady stream of local workers flows through as eggs royale and Welsh rarebit transition to heartier lunches and the occasional pop of fizz.
It helps that they’ve got a head chef on board who really gets classic dining. Elliot Spurdle cut his teeth at The Delaunay and possibly London’s most beloved brasserie, The Wolseley. You’ll spot their influence in the crisp chicken schnitzel (with pickled fennel and a fried egg), and the exemplary sirloin steak. You’ll also spot the Lantana influence, particularly in the brunch menu, with spillover lunch dishes like the beef brisket hash. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone, from coronation chicken sandwiches to an extremely delicious starter of prawns on garlicky, buttery toast.
For dessert, there are several options you’ll be glad you squeezed in – Bakewell French Toast with cherry jam and frangipane; chocolate hazelnut cake; and a Strawberry & Pimms trifle – or, if the occasion allows, an amaro digestivo or classic whisky cocktail…
…made the Old Fashioned way.
NOTE: Old Queen Street Café is open all day, every day (closing at 5pm Sat-Mon). You can find out more, enquire about the private hire rooms upstairs or make a table reservation HERE.
Old Queen Street Café | 6 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP
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