RAIL HOUSE CAFE
Between the enormous skyscrapers and endless regeneration of Victoria sits the newly opened Rail House café. The third venture from the company behind The Riding House Café and Village East in Fitzrovia and Bermondsey. Rail House Café, open from 7:30 for breakfast until 11:30 for dinner is set across two floors within very modern architecture dominated by steel work and glass. Rail House Café manages to encompass a warm and uniquely designed atmosphere. Large interesting rope light fittings hang along one side, cool greens, creams, rich upholstery and tiles are found throughout pulling together a warm and lived in Hamptons style feel to this vast space. There’s a large bar for more informal dining and drinking where cocktails are original and worth trying. Saffron Spritz, with saffron infused gin, rhubarb liqueur, rose and tonic. Another favourite was the Sencha Sour, Taiken Shochu, limoncello, matcha green tea, elderflower and egg white. Originality and good quality ingredients prevail.
Ilias Patsios heads up the kitchen here, having previously worked with Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, Orrery and Rhodes 24. You can expect the most exciting of menus, an entire raw section, that’s not to be overlooked, small plates, enormous indulgent burger style sandwiches, grilled tiger prawns and plenty of beautiful salads and grain dishes all with a nod to Asian cuisine.
We feast on a selection of sharing plates from the ‘sharing larder’ and ‘sharing raw’ sections; heritage beetroot, goat’s cheese mousse and mustard leaves, visually beautiful and delicious fresh vibrant ingredients, cured Cornish mackerel, tomato, fennel and pickled radish. From the raw bar, the cured salmon tartare comes highly recommended, served with green apple, preserved lemon, ikura, crème fraiche and spring onions. So good we would of ordered a second portion given the chance. The yellow fin tuna tartare, crispy shallots, avocado, wasabi and mirin dressing too makes for the most delicious fresh spring dish. I continue along the Asian theme with a larger plate of warm coconut chicken and rice, peanuts and herbs and my dining companion opts for the grilled garlic, citrus and almond king prawns. These arrive impressively displayed and generous in portion size, another triumph. We bypass the buttermilk-fried chicken burger and Reuben sandwich despite these looking entirely persuasive when arriving at the table next to us.
Rail House Café is more than a safe bet, it’s enticing menu offers something for everyone while keeping you interested and impressed enough to eagerly return. This spot is a brilliant addition to Victoria’s expanding restaurant scene and one we’d without a doubt return to.
