We had a wonderful dinner and experience with our two guests (from the US) who we were meeting for the first time "in the flesh" and also needed to discuss some possible business collaborations and se we much appreciated two things - the quiet, welcoming atmosphere and the fact that we were not rushed in any way - even though we spent 3 hours together at the table. We all have different things from the menu and everyone truly enjoyed what they were served (starters, fish dishes and desserts) - and commenting on it. I guess a Michelin star really does mean something! Usually I take pictures of the food but it was business - so not this time. Do try it yourselves folks - highly recommended!! read more

Pollen Street Social - British Near Me - London, XGL

Simple chic and intimate dining experience. Perfect service and beautiful food. The wine Stewart almost upsold me a bottle of French white but I know French wines extremely well, so I declined. He wasn't offended. And I didn't take offence. All in all, perfect lunch. read more

We had a perfect meal at Pollen Street, including the beef, fish entrees and the starters, the onion tart and langoustine. We had a very nice chocolate dessert. Service was excellent. Prices were fair and worth every pense. read more

Wow. Wow. Wow. Went here for a special occasion and got to enjoy the tasting menu and fine wine pairing, cannot recommend enough. Food: truly superb mix of London classics with an upscale twist. Some dishes defined by simple elegance, others with a playfulness (see photos for more) Drink: the fine wine pairing was really special, very unique selections expertly paired to the tasting. For cocktails, the famous Dill or No Dill did not dissapoint Ambience: elegant, but casual. You feel that you are some space special, but not that it is stuffy. Service: excellent. Each dish is explained along with the wine pairing Pro tip: get the cheese course. They come out with a huge selection to try from paired with amazing crackers (possibly fried, don't quote me on that though). read more

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Probably more like a 3.5, but my crab salad was really quite poor. I just can't forgive that sort of thing for a Michelin star restaurant. The braised shoulder mashed potatoes that came with the lamb dish were the highlight of the meal. Really flavorful and delicious. Lamb was pretty good. Gluten free bread didn't seem homemade. Butter was delicious. Dessert intermezzo candies/cookie were alright. Husband reports the soufflé was exceptionally delicious. Staff wrote us a lovely card for celebrating a special occasion. It could just be what I ordered, but I kept feeling like I was tasting the same thing? There seemed to be citrus notes in everything. read more

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A polished excellent restaurant - second time and just as good as the first! The 4 course menu felt good value.

Pollen Street Social may be somewhat of a mainstay on London's fine dining circuit, and we found it generally deserves the accolades. From the moment you step into the refined space, there is a sense of confident luxe. The dining room may be streamlined and posh, though it is not sedate, particularly as the night progresses. Jason Atherton's menu leans toward familiar flavor profiles, but his approach is not at all banal. Cuisine is executed with precision and finesse. The wine list contains an interesting array of options, with some highly rated gems. Service is top notch and professional. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience and think it warrants the Michelin star. Look forward to trying Chef Atherton's NYC outpost - The Clocktower. Atmosphere - Sleek and modern; a minimalist luxe that still felt approachable. - Some white table cloth formality, but the approach is not stale. - Pleasant din; neither noisy or too quiet. Food Jason Atherton's cuisine is clean, and a pleasant blend of classic flavor profiles with a refreshed viewpoint. It would be nice to have some additional vegetarian and meat courses on offer for the first course. The weak point in our experience was clearly the dessert course, as the Brogdale Pear lacked both heft and interest. We enjoyed: - Raw Orkney Sea Scallop (pickled kohlrabi, nashi pear, black olive, jalapeño granité - £22): Even as a non-seafood eater, I enjoyed this dish. It was very delicate and refreshing, though still flavorful; the granité was especially interesting. Nice, clean dish to start with. - Whole Roasted Goosnargh Duck (braised swede, quince, pesto served with a salad of duck leg in Moroccan spices - £79 for two): Loved it! Deeply flavorful, and the salad was interesting in and of itself. Wish the fat had been rendered slightly more; but near perfect. - Brogdale Pear (goat's milk ice cream, honey & bee pollen - £13): Least enjoyable dish; it came as a tiny slice of pear. Flavors were basic. Needs more than the bee pollen gimmick. Beverage Wine list is extensive at Pollen Street Social, though some areas could use additional options across a variety of price ranges (e.g. Burgundy). There is a nicely curated list of by-the-glass options. We selected the 2013 Domaine des Lises (Maxime Graillot) Cornas (£135) from Rhône to enjoy with our duck. While the wine had pleasant aromas, it was rather tightly wound and tannic. Would have really appreciated if the wine had been decanted to soften things up; surprised about this oversight, as it sat in the bottle the entire evening. With dessert, the 1996 Château Coutet Sauternes (£15) is a nice option. Service - Very hospitable and attentive, making good recommendations when asked. - Not overly mechanical or impersonal. - Failed to decant wine, which was unfortunate as it could have benefited from such. - 12.5% service charge automatically included. read more

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One of my favorite restaurant in London! Food was very innovative and service was attentive! I love all the appetizers we ordered and they are not just delicious but unique combination of ingredients (see photos). For entree we got the whole roasted duck to share, it reminds me of the whole roasted chicken in NoMad restaurant in New York (the presentation was almost identical). Their duck for sure lost though, I have to say this one was mediocre, a bit disappointed. We got the Eton Mess for dessert, it was super delicious. Layers from the crispy meringue to mousse inside. LOVE IT. Cocktails were good too but not amazing. Overall a great experience! read more

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For a Michelin restaurant, It was an underwhelming experience. The food was good, but nothing memorable and the service was extremely slow taking almost 2 hours for a 3 course meal, however our server was extremely apologetic and tried to be as accommodating as possible, which saved the experience a little. read more

This place has style, ambiance, knowledgeable and friendly staff, excellent food, and even better wine and cocktails. I went there a few months ago and I can't seem to remember my exact dish, but I do remember loving the food, but overall the experience is what stuck out (and my overwhelming jealousy of all the fabulous artwork!) Hopefully I will go back soon and introduce more people to the excellent addition to the London scene. Plus the 'breakfast bag' you get at the end of the meal is a cute, if random, perk. read more

Pollen Street Social - Red sea cocktail, fog included! - British Near Me - London, XGL

The service- Michelin star The amuse bouche - Michelin star The first course - 1/6 Michelin star Second course- negative Michelin star third course- McDonald's level Fourth course- on par with angus statehouse tourist trap Fifth course - five guys is little better Sixth course - Krispy Kreme is better Seventh course- Taco Bell level food Overall, this is not a Michelin star restaurant anymore. Maybe worth mentioning that the veg tasting menu is better. read more

I loved having a special birthday meal here with my partner. The food is gorgeous.. the service is excellent... and it has a lovely chilled atmosphere. We had cote de boeuf and it came with carrots, beans and Mac n cheese. It was very filling and we couldn't finish it. We also had starters and they were both delicious. This place isn't priced like Nandos, and probably not at the price point for most to pop out to on a whim (also needs to be booked in advance) but it was, in our opinion, very reasonably priced. It was better than most of the steakhouses I've been to in London, if not all. My only minor criticism is the use of space in the restaurant. We lucky didn't have anyone sitting next to us until we were about to leave, but I'll put it like this: I could smell her perfume above the aroma of food, too close for me. read more

Oooh was that lunch delicious! I went to Pollen Street Social on a group trip to London and was delighted when I saw the restaurant chosen for that lunch. The Yelp reviews were great and I must say I very soon knew I would be another one to add a 5-stars review to the place. Let's be brief: - Design and setting are perfect. We were seated in a small salon downstairs, absolutely perfect, chic, cute and quiet. A dream. - How much food can you eat? We had pre-starters, lots of bread, starter, main course, dessert and pre-dessert! All was absolutely delicious and I won't spoil your pleasure and tell you about the dishes here, but they were really worth it and both traditionnal and very original. Loved it all! - Service was a dream too. Very attentive staff, a French speaker waitress to translate what strange words such as "halibut" or "venison" might mean, and a special choise of dishes for vegetarians at the table. Perfect. All in all, a definite 5 stars and I definitely want to go back to PSS and spend more time there! PS: I didn't pay for the meal so I had no idea about the price rate, but I checked on the website and I think it's quite good value for money! http://www.pollenstreetsocial.com/menu/alacarte --- En français : un établissement que je recommande chaudement ! La cuisine était délicieuse, le service parfait, les vins très bons et les quantités impressionnantes ! J'y étais en voyage de groupe et n'ai donc pas payé ni vu les prix, donc je ne peux pas juger le rapport qualité-prix, mais pour la qualité seule, c'est un sans faute ! J'y retournerai ! PS : Après vérification ce n'est pas donné mais plutôt bon rapport qualité-prix ! http://www.pollenstreetsocial.com/menu/alacarte read more

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Beautiful space, excellent cocktails, sublime food, and near perfect service! From head sommelier Laure's impressive and effortless wine knowledge to our waiter's superb attention to detail from across the dining room, my first experience here will be one of many. Seafood and game were creatively imagined, expertly prepared, and beautifully plated. Bravo! read more

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I have been wanting to go here for a while now and decided to give it a go when a special occasion came up. We arrived without a reservation for lunch and took a seat at the bar. We had a great afternoon, eating and drinking, but I would have to admit that my high expectations weren't met by the meal we had. We started with a really refreshing cocktail. I don't remember what it was called but it had beetroot juice and ginger beer in it. We got served the book of little snacks that everyone has mentioned. This was a non-memorable diversion. Everything tasted fine but it was hardly an explosion of flavour in your mouth. As a starter, he had the crab salad and I had the scallop carpaccio. I only had one bite of the crab salad but it was tasty and light. The scallop carpaccio was just ok. The scallops, while fresh, tasted a bit heavy and felt gluey in the mouth. The normal sweetness of raw scallops didn't quite go with the kohlrabi. I really struggled with this flavour pairing. Additionally, I'm still confused as to the purpose of the frozen grapefruit. I actually was more impressed with the fact that someone had taken the time to separate all the little grapefruit pips than anything else! For our mains, he had the duck and I had the lamb. Both were good but given the £30+ price tag, I was expecting OMG AMAZING. It was not all that. The duck was beautifully presented with the purple beetroot really making the dish stand out. The rack of lamb came as two perfectly cooked pieces and the shoulder was shredded and formed into a little breaded disk topped with the fregola. It was all very tasty and you could not fault the cooking but everything lacked the little bit of extra oomph I was expecting. Given all this, the standout was really the service. The bartenders were chatty and perfectly attentive. It was a low key dining experience and it was totally enjoyable. We didn't want to spend a lot on wine, only about £40. I was slightly embarrassed that they sent the sommelier over but we told him our price range and what we wanted and he not only proposed an excellent French red but it came in at only £29. There was no upselling which was a really nice surprise! So overall, it was a good experience, made all that much better because of the service. The food was all well prepared but there was nothing about it that made it stand out. read more

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Came here for their very affordable lunch prix fixe (3 courses, £29.50), and was blown away by the food and the service! Although lunch officially stopped at 2.30, I managed to get a reservation at 2.30, and they were nice enough to hold it until 2.45 since I was rushing there from outside London. Throughout the meal, the service was very unhurried, formal and very attentive. Loved it. Food-wise, it was fantastic, and we especially loved the amuse bouches that came with the meal. It was a lot of fun, and we appreciated how the staff took the time to explain every component of the dishes. We had: Starters - Chiled pea soup, citrus creme fraiche, peas & gambas - Cumbrian beef tartare, sourdough crouton, goat's curd, truffle dressing & dried vinegar Mains - Roasted Cornish cod, English crayfish, summer vegetables, Scottish girolles - Roasted breast & confit leg of Goosnargh chicken, truffle braised celery, apple, endive & summer squash Desserts - White chocolate mousse, caramel hazelnuts, salt caramel ice cream - Strawberry & calamansi "Eton mess" Highly highly recommend the cod - it was fresh and amazingly tender. The chicken breast was very moist and flavorful as well. We had mushroom tea and cheese churros with truffle honey to start, and I loved them. They also came on a pretty tiered stand which lent itself very nicely to photos. Pre-dessert was also awesome, in the form of yogurt and strawberries with a glass straw. My favorite part was the frozen chocolate banana ganache, which was very light and not overly sweet. Highly highly recommend :) (Sidenote: We saw many of the other diners receiving a little bag of chocolates (?) when they left, but we weren't offered one when we left :( ) read more

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The food and wine pairings were spectacular. The staff was the perfect combination of warmth and professionalism. The ambiance was modern, fresh and bright. read more

amazing service and good interactive staff we met the chef best experience that I've had went above and beyond an amazing introduction to Michelin dining read more

We had tried Little Social a bit ago and we were excited to try Pollen Street Social. Expectations were higher and were exceeded! Various amuse bouche were served and the first was in a cute wooden book box. Presentation here for all dishes was special and added a bit of excitement. The quail first course came in a wooden smoker box. When they opened the drawer of this box, the smoke whirled out and the scents wafted into the air...noms! I had never tried cardamom with fish and just absolutely loved it! We were not huge fans of the goat's milk dessert. The goat's cheese ice cream was very overwhelmingly and took over the flavors of the dish. Hay smoked quail "brunch", cereals, toast and tea Line caught Devon squid cooked in cauliflower, roasted squid juices, ink rice & sea herbs Roasted Cornish turbot, bulgur wheat, turnip,pear & cardamom purée Roasted Creedy Carver Devon duck, honey & spiced turnip, beetroots, pickled pear Goat's milk rice pudding, goat's cheese ice cream, oat & milk crumb, honeycomb "PBJ" Peanut parfait, cherry yuzu sorbet, nitro peanut read more

I ate at the bar a few weeks ago and was not disappointed. The service was excellent and the variety of interludes and amuse bouche lived up to a restaurant of this reputation I started with the Yellow Crocodile, a drink with the glass coated in powdered sugar which you were supposed to lick as you drank each sip. It was a very complex cocktail and amazingly prepared though I would probably go in a different direction on another visit. I had the rabbit for a main and it was excellent but the highlight was the Eton Mess for dessert. Everything was delicious and Id recommend it for foodies everywhere. read more

I managed to get reservation here for lunch while in London. I could only get a table for 1 at noon (table for 2 would have been at 2:45pm instead). This was weird because my table was actually for 2.. They just took away the extra seat. So i opted for their 2-course lunch set, very decently priced at £26. I got a soft egg starter and a lamb neck main. Aside of your order, they also would offer you white/brown bread & butter and three canapes, which was uniquely presented inside a box. Food came very timely. The soft egg starter was delicious and the lamb neck was so so tender. Overall it was a very good experience especially for the price! It's definitely one of the cheaper dining option in london, at least for the lunch set. read more

Pollen Street Social - British Near Me - London, XGL

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It seems I had a slightly better experience than GrumblingGourmet with my visit to Pollen Street Social. In short though, I can't give it more than 3 stars due to the service, price and that the dishes were a bit hit and miss. First the service. We arrived at 5.30 and were told they were booked out for later in the evening but there was a table from 6 to 7.45. Not wanting to wait 30 minutes and then sit down we asked if we could grab a table right away. No problems with that. The thing they forgot to mention though was that the kitchen didn't open until 6.00 leaving us to pass the time with some (fairly expensive) bar snacks and cocktails. I wasn't too fond of my cocktail I have to say but the chipirones (small squid) were excellent as a starter with the heat of the green chilli they came with. Overall the service seemed sketchy and confused throughout the evening. When you leave you trade the key you get when you arrive for a small bag of breakfast stuff, but they forgot to give us the key. All minor issues that added up to a bad experience with the service. The food was quite good, at least mine was. The cauliflower & squid with clear roasted squid juice and truffle was tasty and light with a nice added element of the crunchy truffle bits on top. The heirloom tomato salad, tomato vanilla gazpacho, tomato sorbet and creamed burrata was excellent as well, great for such a hot day. Very refreshing. The mains were good and bad. I had the rack of Cotswold lamb, braised belly, sheep's milk curd was perfectly cooked and had some interesting combinations of flavours. The West Country ox cheek with tongue & sirloin, carrots, caper & raisin purée and horseradish mash on the other hand was really dull. The only redeeming feature was the horseradish mash which was great. The tiramisu for the dessert was a bit heavy for me and more like just ice cream with some chocolate crumble to go with it. It was OK but no more than that. If they sort the service and the dishes out I would consider coming back again. Funny enough regarding the dishes Jason Atherton was a couple of tables over with his family trying new ones out and commented on one as "a 5". Hopefully that won't go on the menu. read more

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London does high end dining incredibly well an Pollen Street Social met all of my expectations. I visited on a cold and wet Monday lunch the week before Xmas and the dining room was absolutely buzzing. Must have been all that Xmas cheer in the air. This is a big restaurant. The spacious dining room upstairs is large but feels spacious with a small pre-dining bar area and a sneaky view into the kitchen and a large team of busy busy chefs. Downstairs is a lux private room which would be perfect for a special occasion or corporate event, a very versatile space. We choose the excellent value 3 cars Xmas set lunch which at £35 was a bargain. The menu was gorgeously seasonal and quite complex. All choices sounded gorgeous but I went for the clever entree eggy full English breakfast, a gorgeous lamb shoulder main course and Thai flavours dessert which was fresh, pretty and light. The wine list is huge but the friendly sommeliers are on hand to guide you should you need any assistance with the many many options. There are wine to suit most budgets as well which is great. I would have liked to see a few more beers available - just the meantime lager, pale ale and IPA were on offer which is a shame for a British restaurant living large on its local produce when there are so many incredible ales produced right here in Britain. We we pleasantly surprised with between course treats - 3 canapés to start, a zingy pre-dessert cleanser and maroons with coffee. I love surprises and these are the very best kind! Rather than being stuffy this was an exciting and engaging dining experience. Many elements of the food were interactive and the busy, festive dining room made it clear that everyone there was having a great time. All in all this was an entirely pleasant way to pass a rainy afternoon. It's not cheap but it is a great example of the Brits doing a fabulous job at world class restaurants. Jason Atherton and his team should be justifiably proud. read more

Pollen Street Social - Mum, lamb shoulder with Malbec. So good! - British Near Me - London, XGL

I've been to Pollen Street Social three times over the space of a few years, and it's not what it was, unfortunately. The first times I went with groups of friends, we had a lovely time; great food at a reasonable price (considering the location, quality and service). The food was inventive, the service was warm and smooth, and I knew I wanted to come back the next time we were in town. When I came more recently, it was a very different restaurant; prices have risen considerably, and the food is more conservative, less fun. Service was very spotty; some staff were warm and welcoming, others perfunctory and even officious. It took a very long time to get our first courses, although it did pick up after a while. I can't help but think that this is due in part to the clientele; it seems that with fame, a different set of people have become interested in Atherton's restaurants. That's a pity, as this was one of my favourite restaurants in London. read more

My first dining experience abroad and I must say, they did not disappoint. We had a reservation so we were seated immediately, my two friends and I. We started with the Canape' which was an assortment of little amuse bouche. 1st time ever having such an experience but I welcomed it. I tried everything they put on the table, which was A LOT. Mushroom Tea which was served hot in a small tea cup. A Peach Sorbet which was smooth and delightful. A bread served with a cheesy like butter, they offered various types of bread: white, wheat, etc. My main course (pictured) was a lamb w/ shepherds pie, the lamb was cook perfectly but I expected a bit more portion wise. The shephard's pie was warm, smooth to taste and very delicious. For dessert a Pistachio Souffle which I didn't enjoy but I'm glad I tried it. The pistachio was prominent, which made the souffle green, there wasn't much flavor and the ice cream melted too quickly which made it soggy. They announced and explained every dish they brought to the table. Before the main course, the waiter came and used this little crumb snatcher to prepare the linen for the next course. My friend went to the bathroom and put her napkin on the table, they prominently folded it while she was gone. The manager or maybe a person from the bar staff even went so far as to run out and grab an ingredient they were missing to make my friend a particular drink they were offering. That was impeccably nice! I had a Free Ginger Beer which was quite strong due to the ginger which I welcomed but I was looking more for a ginger ale . There were several people involved in serving us and they were all polite, helpful and great at their jobs. read more

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Fantastic restaurant! The service, cocktails, wine and amazing food!! Get the soufflé for dessert - you'll thank me!!

Food is subpar. Service is over the top. Concept is good. Paid £100 each but it worth it. Not coming back here again. We went for the tasting menu. To be honest the food tasted like aeroplane food. Although it was creative, nothing really had flavour. It was either too creamy, no plain, too fishy and just downright average. They must have come to our table over 20 times. They brought the salt and pepper, then the bread alone, then the butter alone, then the water plate alone, then the water, then they swiped the crumbs off the table before and after every dish. I mean, ffs people, can we actually enjoy ourselves without you there or have a conversation without being interrupted? read more

Huge thanks to ASSI for rescheduling us when we were unable to initially travel to the UK due to Covid. Totally understand and respect your policy of taking a deposit and grateful to be able to apply it towards the meal when we were able to travel. The food was immeasurably unique and delicious; the portions perfect. The variety of flavors and textures was spectacular. The wait staff was organized, kind and attentive. We were impressed by the way the staff worked as a whole, attending to all guests and not just a few assigned tables. We loved and truly appreciated not being rushed, which is very different vibe than in the US where everything seems to be geared toward turning over the tables as quickly as possible . Thank you to all for an outstanding experience. Can't wait to go to Clocktower in NYC! read more

I'm dishing out 5 stars for an overall fantastic experience, start to finish. Very friendly staff, very knowledgeable bartenders and waiters, who really tend to you. We arrived on a busy night, still felt genuinely special. The food then, well I can agree with what someone else wrote about what's on the menu. Nothing stood out for me when I first looked but we'd heard that the desserts were great and I was feeling like a steak, so Rib-Eye it was. Not expectiv much from a still fairly pricy (30GBP) piece of meat - BOY did they blow me away. Best piece of meat I've had in a long while and I just tried out Palms and Goodman. Fellow diners had Oxcheek which just fell apart from tenderness with a potato pure to die for. We were then given the opportunity to sit by the dessert bar and talk to the chefs there while they prepare and being able to form our own opinions on what to have. They were all fantastic. Just right amount of "molecular" cooking with a pure explosion of tastes (who would have thought that black-olive ice cream or basil sorbet would rock your socks off) So yes, we did splash out and this place is not a cheap eat (which I tend to love) but it was just worth it. Because this to me was much more than dinner it was a full on gastronomical and guest service (which many people get wrong) experience. read more

Lovely modern french restaurant. First proper meal in London for me on my first visit. Came on the recommendation of colleagues, and was not disappointed. Had a 3-course set lunch, but with all the additional amuse bouche and petit fours, might as well have been an 8-course meal! Service is polite and pleasant. They have a full service bar and an excellent selection of spirits and cocktails. Ordered a gin martini, and was very pleased that the bartender stirred the cocktail by default. The martini was excellent, and served in a mini wineglass instead of that silly upside down lampshade they call a martini glass. My lunch partner had his cider served in a most righteous pewter mug. Food is excellent. Flavours are well calibrated and not overwhelmingly heavy on the palate, which Asians like me are more sensitive to. Had ham hock terrine starter - a nice mix of saltiness and funk. Amuse bouche comprised canapes - smoked salmon on bread, a dill cream cheese thing, and a cream cheese raspberry mini tart which was divine. This was followed by a mushroom tea with cream. Rich mushroom stock, and silky cream - tasty. Had the pheasant, which was roasted and served on a bed of fennel and endive, and an orange compote. The pheasant was well roasted - not too gamey and tender. The orange compote set off the flavour of the meat very well. Dessert was a selection of ice creams and sorbets - ranging from a rich vanilla ice cream, to a strangely complex peach grapefruit thing, as well as a surprisingly lovely lavender and lime. My favourite was the pear sorbet. Rounding off the meal was a petit fours of apple crumble and chocolate ganache, and a scotch caramel flavoured with Bowmore 15. A very epic lunch, a great way to start off my London experience. I could barely have dinner! Will try to visit again before i go. Update: Visited again with my missus before leaving London. In the interim, I read up on Pollen and learnt it was a Michelin-starred establishment. So I arrived with slightly higher expectations, and was not disappointed. My missus had the set lunch, and I went a la carte. Waitress suggested the special, which was a truffle linguine in parmesan foam, which I opted for. Had a seafood soup for starter, which the waitress suggested I have as a second, so as not to overwhelm my palate before the truffle linguine. Very thoughtful! The meal was excellent, and we were given the option of having dessert at the dessert bar, which we gladly did. Watching the patissiers at work was most delightful. The highlight of our meal though, was having the opportunity to meet and greet the proprietor and head chef, Jason Atherton, whom we saw from afar in the kitchen, busy helping to finish the dishes before service. He was kind enough to help my missus out of her chair, and I took the opportunity to gush about the food. He was most obliging, and spent a few minutes chatting with us about his new tapas restaurant in Singapore, Esquina. And he was very kind to oblige me with a photograph. A very class act, and I'll be sure to visit his restaurants here in Singapore... Once my wallet recovers from this very pricey, but very satisfying meal. Another update: it seems that Jason Atherton has divested himself of his partnership with Unlisted Collection, and is no longer involved with Pollen at Gardens by the Bay, Esquina and the like. read more

Pollen Street Social - Lunch at Pollen Street Social is an epic affair. Make reservations early, and set aside 2 hours for a 3 course lunch. - British Near Me - London, XGL

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classy, classy. my friend and i came for dinner last night and were not disappointed. she is always afraid that places get hyped up and the restaurant turns out to be a letdown, but PSS lived up to the hype! when you arrive, the hostess hands you a key which you are told to hand back as you leave the restaurant. i started out w/ the champagne breakfast cocktail, which was mighty strong. to start, we were brought a salt cod brandade and an appley dip and a small bowl of olives. we shared the crab salad and parsley soup apps. the soup was delicious w/ the truffled hen egg on top. for our mains, we shared the halibut and the beef. the beef was amazing and came w/ sirloin, ox cheek, and beef tongue. on the side, they gave us horseradish mashed potatoes. the portions are actually pretty generous here, and we were full, but who could resist dessert? there were 2 seats available at the dessert bar, so we perched there. we were given a scoop of passion fruit sorbet and lime and cream cheese sorbet to start and cleanse our palates. we then got the tiramisu and the pb&j, and both were FAB. we scarfed down the desserts as if we hadn't just had huge dinners. on our way out, we handed back the keys and were presented w/ a bag each of breakfast for the next day! the bag came w/ a bag of tea and 2 mini muffins. what a nice touch! this is definitely a place to come for a special occasion...or for no particular occasion at all! read more

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One of the things that I liked most about this place is that Jason Atherton was actually cooking in the kitchen. He doesn't just have his name to the place, he was actually in the kitchen. I'm not sure if this is an every day occurrence but it was nice to see him doing his thing in the open kitchen. We had the tasting menu which I thought was delicious. The things that stood out to me were the frozen horseradish and scallops (seems to be everywhere at the moment), the all day breakfast in an egg shell, then turbot with the cauliflower cheese puree, and the beef with the marrow crumb. All that was needed to leave me satisfied was a Highlander cocktail complete with Scottish weather cloud (lavender whisky on dry ice) which was probably the best whisky based cocktail I've ever had. Overall, the vibe was smart but modern (no white tablecloths and compulsory jackets here); the food and drinks were delicious; the service was attentive but not overbearing (very important for me), the lighting was intimate but not dark, and the open kitchen was a bonus. Highly recommended! read more

They had problem with out reservation so rather than figuring out if we can be seated they went into a meltdown over their reservation system. To call the manager an a/hole is an insult to a-holes. Would rather eat dog food than go back. Luckily went to my hotel claridges where they understand how to do proper service read more

Drinks: -The wine list is a 30-page exceptional read with favourtism given to the wines of France. -Most glasses run from 8-15, and bottles can go up to 2500 -Wine pairings can be arranged to go with the menu offerings, which was the route my partner decided to go. All of the pairings were appropriate and thoroughly enjoyed. -Bar Manager Gareth Evans has created a remarkably creative and innovative cocktail menu that changes often. I took a quick peak and decided that I absolutely could not resist. It was going to be a boozy night. - I had a crazy hard time deciding because literally everything struck my eye. Each drink featured whimsical presentations with unique and exotic ingredients including sweet pickle juice, toast and jam (still not sure what that is), beetroot rose, and "British eccentricity" (you will see what I mean below). Day of the Dead : (13.50)-Blew my mind. Yes that's a skull, and yes I ate it. The drink arrived with an antique style perfume atomizer, which the server used to spritz with chocolate mist. The result was an incredibly balanced drink with wicked sex appeal. Great British Cobbler #2 (13.50)-If you like big fruit flavours, this is a must try. It was sweet, tangy and beautifully aromatic, and I loved its British cheeky charm. Jimmy's Giant Apricot :(13.50)Again, a really well balanced drink, this one being the least sweet of the bunch. I liked the combination of the floral apricot with the tangy pineapple and the bitter plum. Fab. Food: -Chef and owner Jason Atherton was the first British chef to complete a stage at Spain's elBulli restaurant. -They offer an a la carte menu as well as a 8-course (85) and 6-course (60) tasting menu that can be paired with wines if requested -Not surprising considering chef Atherton's training at elBulli, there is certainly a significant molecular gastronomy influence in all of the dishes -We opted for the 6 course meal and decided to select a different main course so we could sample more (the only option we were given in that evening's menu) Snacks: Pork Crackling; Parmesan Biscuit with Tomato and Anchovy; Caraway Cracker with Whipped Smoked Ricotta Served in a big hollowed out book, these bites were a lovely start. My favourite was the caraway with the smoky whipped ricotta. Tartare of Irish Fallow Deer, Smoked Beetroot, Wild Leaves, Berry Pearls, Sourdough Crisps My favourite savoury dish of the night. The gaminess of the venison went beautifully with the sweet beetroots, tangy berry pearls and the caraway-scented crisps. Roasted Dorset Monkfish, Cauliflower, Dehydrated Grapes, Apple & Curry, Spiced Caramel My least favourite dish of the night. While I loved the cauliflower with the aromatic curry and fruit flavorus, I didn't think it worked well with the fish. I also wasn't a huge fan of the monkfish's texture, which I found a little rubbery for me. Roasted Squab Pigeon, Salt Baked Red Cabbage, Beetroot Stained Onions, Yakitori Pigeon Offal I loved the natural sweetness that the beets imparted on the caramelized onion, while the squab was perfectly seasoned and surprisingly tender. Lake District Rack of Lamb, Braised Shoulder, Fregula in Basil, Olive Powder, Artichoke & Smoked Tomato Chutney This to me was the better of the two mains. The lamb was flawlessly prepared, and the shoulder was cooked to a meltingly tender consistency. The star, however, was the herb scented fregula which offered a delicate little pop and brightened up the whole dish. Mini Ice Cream : Mango, Yogurt and Coconut Sorbet Where they get these baby cones I don't know but I would certainly love to find out. The combination of the sweet mango, the creamy coconut and the tangy yogurt was incredibly refreshing and fun. Cantaloupe Melon & Camomile Tea Sorbet, Yogurt, Sudachi Lime Similar flavour profile to the palate cleanser that came before it, but this featured an wickedly fragrant lime front and centre. The combination of the sorbet with the yogurt yielded a texture similar to a silky foam that simply melted on the tongue in a state of utter bliss. "Thai Flavours" : Peanut Cream, Green Apple & Yuzu Puree, Compressed Celery, Frozen Praline My favourite dish of the night. It tasted like a sweet version of the classic pad thai with a wonderful balance of salty peanut and fresh tart apple yuzu puree. I loved the texture of the compressed celery which lacked any stringy or fibrous quality, and the little bits of praline were addictive. Petit Fours: Strawberry Jams Financier, White Chocolate Ginger Lemon Chocolates, Macarons (Green Tea, Chocolate Ganache, Japanese Peach) A lovely way to finish our meal alongside some cappuccinos. My favourite little bite were the white chocolates as their sweetness were nicely balanced by the sour lemon. That sweet tangy flavour kind of reminded me of those yogurt candy covered raisins that I am completely and utterly in love with read more

Items Selected: Sugar and Salt Smoked Nuts Parmesan Cheese Foam, Mushroom Crumbs, Mushroom Consomee / Goat Cheese Churros with Truffle Honey / Black Pudding Croquette with sauce gribiche / Black Garlic Cookie with taramosalata Baguette, Whole Wheat Roll, Sesame Brioche, Tomato and Basil Biscuit - Farmhouse Butter and Brandade Bent on Revenge - Grapefruit Juice, Espresso, Palm Sugar Syrup, Elderflower Cordial, Fever Tree Tonic Chilled Pea Soup, Citrus Crème Fraiche, Peas, Gambas Haslet Terrine with Mrs. Brown's Black Pudding, Mustard Seed Dressing, Carrot, Toasted Sourdough Pine smoked Quail "Brunch," Cereals, Toast, Tea - Box smoked Quail, Brioche Toast with Liver Mousse, Quail Broth, Crispy Quail Egg over Crispy Grains and Mushrooms Braised Lake District Lamb Neck - Jersey Royals, Nocoise Flavors, Black Olives Roasted Squab Pigeon & its Offal, Honey Spiced Beetroot, Date and Black Tea Puree, Pickled Pears Yogurt Foam, Strawberry Soup, Cucumber Granita Strawberry and Calamansi Eton Mess Goat's Milk Rice Pudding, goat cheese ice cream, oat and milk crumble, honeycomb White Chocolate Coated Strawberry Ice Cream Cone / Raspberry Financier / Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Postulated by many to be London's next recipient of a second Michelin Star it was to Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social that I turned for lunch after touring The Tower of London and although duly impressed by the famous crown jewels it is still my experience at the sixty-seat restaurant that shines brightest in my memories of that day. Decidedly more 'American' in design than the majority of London's top tables, with a front-side lounge largely secluded from the proper main room, it was in fact in the bar that I began when I mistakenly arrived 20 minutes too early and yet picking at mixed nuts as I sipped a complex mocktail while chatting with its creator I immediately felt at ease, not a bit of pomp or pageantry to be found. Eventually led to my seat when the restaurant officially opened and soon greeted by a server sporting both menus and a complimentary second Bent on Revenge it would not be long before difficult decisions were presented and with inquiries of portions plus presentation addressed a six-part order was crafted, though what followed in the ensuing two-and-a-half hours would prove to be much, much more. Undersold by Atherton as "casual fine dining" considering both the quality and creativity displayed in each bite from the very beginning it was in a quartet of culturally diverse inspirations that the eating began and proceeding next to bread service far more inspired than that of revered local restaurants I couldn't help but overindulge, the eagerly replenished salt-cod spread something I regularly seek out menus and would have gladly paid surcharge for. Continuing on to things more substantial after a gift of pea soup from the daily prix-fixe the influence of Atherton's time under Ramsay became quite apparent in both bright colors as well as complex herbal aromatics presented on the plate and with the tableside presentation of smoked quail stealing the show from beautifully gamey housemade terrine in round one a bird again shined for course two, the charred organ meats of a pigeon aggressively matched by soft flesh and just enough sweetness to keep it all in check. At this point assenting to finish the meal at Pollen Street's signature pastry counter where a team of two tended to a half-dozen or so creative desserts it was once again to a gift that I arrived and with the light soup harkening the very essence of summer the plates that followed would prove equally inspired, the eton mess' crunch giving way to a fruity cloud of flavor while the stick-a-spoon-up-straight pot of rice pudding was carefully boiled before my eyes and served to be ladled atop a savory sundae par excellence. read more

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There is a musical genre that involves taking the finest melodies, employing a large number of classically trained musicians to play these melodies to an arrangement that has been planned by enormously talented arrangers. The purpose of this music is that it is then played in the background to dinner parties or dates. It is not supposed to intrude on the conversation. In case you are in some doubt the music I am speaking of is Easy Listening. Now superficially fine dinning can look very similar to Easy listening music. Finest melodies = best ingredients, army of classically trained staff ... Check and finally the planned arrangements by enormously talented people ... Well some chefs seem pretty impressive to me. The key differences are that for the price of a fixed price lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant most people can buy more easy listening albums than any two people will need in four lifetimes. After all the point of easy listening is that it isn't supposed to be the centre of attention and to my mind fine dinning really is supposed to be the centre of attention. Pollen street social has decided that there is a place in the market for a fine dinning restaurant where the food should be as much like Easy listening music as possible. It is all beautifully presented, beautifully made and there may even have been some clever touches (ice cream made from creamed corn) but at no point is any of it exciting. Nice to eat yes exciting NO. The wine recommended to us also pretty much fit the bill and none of them can have been considered cheap (I actually had more interesting wine at the 28-50 at the corner for a lot less). Now I recognise there is a place in the world of music for easy listening and I recognise that there is a place for expensive restaurants in the west end that serve easy to eat food and easy to drink wine at very high prices. If those are the things you want from your night out then Pollen street social may be the place for you. Personally I want my food to be exciting and my wine to be interesting and maybe I and my friends will spend less time talking about our jobs, our families and being sophisticated and spend our evening being blown away by someone else's talent in what can be done with food and just how good their wine cellar is. Oh and I still go to gigs that are too loud to talk during. read more

This review is based only from my visit to the bar... yet I wanted to mark it as I was very impressed by what I received here, a positive lead onto what reminds me more of the New York cocktail scene. You : choose a spirit of choice, and state any desire for another particular flavour (sweet/ sour/ bitter/ herby etc). Bartender : makes you a personalised drink, whilst providing mild entertainment around the edges. Not the interfering-with-your-night-type, just the keeping-you-a-little-extra-company style. And much appreciated. Thank you boys, I'll be back for more and maybe even some food... read more

Literally stumbled upon this restaurant and didn't know what to expect, but I was late for lunch at 2.45pm and was starving, I was pleasantly amazed by the service, presentation and the AMAZING DELICIOUS food. Highly recommend this restaurant and definitely coming back when in the area. What a find!! read more

I cannot praise the Social highly enough. Beautiful seasonal food prepared by one of the finest chefs in London. The lunch time menu is faultless both in quality and price- at 22.50 for 2 courses and 25 for 3, who could say no? I chose the two course set lunch menu and had: Ham hock with coco beans, squid and picallili. Followed by a generous portion of Yorkshire partridge with plum jam and kale. read more

I've been to PSS about 6 or 7 times. Progressively over the last few years the food has dropped in standard and possibly creativity. PSS still serves great cocktails and desserts though. Sommeliers have always been great here and no matter what the food the wine has always been spot on. Service is good cannot fault it in the slightest. read more