http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores <b>The Providores</b><br />London, 109 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4RX, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1s7d57
Review by Niamheen

Rating: 4.00
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I'd often seen a queue snaking out the door of the Providore's on Marylebone High St and was always curious, but I hate queues, I just can't do them, unless it's really worthwhile. I had heard good things, people I trust loved it, but could I do the queue? I just didn't know.

One bank holiday Sunday, an Antipodean friend and I were looking for somewhere to brunch and as luck would have it, there was no queue, save us, next in line for a table. She was a long time fan of the place, for me it was my first time. On offer is tapas style dining downstairs and fine dining upstairs. On this occasion we did the downstairs tapas.

On first impressions, it's a lovely room, high ceilings, counter seats and tables to the side. We got a table within a few minutes of waiting and ordered turkish eggs and sweetcorn and blueberry fritters with some coffees - a flat white & a latte.

So, we all know fritters, but what are the turkish eggs? Itâ¬"s a dish that hails from Changa restaurant in Istanbul (which head chef Peter Gordon is also involved in) but served also in the Providores - two poached eggs with whipped yoghurt and hot chilli butter. It sounds like it shouldnâ¬"t work, but for that reason, I knew it must, and spectacularly so, otherwise, why would it be on the menu? My first taste of that dish, was just wonderful, I can still recall. Perfectly poached eggs, sitting on a pillow of whipped yoghurt and wrapped in hot chilli butter, itâ¬"s just superb. The fritters were good, as fritters should be, but paled in significance compared to the eggs in my opinion. The coffees were great, a pleasure given how difficult it can be to get a good coffee in London.

So, I loved it, and I would even brave the queue now. Heartily recommended.]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:07:46 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1s7d571985510644 Niamheen 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1e99l7
Review by sue

Rating: 3.00
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I don't go out for brunch often these days, but when a brunch was on the agenda I knew where I wanted to go - The Providores. This antipodean owned restaurant had been on the to-do list for a long while so we trekked into Marylebone High Street one Wednesday mid-morning, hoping we wouldn't have to wait long for a table as my pregnant companion had a need to eat frequently, at short notice.

We nabbed the last available table for 4 and were excited by the tasty sounding menu. Coffees arrived looking good - any place that serves a 'flat white' is ok by me.

We ordered the Bacon Fry-up; the Paprika roast potato, caramelised onion, feta & edamame tortilla with tomato and piquillo pepper salsa, Greek yoghurt and rocket; and the French toast stuffed with banana and pecans with grilled smoked streaky bacon and vanilla verjus syrup.

The food was good quality, and the Bacon Fry-up and the Tortilla got the thumbs up, though the boys were disappointed with their French toast which they found way too sweet.

Loved the look and feel of the place and am keen to come back one evening to sample some of their tapas accompanied by some always enjoyable New Zealand wine.]]> Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:18:08 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1e99l71570609861 sue 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1689l8
Review by mazphd

Rating: 5.00
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Ok so i've been beaten to it by other TP reviewers, but we all share in our enthusiasm for wonder of The Providores.

Sharp and sophisticated the bar area is ideal for a late sup. Sit on high benches without table cloths, amid low level lights and revel in the quality of the 'wine of the moment': On this occasion a sauvignon blanc from New Zealand (well where better?!).

The best tapas i've been treated to in AGES, elegantly laden plates with sun dries, anti-pasta and more than pleasing cheeses! I have it on good authority from my dining companion that the chef is a connoisier of fine wine and unique flavours and this was not lost on us! I remember the aroma of the cheeses and how our tomatoes were de-seeded and seasoned to perfection.

Too full for dessert I feel i missed out as the passionfruit ripple with hokey Pokey ice cream, umeshu vanilla rhubarb and nut biscotti was a radient plate of decadence.

Will i go back?... You bet! And on an empty stomach this time!

]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:49:29 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1689l81947004747 mazphd 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/139437
Review by bombaybeauty

Rating: 4.00
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Perhaps this place is a victim of its own success. Outstanding food. The restaurant (upstairs) is expensive. I'm told it's good but haven't tried it. The tapas, bar area is at ground level. The menu consists of a dishes ranging from small bites, to soups, salads, to small mains. The ingredients are fresh, the choice of flavors unconventional but delightful. There's something of a new world/ fusion orientation to the menu and an emphasis on New Zealand wines.

The downside to all this joy is the service and the space. Unless you reach early, it gets crowded. And they have always been unfriendly, always. Granted some of this has to do with the tight space, but even then being coldly asked to wait outdoors till a table opens up could be done with more humour, charm, or good grace. It's enough of an issue for me that I tend to avoid the place unless I there's no choice, which happens from time to time when I'm looking for a place that services really good small bites, as this place does.]]> Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:39:13 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/139437406785129 bombaybeauty 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1c8338
Review by Sami

Rating: 5.00
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Hands down, the best brunch I've had in London. Went here yesterday around 1 and it was absolutely packed. After a ten minute wait (and we seemingly arrived at a good time because a line of about twelve people had formed behind us!) we were seated, and we started our meals with a coffee each, which were very good.

I had one of the three fry-ups they offered, but I don't know if I'm too comfortable calling it a fry up because that conjures up images of a greasy cafe, which is at complete odds with what I ate. My eggs were served any way I wanted them, on a piece of buttered sourdough toast, along with the traditional breakfast sides: lush smoked bacon and tomatoes and field mushrooms lightly fried in butter. It was absolutely delicious.

My partner had a cold sweet potato and feta tart which he enjoyed, but thoroughly regretted that he hadn't ordered the same dish as I did.

We finished our meals with a bloody mary, made with wasabi instead of the traditional horseradish (in North America, we put horseradish in our bloody marys!), which was a nice take on the original recipe.

The restaurant space is very, very tight, with a variety of banquette and bar stool seating. There is a space at the front of the restaurant for strollers - while we were there, 2 different couples came in and tucked the baby stroller under the table.

The food was fabulous; relatively simple but all really well-prepared and always with really fresh and high quality ingredients. I only wish I lived closer, because I would be here on a weekly basis.]]> Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:10:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1c8338971783689 Sami 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1v62n8
Review by tane

Rating: 4.00
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The Providores, one of the many flavoursome fruits of Peter Gordon's culinary nous, is hands down, an excellent place for brunch.

Although, it's been a while since I was last there, I can still remember how fantastic the food was. Tea smoked salmon - the name says it all, and the grilled chorizo - superb.

One slight minus is the lack of room in the tapas room, although maybe it's changed now...hope so.]]> Sat, 02 Jun 2007 15:59:17 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1v62n8547338132 tane 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1j22i8
Review by 24oh8

Rating: 5.00
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Definitely in my top 3 favourite brunch places in London. Best time to go is on a bank holiday weekend, as strangely it's always pretty easy to get a table and you can stay for ages.]]> Fri, 11 May 2007 11:05:30 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1j22i8633400336 24oh8 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1962e8
Review by jezzism

Rating: 4.00
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nice menu and good wine - friendly antipodean service - can get v. crowded.]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:32:14 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1962e81296433416 jezzism 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/142208
Review by idoru

Rating: 5.00
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Being a Fusion restaurant with a huge New Zealand influence I was bound to get here at some point. But it was much much more than I was expecting. Having worked with some of Peter Gordons chef's and even waited on him at a New Zealand restaurant I knew I was in for a treat of exotic and rear ingredients from Asia to NZ, France and Spain.

Downstairs is a no booking tapa's bar that does a relaxed breakkie with tall tables and giant Samoan tapa cloths on the wall. Upstairs is as formal as I've been in London. It's intimate with starched white tablecloths and interested waiters. Silver cutlery and I'm not sure what else because there was nothing there to distract me from the food.

We started with beautiful home made bread, I chose the cardamon seed, crunchy on the outside just warm on the inside, and with the creamy New Zealand butter! I was ready to grab the basket the butter off the other tables and go hide in the cupboard with my jacket to finish it off.

It was so hard to decide with the long descriptions, and it was hard to imagine how they would come out. So help from the waiter was required and he was knowledgeable beyond call and guided us to the:
Crispy spiced nori soft shell crab on avocado sesame puree, pickled tomato, hijiki and peanut sprout salad with wasabi tobikko ginger dressing. (13.40)
Crab, black cardamom, coconut and galangal laksa with lime leaf marinated squid, a fried crab dumpling, crab tomalley, green tea noodles, crispy shallots and coriander. (11.80)

It was divine and almost challenging food, with the intensity of flavour from the crab, and the richness of the laksa. The presentation was stunning, and the combination of ingredients intriguing. We choose to just have starters and move straight onto desert because we felt well satiated after our starters (and I'd just come back from Marrakech with funny tummy).

Desert was ok I went for the rhubarb (surprise surprise) which was described as Chinese liquorice panna cotta with kalamansi lime jelly, baked rhubarb and a coconut crisp. It was refreshing and the rhubarb so so tender it didn't quite blow me away but it was really nice. He went for steamed ginger pudding and spiced pineapple with Chai ice cream and black vinegar spiced syrup. Which we decided was more of a winter comfort desert. I wish I had gone for the hot peanut butter centred chocolate fondant with a crushed peanut wafer and celery sorbet. Which plays with that good traditional NZ party food of peanut butter in celery stalks.

For me the highlight was the wine selection, around 50 of New Zealand's best we went for one of my personal favourites from home 2005 Mt Difficulty, Bannockburn, Central Otago (40.00), a gutsy chocolaty number with berries plus.

This place is definitely a treat for homesick kiwi foodies and those who would like to sample the best New Zealand has to offer. With the 3 Providores representing us you can see what inspires us to be such fierce little food warriors.
]]> Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:53:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1i5do8/the-providores/1422081967108817 idoru 51.518704364243 -0.15223281218854