Launched in early September, The Lampery is the latest restaurant and cocktail bar to sit within the Apex Hotel City of London.
Located close to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, this eatery takes its name from one of Seething Lane’s most illustrious former residents, Samuel Pepys, and his favourite dish, Lampery Pye.
Food is served throughout the day at The Lampery in the form of authentic British cuisine which uses locally-sourced ingredients. This venue has been nicely furnished with ‘u-shaped’ dark green leather banquettes and marble-effect tables. The vibe is relaxed thanks to the upbeat background music, and there are plenty of staff on-hand to help throughout the meal.
Before we had the chance to cast our eyes over the different food options for dinner, we sipped on some chilled cucumber and mint-infused water. It was then time to look at the extensive selection of expertly-prepared House cocktails. They were all so tempting, and therefore there was a hard choice to make, but with a little guidance from our knowledgeable host, my guest settled on the Cointreau and passion fruit-based Lampery Martini (£12) which was excellent. There are also a couple of mocktails on offer, so I sampled the “Raspberry Mash” (£7), a refreshing concoction of crushed raspberries topped with sugar syrup, grenadine and soda water, all finished with a garnish of fresh raspberries and fresh mint leaves. It was beautifully presented and delicious.
The artistically-presented menu is not extensive, but there are however enough dishes to get your mouth watering. Dietary requirements are well catered for and guests can notify the restaurant in advance regarding any potentially tricky combinations for the chef. We did not try any of the starters (named by The Lampery as “The Beginning”) which range from crayfish to smoked salmon, so we were served some gluten free toast with oil and vinegar as a substitute for the regular fresh sourdough bread and butter.
For “The Middle”, there is everything from a take on the famous Lampery Pye which uses a beef cheek recipe, to Cumbrian back bacon chop and lamb rump. This is not forgetting The Grill which is where you can find an array of different steaks which are cooked to your liking, and this is exactly where my partner headed for. She chose the 24-day 250g sirloin (£26), which was succulent in texture. Being a lover of fish, it had to be the grilled Dover Sole (£38) for me, which can be taken off the bone by your host if you so wish. It sat in a flavoursome beurre noisette sauce, and the Dover Sole itself was topped with lemon and capers. It lifted off the bone with ease and the flesh was incredibly moist when it hit the palate. I was in heaven.
There is also a decent selection of sides which each cost £4. A generous portion of cheesy cauliflower gratin and the tarragon mash combined nicely with the fish, and my dining partner’s sautéed English spinach and beef dripping chips went perfectly with the steak. There are also a couple of salads and other vegetables to go for, for those who prefer their greens.
At “The End”, my guest opted to finish on a sweet note with the strawberry jelly (£8) which was devoured with ease, whilst I went the opposite way and tucked into the Neal’s Yard cheeseboard (£8) comprised of brie, blue cheese and aged cheddar which was a fitting end to what had been a good meal.
If you are looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner in this historic part of the Capital, and want some good quality and hearty British cuisine matched with highly attentive service, then The Lampery is the place to drop into.
The Lampery – Where and How?
The Lampery is located at 1 Seething Ln, London EC3N 4AX.
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