The Water House Project started out back in 2015 as a supper club, which became a pop up, which became a restaurant, which became one of the best places to eat in East London.
The ‘project’ part of the name refers to their experiment into “social fine dining”. That is, the notion that you can have a first-class tasting menu experience in a highly sociable, casual setting. Crazy, we know.
The ‘Water House’ part of the name comes from the man delivering both the food and the conviviality, one Gabriel Waterhouse – a chef who fell out of the culinary talent tree and hit every branch on the way down. What he’s created is a restaurant experience that feels like part dinner party, part culinary art show. How? Well, here’s how your evening will go…
Everything will start with a little mingling over welcome drinks in the all-new, modernist Scandinavian-chic space. It’s got double-height ceilings, and huge windows to flood it all with light. People will chat, and weave in and out of the “borderless” kitchen set up around the tables so as to remove all barriers between the chefs and the diners.
You’ll then take up seats at either one of the two huge communal tables, or a more intimate two-person setup. Then, Gabriel will introduce the menu, and start marshalling food as it comes off the stoves. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and most importantly, fun.
Of course, the real star of the show here is the food. The new Autumn menu is a parade of inventive dishes, ranging from a silky chestnut parfait with cep biscuit, koji & lemon thyme; to some robust coffee & juniper cured crapaudine beetroots with rose, garlic capers & pumpkin; plump hand-dived Orkney scallops with lovage, celeriac & apple; flaky, line-caught pollock with juniper smoked mussels, seaweed & roe; fermented blackberries with fennel honeycomb, buttermilk & pine; Pump Street chocolate with 6 month-aged rye miso ice cream; and a lot more. There are 11 courses in total, and it can all be drinks-paired.
Then, when the final plate has been subtly licked clean, you can enjoy a nightcap and chat to your fellow diners, or even Gabriel himself, who’ll be doing a little mingling with guests himself.
NOTE: The Water House Project is open for dinner from Weds-Sat. You can make a booking, and see the full menu at The Water House Project website.
PREVIOUS PERK: Nudge Members (+1) enjoyed 35% off both the short & long tasting menus, including drinks pairings, 18th September – 2nd October 2024. Not a Nudge Member yet? Sign up for your free 7 day trial.
The Water House Project | 1 Corbridge Cres, E2 9DT
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