Overseen by renowned chef Angela Hartnett, Merchant’s Tavern is located in the centre of Shoreditch, and occupies a former Victorian warehouse. Merchant’s Tavern serves modern British cuisine with European influences, and the menu revolves around seasonal flavours. We had a booth during our visit, which I recommend if you want to experience the Tavern at its best. It’s a lively restaurant, which strikes a fine balance between casual and feeling indulgent. The restaurant also features an open-plan kitchen, so you can observe the chefs as they craft your cuisine.
To begin, we ordered two glasses of NV Marguet Rose, Grand Cru, Brut. A lively champagne, perfect to prepare the palate. For our first course we ordered Baked Pumpkin with Chestnut Cream and Pine Nut Crumb, a simple but flavoursome dish and the Chestnut Cream and Pine Nut Crumb finished the dish wonderfully. We also ordered the beautifully presented Scallops with Crushed Pumpkin and Pesto, which indeed tasted as good as they looked..
“More than just excellent food.”
For our main course we ordered the Roast Chicken with Celeriac Puree, served with Swiss Chard and Roast Onion. The Chicken was delicious, and the Celeriac Puree was beautifully silky in texture. My partner ordered the Sea Bass with Samphire and Dulse. Two herbs that brought a lot to the dish, the Sea Bass was seasoned perfectly and this dish really couldn’t have been any better. We added sides of Creamed Potato, and Cauliflower with Almonds.
We finished off the evening with the Bean-to-Bar Chocolate and Rum Mousse, with Pouring Cream. I enjoy desserts with strong rum flavours, and that’s what this serving delivered. My partner sampled the Vanilla Cream, with Blood Orange and Chocolate Tuile. Another indulgent and very satisfying dessert.
Our wine for the evening was a bottle of 2013, Mathilde' Côtes-du-Rhône, France. A perfect choice for meat and fish dishes, it’s a wine with subtle Liquorice and spicy notes, very enjoyable.
When you dine at Merchant’s Tavern you get more than just excellent food. The service and atmosphere are both fun and attentive. A firm recommendation from us.
The Bill: £43 per head
