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| Spring restaurant |
There's a freshly-picked quince on the table. It's there because it's seasonal, its fragrance is exquisite and it is on the menu. This is my second visit and it's a good start.
The arrival is undeniably grand. The long stone-flagged corridor in the West Wing of Somerset House, which used to echo to the footfall of scuttling civil servants, now directs diners in their best shoes to the door of Spring. High ceilings; graceful windows; white cornicing; and a perfect shade of duck egg blue on the walls. The cool blue and white theme is enhanced by ethereal artworks composed of white porcelain petals. The space, warmed by caramel-coloured chairs and a little smokey-hued glass here and there. A single, unfussy but thrilling, seasonal flower vase sits in the perfect place to arrest the eye and stop you scanning the whole vast space of the room in one go. There's plenty of time. You don't come here just to grab lunch.
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| Salad of quince, celeriac, cobnuts with Fern Verrow leaves and tarragon dressing at Spring restaurant |
We're celebrating so, today we put aside the Set Lunch menu. Agnolotti of buffalo ricotta, spinach and tomato with marjoram butter looks just like what it is, a plate of pasta. Surely one of the most difficult of foods to arrange on a plate. But the aromas and flavours of its ingredients are excellent and the pasta is perfectly cooked. The seasonal quince makes its appearance baked to a caramelised softness in a Salad of quince, celeriac, cobnuts with Fern Verrow leaves and tarragon dressing. Juicy, crunchy, aromatic, Autumn on a plate.
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| Wild halibut with spinach, chilli and preserved lemon dressing at Spring restaurant |
That appetite piquing salad was the perfect lead-in to Wild halibut, spinach, chilli and preserved lemon dressing. At £34 this dish was pushing the boat out, but worth every penny. A thick tranche of succulent flaky, firm textured expertly cooked fish, vibrant vegetables, and the sweet/sour pep of the lemon dressing. I only wish my photograph did it justice. And how could you not be happy when someone puts a meltingly perfect Slow-cooked pork with girolles, datterini tomatoes and polenta in front of you on a blustery October day?
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| Slow cooked pork with girolles, datterini and polenta at Spring restaurant |
Again my photograph does not fully convey the meltingly tender 2 cuts of meat, the intense jus and the smoky girolles - this is my idea of comfort food. We finished on Buttermilk panna cotta with damson ice cream and wood sorrel. The panna cotta here formed the base of the dish, its richness cut by damsons served as both syrup and ice cream. A few leaves of the freshest wood sorrel added a lemon note and a buttery biscuit gave texture. Given my own fig leaf ice cream experiments, the lure of Fig and spelt galette with roasted fig leaf ice cream hooked me. Right at the end of the fig season, the fruit was a little jammy but suited the crunch of the spelt pastry, and the caramel running through the ice cream made for a lovely version.
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| Buttermilk panna cotta with damson ice cream and wood sorrel at Spring restaurant |
The front of house staff seem to effortlessly pull off a focussed yet relaxed attentiveness which produces just the right level of cosseting. It's a well drilled team who can engage with diners who want to talk about the dishes.
Spring is the creation of chef Skye Gyngell. Her book 'Spring the cookbook' details what a labour of love it was. I confess I never ate at the Petersham Nurseries Cafe where she made her name. I know the Michelin star she was awarded there didn't sit comfortably on her shoulders and she has declared she'd rather never have another. On both my visits here she has been in the kitchen and, judging by the cooking, I'd say she has cause to be very happy with what she is achieving. The best ingredients, not necessarily the most expensive ingredients, are the foundation of her cooking. For me the best chefs are those who maintain a link to the land and a feeling for the basics. Gyngell sources from producers like biodynamic farmers Fern Verrow and shows an enthusiasm for making in-house breads, butters, yoghurt, ricotta, ferments and cordials.
This, I think, is a special occasion restaurant but there is a Set Lunch menu at £27.50 two course; £31.50 for three. Portions are generous and it's good value for cooking at this level. We could have chosen from Starters including a Fern Verrow salad, mains of Spatchcock quail or Onglet with a slice of Apple Tart to finish. On a previous visit in June we ate from it very happily. Including service, expect to pay around £75 per person a la carte with a couple of glasses of wine or £55 if eating from the set menu.
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| Fig and spelt galette with roasted fig leaf ice cream at Spring restaurant |
There is also a less formal, adjacent, Salon at Spring serving a simple menu and aimed particularly at those looking for a little something pre- or post-theatre.
For me, having sampled summer and autumn, roll on winter and spring for those set lunches - or maybe I can find another reason to celebrate.
Spring
Somerset House
Lancaster Place
London WC2R 1LA
Tel: 020 3011 0115
