The Refinery, Regents Place – Tel: 020 73884979

Ask a foodie to suggest where to eat out near the Euston Road and quite possibly they will be left scratching their head. This corner of the capital has always been a bit of a desert in terms of culinary hotspots – however, things have finally picked up. Regents Place is a new pedestrianised development which has added a huge amount of life to this part of Fitzrovia, with an abundance of cafes, shops, bars and restaurants. It’s a modern space, conveniently situated near three different tube stations, the nearest being Warren Street, making it a very easy destination to meet friends from all over town. The atmosphere is a bit like being in Hong Kong or Singapore, as the complex is very contemporary, with steel and glass structures conveying a rather stark yet slick futuristic environment. The interior is relaxed and open plan with high ceilings and subdued copper lighting whilst the kitchen is on full view. The décor is a melange of wood, brick and concrete, all very fitting for the modern exterior of the complex outside.

The Refinery is situated on a large modern piazza consisting of innovative stone seating which has been pleasingly dotted with bonsai trees. On the night I visited it was packed with office workers un-winding after the daily grind. The music played inside the restaurant is loud, so if you prefer a serener environment I suggest you follow my example and eat outside. The welcoming staff provided us with sheepskin rugs, blankets and even hot water bottles as we commenced our evening with an aperitif. My guest selected a cool and refreshing glass of Chardonnay, whilst I settled on my new favourite, a French Picpoul with delightfully clean and fresh overtures.

To commence we shared a basket of Italian breads and some very good olives, followed by a very generous helping of appealing antipasto comprising of chorizo, salami and Serano ham. This was greedily tucked into by my guest who was making all the right noises of someone who is enjoying himself, whilst I tucked into a plate of feather light crispy tempura squid with a zingy sweet chili and soy dip. To follow, we both stuck to fish, my companion tucking into a hearty dish of grilled salted mackerel which came with tasty mash and vegetables, whilst I settled on a fish pie. This arrived in a skillet and was very pleasing on the eye, however I felt it was a little too heavy on the potato with not enough emphasis on the filling to score a high mark.

By now the temperature outside had dropped quite a bit so we went back inside for pudding. I was relieved to see the throng of after work crew had lessened significantly so the music was now at a level that was more tolerable to the likes of yours truly. We tried a rich and creamy flaming baked Alaska, served with plenty of warm acidic fruits and a juicy berry crumble with vanilla ice cream.

The Refinery is a fun place to go if you like your evenings lively. The food is good and the service attentive and prompt. It deserves to do well and from my experience last night it is succeeding. At last this corner of the capital has got somewhere worth trying.

Louise Elgin. April 2015.

A meal for two with wine and water is around £110.00

The Refinery
Brock Street
Regents Place
London NW1
Tel: 020 73884979

https://www.facebook.com/therefineryregentsplace