Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, London

“We’re a little bit out of the way,” our genial host cites as we enter Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings. Spoiler Alert: Not at all! The Clerkenwell restaurant, set in a 19th-century building, is a quick 10-minute taxi from our hotel even though the driver fretted that he didn’t recognize the street name. Inside the whitewashed interior we feel as if we’ve entered someone’s country house. We spy a dining room consisting of two adjacent rooms, one with a kind of greenhouse feel, the other with an underground meeting room vibe, an unexpected juxtaposition. A gorgeous curvy concrete bar anchors the two and big wicker banquettes fill a relaxed café area. It’s true; a level of comfort practically meets you at the door here. We sit in the sunroom where hanging plants, full grown trees and a plant strewn fireplace with trailing creepers create an almost Key West ambience. Wrought iron garden chairs and club chairs upholstered in tropical fabrics complete the garden party mood. It’s cozy.

Then it’s on to cocktails; it’s been a long day and as B&H Buildings is brought to us by the people behind Reverend JW Simpson, Blitz Party and Prohibition, and B&H Bar, the Buildings’ cocktail menu has originality written all over it. The restaurant bills itself as a creative hub and what better way to start a business meeting than with a drink? I order the Slings & Arrows, a concoction of rhubarb gin (of course), some ginger liqueur, Cocchi Americano vermouth and a secret ingredient I’ve never heard of called Kamm & Sons. Turns out the recipe for this botanical blend of 45 natural herbs, spices, fruits, berries, nuts, peels, barks, roots, leaves and flowers is a closely guarded family secret. Hey, I’m down with that! My friend’s Chimps Tea with Monkey Shoulder whiskey, a peach liqueur from France, Earl Grey Syrup and lemon is equally restorative. We’re quickly on to Round 2 then realize we better get some food.

Designed by Chef Antony Horn, the menu is a modern British take on traditional brasserie fare. We start with fabulous mixed salads, a rare pleasure once you step foot out of North America; first, a perfect Caesar with Baby Gem lettuce and then a small plate of chargrilled veggies almost barbecue-ready but paired with a Chickpea Tabouleh and a tart roast pepper dressing. These automatically pique our interest for trying more things and suddenly we’re interested. We segue to a Chicken Liver Parfait, both of us crazy about all manner of liver patés, this one served with a superb chutney and crisp sourdough rounds, kind of an English take on the traditional starter. Temporarily satisfied and happy to partake of the energetic surroundings, we relax under whirring ceiling fans listening to eclectic background tracks.

We choose entrees that lean toward comfort food staples like a slow-cooked Red Wine Beef, a dead ringer for a Coq au Vin, and a quintessentially London style Northern Indian Curry served with Basmati rice. Never visit London without having at least one curry, I always say! Both are fantastic and as we are loving the vibe here and it’s been a very long day, we give in to dessert and after dinner drinks.

B&H Building’s dessert menu is classified as “puddings” and it’s a tidy one with just 5 choices. We hit on an Iced Clementine Mousse and a crazy as it sounds, a Lemon Meringue Pie, one of my all-time favorites. It’s served with sweet poached cranberries, not exactly like the diner version. Just great!

As the bar is known for stocking an exhaustive range of spirits, beers and fine wines we opt for a house coffee digestif with tequila which is delivered personally by our barman. What a nice touch! We reluctantly leave the coddling atmosphere of B &H Buildings to return to London proper but not without the notion that we’ve mined the outer reaches, and this is where things are really happening.

Take note: Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings has a happening bar scene on most nights and serves a tempting menu of Bar Bites like a full-on cheeseburger with fries and a Charcuterie Board.