Roganic

My wife and I travel a lot, and also eat out in and around London frequently. All told maybe our main meal is in a restaurant 150 times a year and in about 100 different restaurants . So its kind of easy for us to get a little jaded. And then you try somewhere like Roganic. The lunch we had Saturday- our first visit, was one on the best ten meals I've eaten in London ever. Its the only place I've found in years that can challenge Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road, or Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley. There are others able to turn out a course or two at this level- Jason Atherton and Tom Aikens spring to mind- but here we had six courses and every one was cooked and presented pretty near perfectly. There were two things that we didn't enjoy so much- the beetroot course was a bit bland and the parsnip milkshake post -dessert- well I really am not a fan of milkshakes anywhere. But they were still really well-done.

Great service- smiley, chatty. A nice wine- and though I might think that £42 for a Chilean red was a little dear, it was very tasty. Decent home-baked bread. We've already booked to go back next month.

Gripes? Well whilst the food and service are great I'm not sure Roganic can yet do "occasion" . For us it wasn't an occasion, but had it been a birthday or anniversary, or a celebration with friends, I think a more upscale environment and a slightly slower pace would work better. Thats something that Royal Hospital Road and the Berkeley do really well. They understand that their meals are expensive and deliver a totality of experience that makes that seem appropriate. The other and related quibble is that despite six courses and three of their bread rolls, I came away thinking that I'd like to have eaten just a little bit more.

But I repeat in terms of food quality the best new find for use in the last several years.
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David Henderson
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 14, 2013

We went for our second trip to Roganic a few days before Christmas. I had the time of my life with the three course menu in the summer, and I now wanted to experience some winter veg Roganic-style. My boyfriend is vegetarian, so I love that you can opt for a veg only menu at Roganic. The veg is the star, and what incredible veg.

This time we went for the 10 courses. Every dish was special and made a lovely tasty memory for me to take away and salivate over on a regular basis. The vegetarian menu actually has many dishes in common with the meat and fish menu. It shows how highly the Roganic team value their incredible vegetable produce.

We had two glasses of wine that were paired with the menu for us, both were fantastic. Service is informal but informed, which matches us down to the ground. Friendly and funny but not overbearing, we like Roganic very much.
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Reb
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Stunning.

The flavour combinations and use of ingredients are really imaginative and work brilliantly. We chose to have the vegetarian set 10-course menu and the meat/fish one - simply so we could taste all the dishes on offer.

Both menus were excellent - standout dishes were the grilled salad, the hake with chicken skin [it just works] and the duck. We'd probably have preferred more desserts [2] and fewer savoury dishes but that's a minor quibble.

If you like good food and enjoy seeing what amazing combinations a chef can create then visit here. The staff are friendly and the service is slick.
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cut2qwik - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, August 05, 2012

Roganic is simply the best restaurant in London. And that is saying something as it is currently pop-up restaurant.

I have not had a chance to dine at L'Enclume but would be delighted to travel to Cumbria if the food is anything like that of Roganic. The food is outstanding, in taste, presentation, and innovation. The staff are wonderfully attentive and have a genuine passion for the restaurant and have a great depth of knowledge for the menu, which changes daily. The atmosphere is refreshingly relaxed for what will no doubt be a Michelin starred restaurant when they hopefully open a permanent version in 2013. What is more the prices are incredibly reasonable for the superior experience.

Seriously considering dining here once a month - bank manager, second job permitting.

Perfect.
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Syracuse Rising
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, March 08, 2012

Return to Roganic - We went back for a long afternoon lunch on a rare sunshine day and despite my misgivings (as to the service and menu rotation) on my prior visit . Simply put Roganic hit it out of thepark as us transplanted Yanks say (even after being transplanted) or as the locals ((may) put it hit a wicket or a rounder or whatever other incomprehensible cricket term is equivalent to a home run ( (treble for you football fans). Perhaps it was the attention to detail or the sheer desire to please but the restaurant was packed (yes, even on a sunny day) and the service astonishing. I counted at least 4 different servers for wine, food, clearing and general ambience and chit chat, which was very helpful when we received some in depth explanations of the organic wines offered for the Roganic meal (try the Oregon 09 Sokol Blosser/ Pinot Gris for something very crisp applely and perfect for the light afternoon meal). And what a meal it was. Again we went with the 6 course - but this time with different dishes - and I was astounded by the quality and presentation - even better than last time : starting ou with the Millet Pudding and burnt pear, which was filling and very light, we went on t o the cured and smoked Dorset Char (literally under glass- you have to be there..) and then to Skate belly, Cumbrian rose veal and a Baileys milkshake for desert. They even substituted dishes because I had had a few of the same items on a prior visit. Ok so the decor remains on the dour and uninspiring end (to say the least) but that's because they are on a 2 year lease and why flaunt it on the furniture ? Eminently sensible. Suffice it to say they are packing them in at this place and you would be good to give it a try. They haven't quite fixed the rotation issue yet : one wishes they had a menu of choice or changed at least once a week but for astonishing food at a not intemperate price and a real experience give it a whirl. You will not be dissapointed. With a little more business sense (bigger and better digs and bigger menu) this could be the best in Britain.. Seriously. And I ain't whistlin' Dixie. For those who don't know what that means you can look it up on Google which knows everything of course.
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E Mitril
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Friday, October 28, 2011

Went to Roganic to check out the latest addition to the Marylebone culinary food frenzy with new restaurants popping up on Blandford Street fast as you can say Jack Rabbit. To enjoy this place you have to disregard the rather dim and slightly depressing grey and brown interior and the competely functional and uncozy chairs and tables which would go perfectly well in a high end uni eating hall. Saves money however. The purpose (apparently) is not the ambience but the opportunity to relish a tasting menu par excellence by one of the more renowed and experimental UK chefs. Or so they say. We chose the 6 course menu and it was...well.. terrific., covering millet, fish (mackerel), vegetarian (potoes with chicken fat crisps), veal, lamb (I think), and lots of other unsual ingredients, asdwell as a yoghurt blueberry ice. You can read the other reviews for the list of forraged unsual and even bizarre ingredients but they all fit together perfectly except for one dish which had a numbing amount of salt. The portions are well,,,VERY small but after six courses one didn't feel unsatsified - in fact it was one of the best meals I have had out in a few years and it was all worth it despite the hefty price tag. But as said these folks have a bit to learn. There is no choice on this menu except 6 or 10 for the tasting menu. The question then arises - well, when does it change ? In other words when can I come back and try something different ? The answer was elliptical - every two or three weeks new dishes are rotated in. Hmm...in other words you like the place don't bother to come back for a month to be sure : not quite the thing for generating recurring business. And the service while trying was below par : no explanation about how this works when you are seated, 4 times to ask for water and unfortunately timing between dishes a bit stretched.. Sounds like a boutique food as art place ? Well, yes ... EXACTLY. And one of the better ones. The food beats the Fat Duck BY A MILE (SERIOUSLY) Well worth the visit but unless they think out the commercial end of things pretty soon (as well as the charming but somewhat behind the 8 ball service), how long is Roganic for the world ? Please note: I had the same fears about the Fat Duck on the terribly dissapointing visit on Ascot weekend where the meal aside from being very constructed and ultimately very dull was ruined by a gaggle of drunken revellers (which the FD failed to restrain) and they are still around. On Roganic we shall all wait and see. With a bit of business sense they just might make it. Which would be a good thing.
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E Mitril
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Sunday, September 04, 2011

Went to Roganic this afternoon for the epic ten course tasting menu, arrived early only to be resisted by a very tight door. After being let in by a familiar face (Sandia, formerly of Marcus Wareings) I was seated in a cosy corner table and while I awaited my guest, I had an excellent G&T. The wine list was compact and to the point, with some unusual wines from around the world. I chose a Chavernay from the Loire, which went well with all the dishes.

We got a tray of fresh baked rolls, three each, of different types and salted butter smeared onto a big pebble.

The amuse was a squid ink paper with cucumber mousse which set the tone of everything else to come, all the dishes were perfectly judged, 2 or 3 mouthfulls each. The highlights were the seawater cured mackerel and the charred skate belly. The after dessert to finish was a bay leaf milkshake which tasted like a sweet béchamel, rather odd, and a little floury biscuit.

This little gem deserves it reputation, the cooking is near faultless, but the use of foraged herbs and the sweet/savoury aspects of some of the dishes may put some people off.

The sommelier was excellent, not pushy and ready for a chat about the wine and food, front of house service was excellent as well, relaxed and unfussy, our meal lasted close to three and a half hours, but at no point were we felt pushed to leave, so they could set up for evening service.

This place is highly recommended and I will be going back as they change the menu with the seasons.
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Fu-Dog - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 23, 2011