Sunday Lunch at The Midland Grand

As it turns out, preparing a Sunday roast is also an incredibly labour-intensive process, which is why, going out for lunch – and passing the cooking duties over to the pros – is a true luxury, particularly when being served in the surrounds of one of London’s most beautiful brasseries.

The Midland Grand is one of city’s most breath-taking venues, located within the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, it is well regarded as one of the most iconic Victorian landmarks. This timeless restaurant is a nod to the elegance of a bygone era, with a menu of classic, French-inspired dishes, headed up by Head Chef, Charlie Crote.

Old-world hospitality and impeccable service awaits. It’s an entirely genteel atmosphere which is exactly what is needed on a quiet Sunday afternoon, where the only plans you have revolve around food.

Sounds like the perfect Sunday, to us…

So, what shall I order?

Comté Gougères with Pickled Walnut

To tickle the tastebuds, a little snack of Comté Gougères filled with warm, nutty cheese – we discovered – is the perfect way to start proceedings. The rich, savoury flavours come together perfectly with the addition of the tangy, pickled walnut. The delicate, choux pastry practically melts in the mouth, too.

As a side note, don’t feel embarrassed if the dish is enjoyed at record speed. Our lovely server had barely left the table before the gougères were promptly devoured.

Lobster Vol-au-vent with Cocktail Sauce and Pickled Ginger

Starters seem wholly unnecessary when a considerable roast dinner is ahead, but greed got the better of us. The first starter of Lobster Vol-au-vent took us back to the party food of the 1980’s – although this Vol-au-vent is on a far more refined scale.

Succulent pieces of sweet fresh lobster sit atop a crisp, pastry case filled with fresh leafy greens; with the green element providing a delightful fresh contrast to the creamy cocktail sauce. In addition, the pickled ginger gives a tantalising, fiery kick. It’s an inventive, playful dish and certainly has the wow-factor.

Pâté en Croûte du jour

A classic pâté is always a welcome first course, especially in the hands of The Midland Grand. We were informed that this pâté came second in a top competition – impressive stats.

The rich, meaty pâté, with oodles of texture, was a moreish and savoury bite. The accompanying brown sauce gave a lovely peppery tang and elevated each mouthful. You’re also served a generous slice, so this is a good one to go halves on. One of the best Pâté en Croûte you could order anywhere.

Rib of Grass Fed Beef with Bordelaise Sauce and Horseradish Cream, Yorkshire Puddings

We decided upon roast meat for two, with the sumptuous sounding Grass Fed Beef with Bordelaise sauce. It came highly recommended and was far too tempting to pass up.

This show-stopping dish is presented with two, perfectly crisp and fluffy Yorkshire puddings, and a rich bordelaise sauce which positively shines off the plate.

Each slice of the beef, perfectly pink and melt in the mouth with added richness from the Bordelaise. The horseradish cream is a great addition with its earthy, fiery flavour. It’s a generous serving too, which could easily sate three people. It is also one of those dishes which would be difficult to cook at home, making this an indulgent treat, best enjoyed while dining out.

Roast Potatoes, Carrots and Cabbage

Crispy roast potatoes are the bedrock of any good roast dinner and the bar with which all ‘roasts’ should be judged – in our humble opinion, anyway.

You can imagine the relief when we discovered evenly bronzed crispy roast potatoes, with the all-important fluffy centre. These are exceptional roast potatoes, with each crispy morsel prepared and executed to perfection.

As well as the potatoes (which nab all the attention), a generous plate of carrots and cabbage completed the vegetable element. The carrots, naturally sweet in their own buttery sauce, alongside just al-dente cabbage is two vegetable side dishes done exceedingly well.

Peach, Vanilla and Almond Choux Bun

The creamiest vanilla ice-cream and freshly sliced peaches, encased in a crisp, choux bun is the kind of dessert one dreams about. Our server mentioned that this was a favourite on the menu and it’s easy to see why.

The sweetness comes from the fresh peaches, and so it never veers into cloying or heavy. Although it feels like such a summery dessert, we hope they keep it on the menu year-round.

Baba au Rhum, Cask Aged Rum and Cream Chantilly

If you choose this classic, French dessert you’ll discover it’s prepared for you tableside. We always like a touch of food theatre here at Plate & Place!

The light, fluffy sponge cake is halved, before your server pours over a generous amount of the cask aged rum. The aromas at this point are heavenly. Finally, the rum-soaked sponge is covered in mounting heaps of softly whipped cream Chantilly.

The moist sponge oozing the rum syrup with the sweet cream is a mouthful of decadence. If you haven’t had Baba au Rhum in a while this will be sure to reignite your love of this timeless dessert.

Perfect for…

Lunches with family, special occasions, date night, and glamourous evening feasts.

Do you need to book?

Yes. Booking here is essential. Also, if you happen to arrive early, do take the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail at the Gothic Bar (right next to the restaurant) which is one of London’s most beautiful bars.

Anything else to know…

The restaurant offers a fantastic set menu option, which is worth looking into. We also think it’s fantastic value for money: 2 courses for £32 and 3 courses for £38.

Where to find Highroad Social?

St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Euston Road
London
NW1 2AR

Website:

https://www.midlandgranddiningroom.com/

Nearest station:

King’s Cross