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What is 'following'?Restaurant: British
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Time Out says 1 Users say Rate it
The atmosphere at Magdalen is low-key and quite romantic, with tea lights flickering on white-clothed tables and classical music playing quietly. The small bar area and simple dining room epitomise discreet sophistication; it's as though the big guns have been saved for the menu. What this short, frequently changing carte lacks in length, it makes up for in creativity. Ingredients are chosen with evident care and treated with respect, neither too fussily nor too plainly.
The kitchen certainly knows how to pair flavours. A simple fried duck egg was offset beautifully by smoked anchovies. Silky-smooth chilled fennel soup spiked with Pernod sang with Provençal flavours, and a generous portion of wild salmon served on Alsace-style choucroute was cooked to pink translucence. For afters, there's a selection of cheeses from Neal's Yard and from an affineur in France; or, for sweet-lovers, classics such as pear and almond tart or caramelised rice pudding.
The wine list focuses on France, with some good bottles from the wider Continent and the New World, and there's a decent by-the-glass selection. Service was friendly and suitably unfussy. Magdalen is excellent value at dinner and the set lunch is more of a bargain.
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Magdalen details
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What is 'following'?020 7403 1342
Lunch served noon-2.30pm Mon-Fri. Dinner served 6.30-10pm Mon-Sat
Main courses £13.50-£20. Set lunch £15.50 2 courses, £18.50 3 courses
Credit cards AmEx, MC, V
Facilities
Babies and children admitted, Booking advisable, Separate rooms for parties ( seating 8-35 ), Disabled ( toilet )Magdalen map
Restaurants & cafés near Magdalen
See all restaurants near MagdalenComments & ratings 5/5 (Average of 1 rating)
Excellent food with attentive yet unobtrusive service. Surprisingly busy every time I visit - clearly the City suits have found out about this place. I've gone there for several lunches with both friends and colleagues, and everyone loves it. We once had a client lunch where we needed to be in and out in an hour, so I called in advance and expalined the situation. Once we arrived no further explanation was needed, and everything ran like clockwork. I really can't find fault with Magdalen: it might not be buzzy or trendy enough for everyone, but you don't come to Magdalen for cool, you come for good food.
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