New on WLC: Chiswell Street Dining Rooms

Chiswell Street Dining Rooms – Wine List Confidential Score: 88

Lime green chairs at Chiswell Street Dining Rooms. And why the blazes not?

A smart British restaurant from the reliable ETM group (Ed and Tom Martin of The Botanist fame) leading from The Montcalm London City hotel, but with its own entrance, close to Barbican and another ETM venue, The Jugged Hare.

The wine list is, notably, spaciously laid out, easily navigated and concise, without faddish distractions. Twenty-five wines offered by the glass represent nine countries, including a keenly-priced Tokaji from the Royal Tokaji Company.

Pricing is determinedly sub-£100 on the whole and mark-ups are relatively modest on fine bottles, including a magnum of Chasse-Spleen ’86 (a very good Cabernet vintage – £280 for a mag here) and Dom Pérignon 2003 (£250). Try organic English bubbles from Davenport with a starter of hay smoked chalk stream trout, or Whispering Angel from Provence with, from the feast menu, pig’s head terrine and piccalilli.

Continue on with main of Cumbrian Cob chicken with Saint Georges mushrooms and roast garlic with juicy Pinotage from the under-rated Stellenbosch producer Olifantsberg (£34.50).

To view the full Chiswell Street Dining Rooms Wine List Confidential entry, including individual category scores and wine recommendations, click here.

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