Allegra – an absolute joy
Good old January eh? An icy chill in the air, plus bloated post-Christmas waistlines and credit card statements. Us venue finders needed a little cheering up at this challenging time, so a visit to Allegra restaurant and bar generated all the happiness we’d hoped for. Perched on the 7th floor of The Stratford, the newly built uber-cool hotel in, you guessed it – Stratford, Allegra’s stunning food, service and ambiance blew away all our January blues.
Allegra was brought to life by impressive ingredients. Patrick Powell, former head chef at Chiltern Firehouse and his team produce culinary works of art in the kitchen. The dining room was designed by Space Copenhagen, the team behind four-time World’s best restaurant winner Noma. The result is truly delightful food, lovingly served in a space which marries modern Scandinavian style with tastefully understated luxury. The main dining room is furnished with rich wood and soft grey upholstery, with modern lighting warming the walls with a gentle glow. A smattering of metal and foliage completes this chic and comfortable space. There’s also an indoor semi-private space for 12, an outdoor dining terrace and access to a breath-taking rooftop space with stunning London views.
The food at Allegra was truly exceptional. Their seasonal menu showcases classic European skill blended with modern techniques and invention. The house bread included the best sourdough we’ve ever tasted. Baked fresh twice daily and served with light salted butter and a tangy green sauce. We followed this with a delicious pre-starter of pistachio choux filled with a rich and creamy liver parfait, which was wonderful. Next, we tasted the crispy confit chicken wing accompanied by yummy parmesan dumplings, wild mushroom and sorrel. We thoroughly enjoyed the smoked eel pithivier. The cutest little pie with layers of smoke and creaminess, offset by a tangy chilli vinegar and a verdant thick sauce of parsley and garlic. Our dinner was made more joyous by the fantastic service we experienced. Our Sommelier was warm and demonstrated his expertise by picking out a tasty, low sulphite Lebanese red for our pleasure. Our waiter was approachable, charismatic and hilarious. The staff clearly enjoyed being part of something special.
Speaking of special, our main courses were spectacular. The aged Gloucester old spot pork cut like butter and came with lovely barbecued carrots. The wild venison loin was among the best dishes we’ve ever tasted. Cooked to absolute perfection and complimented with roasted celeriac, pickled blackberries and trompettes. This already stellar dish was elevated to new heights by the braised shoulder cottage pie accompaniment, which may be the best thing we’ve ever tasted. The tart rhubarb and custard vacherin delivered a light sweetness to finish a magnificent meal.
Allegra impressed us on every level. If we gave star-ratings, they’d get them all. We’ll certainly be recommending this wonderful establishment for private dining, corporate lunches, large group bookings and full venue hire events where quality is a must. If you’re planning a special event, we’ll tell you all about Allegra and the other excellent venues we can recommend. Contact Flavour Venue Search today.