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Benugo have a thing for ancient spots – from venerable institutions such as the British Museum and Westminster Abbey, the chain have taken their catering to a fair few now. This latest venue is no less invested with history, as Lincoln’s Inn Fields was laid out in the seventeenth century by Inigo Jones.
Situated slap bang in the centre of the park, next to the tennis courts, Fields is anything but fusty and old fashioned though. Formerly home to the Terrace in the Fields, the long space has changed little since then. With chunky blond wood beams and wall to ceiling windows, it’s somewhere between a sailing boat and a Scandinavian summerhouse in appearance.
As for the food, it’s unlikely to offend, or get pulses racing. As well as familiar grab-and-go Benugo all-day café items – muffins, sandwiches, etc – there’s an Italianate restaurant menu featuring pizzas, salads and a handful of meat dishes. A crisp-edged margherita, scattered with rocket and served fresh from the wood-fired oven, was decent enough. Cornish lamb cutlets were tender and juicy. The accompanying caponata was rather closer to a finely chopped ratatouille though.
Fields was busy with local lawyers and business people on our visit, and understandably so, given the attractive setting. There are tables outdoors overlooking the tennis court, which may also be appealing.