Tea with Mr Wilde...

From Napolean III's Chef...

After one visit to Kettner's a year or so ago, I fell in love with the place. Every opportunity I could, I would try to go there - dinner, 30th birthday celebrations, brunch, anything and everything. I even tried to get everyone else on the band wagon! Alas the opportunity never truly presented itself till last weekend...

A friend wanted to do afternoon tea and as I had been wanting to try the Kettner's version, it was my first suggestion. We were not disappointed.
 
Arriving at our table on a cold Saturday afternoon, we were keen to tuck in quick smart. At 3pm the place was buzzing and we were surrounded by like minded couples and groups. Picking our teas (English Breakfast & Rooibos Breakfast) from the list, we sat back ready to devour all that arrived on the 3 tiered display. How pretty it was! Almost too pretty to  eat... almost.

Break it down now:

TOP TIER: Homemade scones with clotted cream & preserves, apple and cinnamon macaroon and orange posset with pomegranate. Scones were a lovely texture, the preserve yum and the clotted cream... mmmm. The macaroon wasn't the best I'd tasted (there was too much 'feet') and the texture was too crunchy. The orange posset was lovely and resembled a softer cheesecake without the biscuit base.

MIDDLE TIER: Traditional finger sandwiches: smoked salmon & cream cheese; cucumber, ham & English mustard, and egg & cress. So delicately put together and cut, these went down a treat with their well balanced flavour pairings.

BOTTOM TIER: milk chocolate and violet profiteroles, millionaire's shortbread and coconut & white chocolate rocher. All of these were pretty damn tasty. Absolute favourite? The profiteroles which had what almost tasted like a coffee/caramelly centre. Should have saved this one for last!
 

I love Kettner's for it's history (Oscar Wilde, Edward VII, Lillie Langtry, Agatha Christie and Bing Crosby have all been known to visit!), it's beautiful surrounds and surprisingly for the place that it is, it's ambiance. It's casual yet fancy, grown up and fun. The food has always been pretty damn good, the pricing surprisingly affordable and the service top notch. Nothing to really complain about in Central London!

What about the price you ask? For such a fancy place surely it'd be a mint. Nope, Traditional Afternoon Tea was £18.67 - the year Kettner's first opened. Were we full? Arriving on an empty stomach, I absolutely was. One thing for next time, add a tea inspired cocktail to the mix - they looked delicious!

Would we come back? Yes. Yeap. Yuh-huh.

Christmas Sunday Lunch has already been planned as well as a visit to their Gin & Jazz Tuesdays... I don't see Kettner's coming off my fave list anytime soon...

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Kettner's can be found at:

29 Romilly Street
Soho, London W1D 5HP

Tel: 020 7734 6112
Email: reservations@kettners.com

Brasserie Opening Hours:
Mon to Wed: 12noon - 10.45pm
Thurs to Sat: 12noon - 11.15pm
Sun & Bank Holidays: 12noon - 9.15pm

They don't get CRAZY busy but they do suggest booking a table just incase.

Even better, they are on TasteCard deals so even more of a bargain!