Sunday Best: 5 Roasts to Try in London This OctoberBy Alicia Grimshaw
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Cable knits are out, the leaves have turned golden, log fires are back, and so is our penchant for a proper Sunday roast. Whether you’re after a classic British favourite or a modern twist, here’s where to get your roast fix across London this month:
The Lowdown: Down by the water, Roe – the offshoot from the team behind HERD – is giving the classic Sunday roast a little ceremony. Its Feasting Platter, made for sharing, brings together perfectly cooked Porchetta, roast chicken and steak, with all the expected trimmings done properly: crisp roast potatoes, swede mash, braised cabbage and rich gravy. The standout? A Yorkshire pudding stuffed with Jacob’s Ladder (aka a beef short rib).
The Lowdown: The team at Dante’s pop-up in Claridge’s Restaurant have rolled out a brand-new American take on the British roast each weekend. Highlights include Surf & Turf (available on Saturdays) featuring beef fillet, lobster and potato rosti, and the classic Roasted Herefordshire Sirloin of Beef (available on Sundays), served with Mac & Cheese for a touch of NYC flair. To drink, brunch cocktails with Dante’s twist line the restaurant’s high-gloss tortoiseshell bar, including the Cold Pressed Bloody Mary, made with cold-pressed vegetables, fennel salt, horseradish and pickles, and the Seasonal Bellini, using autumn-spiced pear.
The Lowdown: Applebee’s celebrates the great British Sunday tradition with a seafood twist, showcasing sustainably sourced British seafood in exciting new recipes crafted by Executive Chef Frankie van Loo. Alongside their à la carte menu, they serve two Sunday specials: beautifully crafted roasts made with the finest seasonal ingredients. Choose between the Salmon en Croûte, featuring perfectly cooked salmon encased in crisp golden pastry and served with a rich, velvety hollandaise sauce, or the Roasted Turbot, cooked over the open-fire grill and finished with a glossy roast chicken wing gravy. Both dishes are accompanied by all the essential trimmings – creamy cauliflower cheese, seasonal greens, and buttery Jersey Royal potatoes.
The Lowdown: Chef Tom De Keyser (formerly Head Chef at the two Michelin-starred The Hand & Flowers) brings a new level of gastropub dining to Chelsea with The Chalk Freehouse. The pub’s Sunday roast menu puts a refined spin on classic favourites, from The Hand & Flowers’ signature Chicken and Duck Liver Parfait with poultry jelly and apricot chutney, to a 30-day Dry-Aged Rib of Beef Roast with buttered heritage carrots, roast potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding. For dessert, a warm Pork Fat Chelsea Bun comes with smooth vanilla custard.
The Lowdown: Temper’s roasts come with crispy beef-fat potatoes, gigantic Yorkshire puddings, honey-glazed carrots, and rich 16-hour gravy. Choose between roast aged beef, roasted Mount Grace pork loin, smoked and pulled lamb shoulder or smoked Yorkshire chicken for a feast you won’t forget. In the mood to indulge? Opt for the ‘family-style’ roast. Serving two people, this feast features three different types of meat and all the accompanying garnishes. If you’re feeling parched, you can add on 90 minutes of free-flowing wine. Choose between Grillo, Sangiovese or Prosecco for the ultimate Sunday feasting experience.
Alicia is a features writer at About Time. A Northerner with a passion for eggs, brunch & HIIT, she can usually be found wearing matching prints and battling press releases. Don’t ever tell her your brand is ‘guilt-free’.
