The Regent Restaurant, London Restaurant Review
The Regent
5 Regent Street
London NW10 2QY
Tel: 020 7969 2184
The Regent was probably once a traditional London boozer tucked up a side alley in an anonymous part of town. How times have changed. Now located in what Vogue Magazine have perhaps surprisingly heralded the hippest quarter in Europe - Kensal Rise - The Regent attracts a very urban crowd of thirty-somethings. The interior is an diverse mix of tastes, with modern and traditional features sitting together in harmony. Chandeliers, old and new are a feature throughout as is candlelight, from candelabras to tea lights, creating a cosy and club-like environment. Tables and chairs are mismatched, with bare floorboards underneath, adding to the general relaxed style and vibe. Music is played at an acceptable level so that conversation can be enjoyed without being overheard. To the rear there is a spacious and airy conservatory which must be a real hit in the summer. Service is friendly and attentive with attractive waiting staff.
During the week there are varying menus on offer. Sunday lunch is particularly popular and served throughout the day and into the evening. At The Regent, Thursday night is Steak Night with a large variety of cuts on offer, the meat being supplied by a local specialist butcher whose Scottish beef is sourced from the far flung Orkney Islands.
To begin there was a choice of six starters, I tried the homemade fish fingers with tartar sauce. A pleasing plate of flavours, the fish having a crisp coating with a good meaty interior, and well-balanced with a balsamic dressed rocket salad and a homemade tartare sauce. My guest enjoyed a plate of mixed wild mushrooms, with plenty of garlic, which he commented was appetising with a good creamy sauce.
To follow I tried one of the six steaks on offer that ranged from rump through to Chateaubriand. My fillet steak with béarnaise sauce did not disappoint. Cooked to order it was melt in the mouth, served with proper fat chips and salad, the meat being full of flavour. My guest choose a T-bone steak with peppercorn sauce. He also gave this the thumbs up, saying it was substantial in size with a good flavour and tender meat. With this he had side orders of dauphinoise potatoes and creamed spinach. To drink we selected a Quercerto Chianti 2008 which was fine but perhaps something more full-bodied would have done better justice to the meatiness and richness of the steaks.
From the choice of five puddings which included the ever popular sticky toffee pud with vanilla ice cream and apple crumble and custard we shared an Eton Mess which my guest commented was particularly tasty, being creamy but not too sweet with a perfect mixture of fruit, cream and meringue.
The Regent is somewhere to try if you fancy a casual and laid back night out in North-West London that won’t break the bank. Then you can wander next door to The Paradise, where it becomes even more evident that this part of town has changed beyond recognition with the likes of Jade Jagger and crew partying the night away.
Louise Elgin.
March 2010.
A meal for two with wine costs around £80.00
