Typing Room
Typing Room - http://www.typingroom.com/
“Typing Room is located in East London’s Town Hall Hotel, built in 1910, and is named after the building’s original typing room in which all communications from the mayoral, council and judicial system were put to ink. Lee Westcott uses the best of local and seasonal British ingredients to create innovative modern European dishes at Typing Room. His cooking has been described as pure, natural and honest, presented in a relaxed atmosphere.”
A few months ago, in a desperate last minute attempt to find a restaurant for my partners birthday, I resulted in a frantic online search for something that would be a special surprise that was not incredibly overpriced but at the same time had that WOW factor and had to be somewhere we had not been before (which is hard!).
In passing a colleague heard my cry for help and mentioned a restaurant called the Typing Room, which she recommended as having a fantastic taster menu; she was not wrong.
This hidden gem in East London's Bethnal Green took me by surprise, with it being situated in the beautiful 1910 town hall complemented by its cosy atmosphere and a view of the open kitchen was perfect.
The staff was very attentive and friendly.
We went for the 5-course tasting menu (See menu).
The IPA sourdough bread was so yummy accompanied by the marmite butter. I could have had a tub of it to take home.
It was not on the menu but we had the "snacks" which you can find on the lunch menu. First one was Crispy fish skin, smoked cod, oyster & dill, the mixture of the crispy fish skin and the airy smoked cod blended together amazingly.
Then came out the pig's head & smoked apple which were little bites of heaven.
Next for the Trout, wow. So light and the flavors of gooseberry and horseradish.
Followed by the Yeasted Cauliflower, raisins, capers & mint, usually not a fan of cauliflower this was an exception to the rule.
We then had the cod, peas, girolles & lemon verbena. Cod was cooked perfectly and literally melted in my mouth and this was my least favorite of the dishes purely on the basis I'm not a lover of peas.
The next course was my favorite, Aylesbury duck, carrot & chicory. I could have literally had just had a large plate of this. Crispy on one side and tender through out.
By this point, the number of dishes have caught up with me and I'm ready to say my usual "I'm never eating again". She say's just in time for the sheep's yogurt, apple & dill to be brought out. Of course, it would be rude not to finish the last course off. With the passing comment left in the wind, we tucked into the refreshing dessert which was just what was needed to cleanse the pallet.
Can highly recommend this gem of a place. Food of the charts.
