A fabulous tucked away venue – for VIPs and your own little VIPs. Children are the ultimate blessing. But if you’re a parent you’ll know the little darlings can disrupt you from living your best life at times. Bear with me, I’m going somewhere with this.
I’d been invited for a dinner for two at Old Queen Street Café, in the heart of old Westminster. Being situated in the political heartland of the U.K. I was excited to be rubbing shoulders with the great and the good, joining in with (or overhearing at least) some of the most convivial and highbrow conversations. Alas, my childcare plans fell through. A well-known fly in the ointment of any parents looking forward to a little me time, a touch of pizazz after the school runs and the grubby faces.
There was only one thing for it, he’d have to be on his best behaviour – and join us.
Armed with an iPad and some serious bribery we headed into the balmy streets beside Big Ben.
With a deep breath we entered the building. Which looked cool and chic, an ideal venue for business meetings, relaxed meals and first dates. I removed my son’s chewing gum from his mouth and reminded him to cover his mouth if he coughed.
I had NOTHING to worry about. The staff were incredibly friendly and more than welcoming to my son and I. And to my greatest joy, there were other families enjoying themselves! What a place! Sleekly designed enough for a member of parliament but also calm and easy going enough to feel anything but stuffy. And the food smelled and looked delicious!
We took our seats in one of the plush sofa corners, ready to enjoy our first tasty cocktail (Diet Coke for the boy!). The wine and cocktail list was extensive and extremely reasonable, especially for this part of town. An off the cuff mocktail was created on the spot for my husband and I enjoyed one of my favourites – a smooth and heady Amaretto Sour.
For starters we enjoyed a beautiful plated ham terrine – which used meat from the famous O’Shea Butchers, and the most stunning cooked prawns on toast. Buttery, light and almost too pretty to eat.
We’d heard amazing things about the meat dishes in this place so I ordered the Bone In Pork Chop, with sides of fries and broccoli. Exceptionally cooked with real British flair running throughout, I imagine Churchill would have adored this plate! My husband choose the Sirloin Streak with came with fries and a deep, rich sauce. He said, and I quote, “that is one of the best cooked steaks in London”.
I have to heap praise once again on the staff who were just unbelievably kind and so attentive to our every need.
Being an all-day brasserie, customers are able to enjoy breakfast, lunch, cocktail hour and dinner coupled with brunch on Saturday and Sundays here. And it’s obvious the chefs take great care to source high quality British produce, each plate has clearly been lovingly created with passion and thought.
This brilliant venue also has event spaces available for hire, for talks, events, private lunches and dinners and weddings – any event your heart desires. They have rooms available for sitting down affairs of up to 40 people and standing of 100. They even boast the floorboards from Winston Churchill’s Old War Office which was just round the corner!
Located just steps away from Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square, the brasserie is perfectly situated for both locals and tourists looking for a unique and memorable dining experience. With its innovative menu, stylish design, and prime location, the brasserie is sure to become a go-to destination for foodies and casual diners alike. Including those little rug rats, who are made to feel not just welcomed but like star diners. Any small MPs in the making will get their first taste of Westminster at its very finest!
For more information or to make a reservation, please visit the brasserie’s website or contact them directly.
Old Queen Street Café, 6 Old Queen Street, Westminster, London, SW1H 9HP
Booking Link – https://oldqueenstreet.com/#bookings
020 3005 2320
Review and images by Saffron Bentley