Acorn House

According to the Times' Acorn House is the most important restaurant to open in London in 200 years because it is London's first truly environmentally sustainable restaurant. The restaurant is built from organic and recycled materials, it composts or recycles 100 per cent of its wastes, demands positive animal husbandry, avoids industrial farming, uses green electricity, buys Fairtrade where possible and never uses airfreight. Wow!

I haven't tried it sooner because the prices edge on the higher limit for my lunchtime budget. But I recently discovered they do a lunch deal of soup and half a sandwich for about 6.00. I tried the beetroot soup with cardamom and sour cream and a bresaolo and goats cheese sandwich on brown bread. It being a sunny day I decided to enjoy my meal in a local sunny square so I can't really comment on a full dining experience at Acorn House. But from what I observed the staff seemed friendly and cheery and seemed to be enjoying what they were doing. Service for takeaway could have been a little quicker but I was enjoying looking around. The restaurant was bright and airy and the food was great. The colour of the beetroot soup was rich and bright. I've never seen anything more pink - which I chalk up to the quality of the ingredients. Absolutely delicious! The bresaolo was sweet and musty and went perfectly with the buttery goats cheese. Total bill, with a bottle of water came to a little over 7. My only criticism would be that the portions could have been a little bigger for the price.

Based on this experience I'll definitely check Acorn House out properly soon. So expect another follow up review.