Izabel_blue

Upscale veggie gets it right (mainly) 5th October 2008

3 found this helpful

I've been here twice now - one for lunch and once for dinner, and have felt *pretty* impressed both times, though I found it a much better destination for dinner.

The food is commendable: the menu is a seriously good take on modern British seasonality (minus the meat) and hence a bit more sophisticated than the global fusion you get at other well-known veggie gaffs, like Manna or The Gate. However, portions are on the smaller size, and you really do need to go for all three courses to have a satisfying meal out - my husband worries that it is a bit too 'set menu' and not flexible enough with the a la carte.

A few examples from their recent menu include a starter 'toasty' with home-made piccalilli and 'deconstructed' lentil dal. Mains are exciting too: mushroom duxelle with mushy peas, goats cheese and walnut backlava with onion puree, beetroot tarte with horseradish custard...

The room is quite formally dressed and modern, with crisp white tablecloths and chandeliers - very trad, quite classy. Front of house is good too: they've brought a chirpy, friendly staff from the original restaurant in York, and you can tell that they care passionately about the food. The only dull note is the 80s' soft-rock and alt hits playing in the background: it seems to compromise the attention to detail with the food, room, and service.

However, the food and service is good enough to compete with any posh gastropub in the area, and the choices on offer will thrill any meat-reducer. Give it a go!

LJRich

Veggie gets Gourmet Makeover 17th May 2008

4 found this helpful

The best thing about Vanilla Black is that you can take someone here without telling them it's a veggie restaurant. The words "Gourmet" and "Vegetarian" aren't usually bandied about in the same sentence, but this godsend to discriminating non-meat-eaters will blow any thoughts of "rabbit food" clearly out of the water.
Set in a secluded yet central part of London (3 mins from Chancery Lane Station on the Central Line) I adored the look and taste of my 3 courses so much, I made a Flickr gallery of dinner! In the evenings, 2 courses are £24 and 3 courses are £30. Along with an extensive winelist and a sense of luxury, I seriously advise going to this restaurant hungry - you will feel extremely full and satisfied after this thoroughly pleasurable experience - Say hello to Donna and Andy from me!

*if you want to see what I ate, go here: www.flickr.com/photos/ljrich/

mazphd at 18/05/08

I'm so pleased you love this place! when vanilla black was in york it was my favourite place to go! i MUST get myself over to the new london one!

:-)

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lingholm

excellent, best vegetarian restaurant been to 4th May 2008

2 found this helpful

recently opened - have eaten dinner here twice now - both times had an excellent evening with imaginative and attractively presented food with really good service. one night i started with the deconstructed puy lentil dahl which was extremely tasty and nicely spiced. for the main course the parsley and mushroom duxelle mille feuille was a superb combination of quality and taste. All followed by a sumptious chocolate parfait. the wines list is well chosen and interesting. meat eaters as well would enjoy eating at vanilla black. overall a warm welcome and an elegant dining atmosphere.