Review on Rochelle Canteen
Set up by Margot Henderson and Melanie Arnold as a spin-off from their catering firm 'Nose to Tail Eating', the Rochelle Canteen is one of those little-known gems that has become a badly kept secret. It occupies the bike shed of a Victorian school that is now a complex of artists' studios and galleries under the heading the 'A Foundation'.
Inside it is stark and minimal, with a disproportionately large kitchen and rows of clothed tables arranged in refectory rows. During fine weather, glass doors open out onto the grassed-over playground. Strictly speaking, visitors need to be 'invited' for lunch - but that simply involves buzzing the intercom and being asked inside.
Margot is wife of Fergus Henderson (of St John fame) - so expect an uncompromising daily menu, full of sharp, potently seasonal ideas. There's no flim-flam here, just honest, open-minded food at remarkably fair prices. Feast your way through smoked cod's roe and toast, follow with snail, chorizo and chickpea stew and conclude with blood orange cake. On another day, you could go for rabbit rillette and pickles, smoked haddock with braised fennel, plus a chocolate pot to finish. BYO wine.
Cuisine
British
Restaurant Opening Times
Breakfast: 9.00 - 11.00am
Lunch: 12.00 - 3.00pm
Dinner: 6.00 - 9.00pm Thu-Sat
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card