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Originally a York restaurant of some repute, Vanilla Black now attracts the besuited denizens of London’s legal quarter. Its look and feel are suitably sober. Presentation of dishes is as tidy as a solicitor’s file, with towers, wafers and other tricksy garnishes, as well as the fashionable use of extra hardware such as the tiny preserve jar that held the green olives accompanying our green bean starter. This haute cuisine edge extends to a few up-to-the-minute molecular gastronomy ideas such as a celery meringue crisp used to garnish a galette of baked blue vinny and bramley apples – one of several dishes featuring cheese. Elsewhere the kitchen in inspired by Indian, Japanese and Mediterranean ingredients, but we felt the flavours needed to be bolder. A vindaloo for example was no fiery feast but mildly spiced sweet potato with a moat of saffron risotto. Desserts include the likes of red fruits and jelly with goat’s milk and vanilla spread, and rum and raisin curd cake with tomato ripple ice-cream. Service was good and the setting conducive to business, making this an excellent place to take colleagues on special diets.
Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009
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Easy going, cheerful, with a cheeky smile, caring, intelligent and maybe slightly quirky. I'm very *London*, live in a flat on the Thames. Often...
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Excelent food, excelent customer service. Great Restaurant!
The dishes look like Modern Art!
The food was lovely but not amazing, and the portions were extremely small. My main course of leek and chervil tatin was the size of a jam tart, served with a couple of heaped tablespoons of vegetables. Vegans were well catered for until it got to dessert, where only a sorbet or poached apple were on offer, compared to delicious looking cakes and puddings for veggies, albeit rather small and pretentiously cut up into little squares. There was no hot water or soap in the ladies. Overall I was very disappointed and would not go again. Overpriced, overhyped, and no match at all for the wonderful Manna in North London.
Superb food regardless of whether you are a vegetarian or not, smart and relaxing atmosphere, discreet and great service. No hesitation in returning or recommending.
At last! Delicious, inventive vegetarian food. Also delightful service. Highly recommended.
Vanilla Black has a very modern and smart decor. This compliments the relaxed and buzzy atmosphere of the restuarant. It is somewhere special to take colleagues and friends alike.
With a wide variety of dishes there is something for everyone including a "vindaloo", truffled mushroom duxelle and a steamed cabbage pudding. All delicious for vegetarians and meat eaters alike and not a nut roast in sight!
With excellent service and wine menu, this restaurant is becoming busier and busier. Definitely worth a visit, or many!
This restaurant has the ambience of a clean private hospital with food and service to match. The food is pretentious and bland, high on towers, small jars and jus at the perimeter of the plate and low on taste.