We were on the way home from a day tour and decided last minute to dine since it was close to our hotel (St. Pancras Renaissance) and was so glad we tried it. Beautiful interior and ambiance and great service paired with delicious food made for a wonderful experience. For cocktails I had a martini which was delicious as was my husband's Old Fashioned. For dinner we split the Jaegerschnitzel, which was authentic and tasty. Although we were too full for dessert they brought us a special treat for our anniversary. It was doubly nice because the manager brought one and as soon as we finished it, out comes our server with another (not knowing the restaurant already brought one)! It was very sweet. All in all, it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it! read more

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Really wanted to love this place but my Schnitzel was so tough and chewy. The chicken version was much better. Everything else was fine so 3.5 stars from me. Wiener Schnitzel 29.50 Veal escalope, warm potato salad, lingonberry compote Hähnchen Schnitzel 21.50 Chicken escalope, braised red cabbage, red wine sauce read more

Very unique restaurant with excellent food. The service was spot on and would definitely go back when I am in London. Took about thirty minutes to get our check which is why I didn't hit the five star rating. read more

Good food and wine. Been here a couple times and it's consistently good food and atmosphere. Service can be very slow hence not better rating, you have to hunt them down to order and get the bill which is extremely annoying. We ordered wine which took 20 minutes to get to us, sat on counter waiting for waiter forever while he just faffed at the register. read more

German Gymnasium - Pork knuckle - German Near Me - London, XGL

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Great place to have a drink, but otherwise stay away! The ceasar salad was smothered in mayo topped with boxed crouton. My fried pork was cooked in rancid oil. The service was horrendous could not get a server . not because they where crowed either ,If you choose to eat there notice the expression's on the employees faces a toxic place to work,Also the apple tart for 15 was a frozen product horrible! Stay away!! read more

Wonderful schnitzels and potato salad. Friendly service and efficient. We thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor dining.

This very large and open bar. Has quite a history. It's called German gymnasium, because it was built in 1865 for the German gymnastics society. And hosted indoor events for the first Olympic games in 1866. It was designed by Edward Gruning. Much later it was purchased by DND London in 2014. And in 2015 it became a wonderful drinking and dining destination. We stopped in for a Cheeky cocktail... after seeing a musical and we had the delicious twilight cocktail... it is so worth it to go if you're in the area... read more

German Gymnasium - German Near Me - London, XGL

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London food is notorious for not being *that* great. However, this was our Go-To restaurant while we stayed at the Standard hotel and we didn't know where to eat. It was a mere 5 minutes walk and never disappointed. The staff was also cordial and friendly and service was generally quick. Our first night, we came without a reservation and sat at the bar: we had fish and chips and the burrata salad. The fish and chips were generous portions, my husband couldn't finish it. Our second time, we had a dinner reservation and we sat upstairs. We loved it as we could admire the beautiful historic building. This time we got the burger and the potato pasta (look for it under the meatless portion). Suffice to say, my husband didn't get to try my potato pasta plate. It was that good. And for dessert we had cheesecake. Very fluffy texture, and really good. Our server was a very nice and friendly gentleman called Antonio, please ask for him. He's great. Our last time here we got the breakfast. The GG breakfast isn't much to brag about but the yogurt parfait was delicious! Lastly, good selection of German beers on draft and they also have a large wine list and many whiskeys to choose from. Would definitely come back and enjoy more of the food and the ambiance. read more

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Came here for breakfast and to wait out some time on way to Paris since it is close to the main international train line in London. It was a good breakfast with good service. They had very good juices and pretty decent coffee as well. I would return for dinner and drinks another time. The restaurant is very beautiful inside and is a whole vibe. read more

We ended up at this place later on a Friday evening and to honest, I wasn't really looking for dinner but the family wanted to eat. We thought this place would be good and we were not disappointed. The food was excellent, service was good and it had a good vibe. Some of the food choices were limited due to the late hour but they worked with our kids to get something close to what they wanted. If you are in the area and looking for some great food that will fit a range of budgets, head over and check them out. read more

This place came recommended by a colleague. I was pretty hungry after work so braved the cold to sit outside and have the chicken schnitzel and the Apple strudel. The Apple strudel was delicious. read more

German Gymnasium - Apple Strudel - German Near Me - London, XGL

The food was good, but the service could have been better. I felt the waiters were not as attentive to us. We'd have to flag them down multiple times for water refills or to make an order. read more

Make a reservation and go. Beautiful interior of a renovated gymnasium with a rich history it has been transformed into two floors of bar and dining. I've been here twice and loved it each time with delicious food and good drinks. Their cocktails are wonderful. Service is very professional and efficient. Can be very noisy though-if you sit on the ground level against a window may be quieter. Had the schnitzel each visit and it was delish. The Vienna comes with German style potato salad and lingonberries. You can't go wrong with any choice. Apple strudel Was very fresh and served with a vanilla sauce. We licked the plate. One of the best for dining with friends- read more

Came here for drinks during Christmas, and then again for food when a friend was transiting through London. It's convenient location if you're travelling to/from kings cross or st. pancras to grab a bite to eat or drink. The atmosphere is up scale and a nice spot to take a breather between travels. read more

Cafe is good for affordable food and great people watching, dinners are upstairs and a little more

Tasty food with great service! We got the butcher's faire for two, and soooo much food omg! Two sausages, which were really delicious and well-seasoned; five, six pieces of chopped fried chicken with great flavors and taste; some roasted pork that were so tender and it just melted in your mouth; some thick ham. The mashed potatoes was less impressive, and the sour cabbage balanced the feast well! The only complaint I might have is that this feeds three to four people instead of two. I got the Weis Beer and the Gymnasium Gin and I loved both! The service was great and the decorations were so cool! Love this spot! read more

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We had a reservation but plans changed and we walked in same day to change it without any issue which was very nice! It is right by Kings Cross if you're in the area - it's very convenient. The atmosphere is very nice. As a vegetarian, I never expect many options at a German restaurant, but this one has many to pick from. The schupfnudeln was absolutely the delicious- would highly recommend if you eat meat or you don't. My husband enjoyed a curry "sausage" which was also excellent. They also have a full bar and mocktails. Definitely would recommend this restaurant! read more

Charming, upscale, and a great find! We were walking around looking for the perfect place to eat at and we passed up on all of the uber modern and trendy restaurants. We're visiting in London and we wanted something that felt quaint and rustic. This restaurant is the best of both old and new world. We sat outside under heat lamps and my sweetie ordered the Vienna Schnitzel with a side of saurkraut and I ordered the Schupfnuden. We were blown away by the flavors and the presentation. Stunning and equally stunning when mushing around our mouths. I loved how healthy my dish was - lots of veggies and the shaved black truffles made it so extra fantastic. The Violet spritzer was not what I was expecting, it was clear in color when it came out and it tasted like a weak lemonade drink. The watermelon ciroc summer spritzer was more to savor. We enjoyed this drink over the Violet spritzer. German food is very filling so we did not have room for desserts, everything on the menu looked delicious. The best thing was that it wasn't very expensive. Super affordable, really. Awesome backdrop if you sit outside you can people watch. Highly recommend!!! read more

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I used to dine, with colleagues and business partners, quite often at German Gymnasium before the pandemic. Proximity to our office corroborated with a convenient location for commuting made the restaurant a good choice for anything ranging from a brief business lunch/dinner to large corporate events. I returned on 01-Mar-2023, with a group of long-term business partners; the experience was so different than before - and not in a good way. Long story short, we received an unexpectedly poor customer service, which didn't go as far as ruining the evening - but came dangerously close. To round things up, there's no easy way to talk to the restaurant about the customer experience: - there's no Customer Service contact number; the only way to get in touch is dial 020 7287 8000 - where one can choose between "Reservations" and "Events" (!); - when insisting to speak to the restaurant, the operator puts you on hold; then, after 10-15 minutes of listening to musing, the line invariably goes down (!); - when writing to the manager (Ms. Olga Gay) on her business email - there's been no response for 3 weeks (and counting). Throughout the stay on 01-Mar-2023, myself and my partners were treated with visible contempt by the Grand Café personnel; like a nuisance to get rid of, as soon as possible, instead of customers. Ranging from - in order of inconvenience perceived: 1) Not giving us a bigger table, when the 7th guest unexpectedly showed up; Fully understand the need to honour existing reservations - yet on a Wednesday night, that early, the café was 80% empty... 2) Ignoring our calls, throughout the dinner; It felt like the waiter & waitress in our area would serve literally anybody else before reluctantly showing up to take our order; 3) Messing up the drinks order, a couple of times; 4) Bringing more side orders than ordered (and more than people at the table!); 5) Constantly interrupting our conversation, with irrelevant questions or annoying reminders (see #8 below); 6) Passing the plates with food to the diners, rather than placing the plates on the table; 7) Requesting the diners to hand over the empty plates and used cutlery, rather than collecting them from the table; Fully understand the space was at a premium - but for no reason within our control 8) Repeatedly telling us we had to vacate by 19.30. Again, everyone fully understood the need to do so - but when told every 5 minutes, starting way before 19.00, it became irritating to say the least... 9) Despite being told - repeatedly - it was a group booking, paid for by myself - the waitress decided to start collecting individual payments from one end of the table. Admittedly, the error started with one of my partners, who had to leave earlier and asked for the bill; but more tact was expected from a professional - e.g. look for options to remediate. Nothing like that - quite the opposite: she looked exclusively interested in collecting the money asap - and getting us all to leave early (!) Again, this could be attributed to high level of stress in a very busy night - not the case on Wed 01-Mar. 10) Issuing a bill for "4 Guest(s)" - when it was 7 of us all along. 11) Charging 15% Service Charge with no mention to it - and (see #9 above) no chance to argue with it as completely unjustified by the customer service received. For all of the above, I retain the customer service received on this occasion was unacceptable; and will launch a formal complaint with The Retail Ombudsman. read more

4.25 stars Without a reservation for Sunday brunch & without taking a gander at their menu first, we walked in to see if there was space for two; we took the last couple of empty seats at their glorious bar. I was eating mostly vegetarian type meals while in London, but the GG Eggs Benedict sounded too appealing to pass up. I opted for a single which turned out to be more than enough food; the base was not an English muffin, but a potato Rösti (similar to a dense hash brown cake.) The delicate Black Forest ham & impossibly light hollandaise sauce were obviously quality ingredients. I asked for fried instead of a poached egg. This was a deliciously satisfying dish. We shared a refreshing chia parfait with mango & coconut flavors, which was a nice alternative to a heavy dessert. I'd highly recommend GG, and that you make an advance booking instead of wingin' it like we did! The bright, open space is modern, beautiful, & inviting, and the staff treated us very well. Go here next Sunday! read more

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Interesting, sausages and all things teutonic seem to its modus operandi...works well. I had a hot dog, which felt strange as it's quite an upmarket place but it was very tasty for sure. Sorry no pics of food as was with work clients, you know the type that look at you like you're a MENTALIST if you slide your phone out and start taking pictures of your dinner.... read more

German Gymnasium - German Near Me - London, XGL

Very pleasantly surprised with this place! Beautiful venue and very interesting menu. Was trying to be healthier so ended up getting the salmon, which was great with a side of veg and a lovely buttery sauce. Nice for a 'fancy' lunch or a special dinner, the venue really is a lovely setting! read more

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This was a wonderful site to see as I exited the eurostar station in London. This is located right across the street from Kings Cross Station. I must give a shout out to their staff for holding our luggage while we dined. We had 4 large suitcases and they accomidated our request. They have a mix of both German and Austrian dishes. I chose the knodel and Swhammerl. A potato dumpling with mushroom sauce. It was delicious! Just what was called for with the cold weather. Staff was wonderful all around. Friendly, helpful and very informative. read more

German Gymnasium - Must have a heifeinweisen. - German Near Me - London, XGL

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Excellent sausage action at this former gym. We shared what was ostensibly a fancy version of sausage and mash. Dauphinois-esque potatoes, two pork sausages and curled crispy onion (if I remember rightly). Fresh mint tea was, well, fresh and served in elegant gleaming teapots. We were confused yet amused by one of our waiters. He was definitely on the quirky end of the scale, dancing along to the beats pumping outside. It was a warm afternoon, so we didn't want to be sat indoors. But venturing in for the toilet, I can see this venue would really dazzle for a swanky dinner. The interiors are huge and impressive and totally la di da. As a result, it's relatively pricey so I'd love to try it in the evening for a few drinks or three course meal (preferably if someone else is paying). read more

German Gymnasium - Posh German sausages and mash - German Near Me - London, XGL

Saturday Brunch in London!...Its so hard to find places if you are booking last minute or coming to the door, however this place is great for that. The brunch is served in the Grand Cafe part of this unique and historic building (apparently used for the German Olympic team back in the 40's London Games) and it is so beautiful inside!...Probably one of the nicest places I have ever had brunch in a restaurant that so little have heard of The food itself is amazingly good value for money with the brunches between £11-£16 but good portions and fresh food. You can also have really nice German pastries and Beers (German beer being the best in the world!) I had the GG Brunch which came with eggs how you want, crispy bacon, toast and german sausages. But there are also German style brunches based more on the typical German meats and breads too Only reason why I am not giving it 5 stars is that its still not as good as the Breakfast Club based solely on Brunch. Its a nice place for a couple to go or a group of friends and its nice and bright inside, friendly and attentive staff and just happpppyyyyyy times! Going to go again for sure! Maybe this time for dinner.... read more

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German Gymnasium at King's Cross is a worthy addition to the London restaurant landscape. The wine list focused on German and Austrian winemakers is outstanding and reason enough to check out this place. And once you're there, you won't do anything wrong by ordering a veal schnitzel. To honour my German heritage, I decided to head to German Gymnasium, a newly opened restaurant next to King's Cross station. The building looks beautiful and inside, the airy architecture is something you will probably rarely see in other London dining rooms. The restaurant spans across two floors, while the top floor is more like a balcony, leaving most of the space open, so you can see up to the wooden ceiling. Right between St. Pancras and King's Cross, the location could hardly be better, especially with all the new offices that are currently being built in the area. Despite I was coming straight from the WINE CA4R BOOT wine event, I decided to start with a beautiful glass of white wine. I was very surprised to see a Rivaner on the menu. I like Rivaner as a lovely light summer wine. Today, I had it for my dinner, because I perhaps could not handle anything stronger anyway after quite a few tasters I already had that evening. The Rivaner 'Clos des Eglantiers' from Domaine Bastian in Luxembourg was everything a Rivaner should be - fresh, a bit grassy perhaps, and easy to drink - so I was more than happy with it. If you like German and Austrian wines, this place is paradise for you. The selection they offer by the glass is broad and excellent. Starting with a few nice slices of bread, three different kinds and some butter, kept me busy and I did not wait long until I got my main. The veal schnitzel was huge and the warm potato salad was hidden below. Because I could not see it, I asked for it, just for the waiter to tell me where it is on my plate - a bit awkward. Really, burying the potato salad is unnecessary in my opinion, but when it comes to the taste, it was palatable and authentic. The dressing was not my kind of thing, but I know that it is one of the ways to do it - there are many different recipes depending on the region. The bread crumbs of the veal schnitzel were incredibly fluffy and it all tasted simply delicious. I was surprised by the sweetness of the lingonberry compote - actually, I think it was perhaps a bit too sweet. However, this sweetness complemented the potato salad perfectly. The different elements of the dish blended nicely and everything together formed a very good veal meal. After finishing my main, I was not really hungry anymore. But their nutty temptation, a hazelnut praline pot with chantilly cream and brittle, quickly convinced me to order a pudding anyway. It was a truly delightful dessert with a great hazelnut flavour. As I was sitting at the bar, I had a good overview. The place was fairly busy that evening. All staff I talked to were very friendly, and they regularly topped up my water. Watching over the bar, it seemed the bartenders know what they are doing. German Gymnasium is a place I will definitely visit again - a great showcase for German and Austrian wines, where you can sip your drink in a modern, buzzy atmosphere surrounded by an impressive building. read more

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Great food and 4/5 service at this establishment. I had the vegan schnitzel which was spectacular- I'm still dreaming of the smoky red pepper hummus spread. read more

German Gymnasium - Vegan Schnitzel - German Near Me - London, XGL

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Anyone leaving the north concourse of St Pancras station, or the new north ticket hall of King's Cross underground station will see this small but handsome and historic building across the road. It's currently used as an exhibition space by the developers undertaking the redevelopment of the area north of King's Cross, but is well preserved and is worth a peek inside. History Unusually for a building with an interesting name in London, the German Gymnasium was exactly what its name implies: originally known as 'Die Turnhalle', it was erected in 1864-65 for use by the German Gymnastics Society. It also housed a library. The architect was Edward Gruning. Paid for solely by donations from the German community in London, it is believed to have been the first purpose-built gymnasium in the United Kingdom. The Society was also innovative in other ways, with women's exercise classes introduced in 1866, and in the same year it hosted the gymnastic events in the first National Olympic Games. The main exercise hall was an impressive space with a floor to ceiling height of 57ft. Ropes for exercises were hung from the roof trusses, which are still in place today (albeit without the ropes). The trusses themselves are made of laminated wood - an early use of this technology. In 1908 a mezzanine floor was inserted, giving it the form we see today. Part of the western façade was removed in association with the works on adjacent St Pancras station, but a new façade erected in keeping with the rest of the building. The building The building is built of yellow stock brick, with red-brick detailing in a vaguely Lombardic style, although the windows are square. The roof has a continuous lantern along the ridge. Inside, the main hall was built like a church, with a nave and two tiers of aisles separated by a row of tall cast-iron columns, decorated with elaborate Early English foliage capitals. The columns are still there, but the mezzanine (with its impressive wooden floor) and subsequent alterations make the plan a bit harder to see. Most of the space has been painted a slightly clinical white, in keeping with its current role as an exhibition and conference space, and offices have been inserted within the structure as well. However, enough remains (especially at mezzanine level) to give you an impression of how impressive it must originally have looked. The building is listed at Grade II. Practicalities Right by the exits to the Northern Ticket Hall of Kings Cross - St Pancras underground station. The building has a lift to the mezzanine, a disabled toilet and level access. In the ground floor is a large scale model of how the Kings Cross development is intended to look when completed. The building is open to the public between 10:00am and 5:30pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays, and 10:00am to 4:30pm on Fridays. Free entry. read more

The oldest gymnasium in London revamped into a sleek restaurant with an elegant bar serving traditional German food with a modern twist ... an impressive space with gorgeous high ceilings. Greeted by pretty hostesses in geometric black and white dresses and whisked away to our table in the brasserie to music with a heavy bass. Dapper gentlemen waiters in suits plus other staff were very attentive and friendly. Started with a drink -- the 1866 cocktail -- balanced sweet/acidic orange. Moved on to the oysters ... Very creative side plate of layered pumpernickel bread and butter which was delicious! Friends got the goulash soup which was amazing (incredible depth of flavour)!!! Main was short ribs with snitzel -- was nice although difficult to get into before asking for a steak knife! Friends had the curry wurst with chips which was disappointing as it was on the sweet side and a bit too fancy for the traditional German street food (missing the soft roll!). Nice wine selection with a variety of price points. A large variety of desserts -- we shared the apple strudel with vanilla sauce which was traditional and good. I definitely will be back as its a great atmosphere and space ... I think the food will continue to improve as this new restaurant settles in. read more

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I ate there yesterday for the first time. We had to stop somewhere before we got onto the train. I have to say I would have given it 5 stars but I was just a little disappointed with the food. What was OUTSTANDING was the customer service. There was a mix up with my wine, and without even asking the waiter came over with another glass, complimentary. Secondly, I had two appetisers that I sent back, and they ended up taking all of the food off of our bill. I just thought it was amazing how great they were to keep me happy as a customer. Just really really great service. Also fab decorations. read more

Great place proper sized portions excellent quality great service One of the best places for Deutsche küchea read more

My father is from Germany, and I love going to the gym, but only one of those things applies to this establishment. First off, I am hardly an expert on German food, but this place is the most upscale German restaurant I've visited. As many have commented before, the interior is gorgeous - large open space, lively noise level, and well appointed throughout. It also helps that I went during Christmas, when they have the Christmas tree in the center and the Nutcrackers in the windows and entrance, made it feel especially festive. The food was on par with the atmosphere. I had the obligatory Vienna Schnitzel, which was delicious. The only knock I would have on it is that they could have provided a sharper knife so it was easier to cut. The accompanying potatoes were great, and the lingonberry sauce was a great complement. I also ordered the thick cut chips (in typical ignorant American fashion tried to order French Fries first) - these had a nice crisp outside, and well cooked inside, with one exceptionally large piece being less thoroughly cooked. Washed it all down with a Rothaus Pilsner, and I was pretty happy. Would definitely go back and bring my dad. read more

I've been here for brunch and an evening drink and both times i was impressed with the decor, ambience and wonderful service. The restaurant is in an old gymnasium which one might think makes for a stinky and strange dining experience but they've really done the place up marvellously! The food is all traditional german food and they' marked down vegetarian options which is helpful. Their cocktails are unique and served beautifully. It's a lovely spot to meet a friend for a meal or drink, the service is charming and the ambience is beautiful and the perfect volume for a conversation. read more

We hit this place up for our first dinner out in London and we had the best time here. My buddy and I ended sitting at the bar and ordered some light fare - smoked salmon and a few other items I can't recall but I do remember that everything seemed tasty and fresh. The interior in here is quite spectacular with a huge open space, two levels with a bar on top too, and classy touches throughout. The service was great throughout the meal and drinks as we talked it up with the locals also sitting at the bar. Again, we just had a super fun time here and it was a great spot to hit up to start off our London holiday! read more

Nothing special, I had the ribeye was nice but over priced. Pepper sauce didn't taste of pepper at all. Also had cucumber salad, it was so soggy. Have never seen cucumber that soggy in my life. Would not recommend. read more

The food was great but what really stuck out was the different bread served with the meal. Very pretty decorate friendly staff. read more

German Gymnasium - German Near Me - London, XGL

Great atmosphere and great staff and service. So much do I tried it twice. Maybe because of the Germanic nature of the food - I don't know - but this place was a let down. It was boring. On the second occasion my food - a ravioli was undercooked. This was annoying as I really had wanted to like the place. read more

Really cool building and they did a good job of bringing out the history while also creating an energetic restaurant for such a big space. Service was spot on. The food and wine were also semi-surprisingly very good. They also have an outdoor bar which added a nice touch for a pre-dinner drink. read more

Came for drinks, apps, and dessert on a Saturday night in April. We had no wait and went up the second floor lounge. We had the coconut shrimp app, apple strudel and salted caramel parfait. All were very good, the parfait was very salty, which I liked, but if you aren't a fan of salted caramel, you may find it too strong. I also loved the mocktail selections for this pregnant woman and the beautiful amaretto and peach bellini (look at that amaretto foam). Nice atmosphere and relaxing last night in London. read more

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I'd booked us in for 12:15 lunch before our train to Cambridge from King's Cross. When the restaurant called us, we were running really late. They promised to hold our table for us, but they said that due to bookings we would have to leave by 2:15. This worked for us and when we arrived, and saw the queue outside, we realised how nice they were to hold on to our table. We ordered the plain & gianduja croissants to start with. Not as buttery as we remembered from last weeks visit to France, but quite nice never-the-less. I had the schnitzel & he had the eggs benedict. I loved my schnitzel. My dish was supposed to come with potato dauphinoise or something, but my eye had been caught by the truffle mashed potatoes which were a side on another main. When I asked if it would be possible to change my potato side dish, the server was very helpful & the mashed potatoes were amazing. For dessert I had the hazelnut praline which was sugary but amazing for a nutella / ferrerro addict like me. He had the healthier carrot & chia seed cake with cream cheese which was good on its own, but when he tasted my azelnut praline, he didn't want to eat any more of the carrot cake. LOL. Despite reaching quite late (about 1pm), we had all 3 courses and were out by 2:15 without feeling in the least bit rushed. The service was lovely and efficient. Food, coffee, cocktails were great. Would love to go back when we had more time to sit down and explore more options on the menu. read more