Highroad Social is the brand-new offering to London’s historic Greenwich, with a menu of seasonally led dishes with produce sourced from the British Isles. The restaurant is a welcome addition to south-east London’s dining scene with some of the most exciting dishes we’ve come across.
As you peruse the menu, you find something to suit all appetites, whether you’re after a light lunch with friends or a more relaxed evening affair, it promises something from lunch all the way through to late-night cocktails.
The restaurant comes with a first-class pedigree with David O’ Brien (Development Director of Caprice Holdings) at the helm, along with a stellar team including Head Chef Fionnan Flood, who previously worked at The Chelsea Pig. In addition, the bar is headed up by Clark Crown who has created a stunning menu of inventive cocktails.
So, what shall I order?
Maritime and Heritage Cocktails
There’s nothing better than a cocktail to start proceedings, and two instantly jumped off the page. The ‘Maritime’ cocktail is an aromatic, summery cocktail made with White Port, Tidal Rum, homemade raspberry and basil syrup, tonic and lime. It’s fresh, with a touch of sweetness, and is sure to become a crowd-pleasing favourite.
We also opted for the non-alcoholic ‘Heritage’ which is a citrus extravaganza. Made with Orange Sherbet, Everleaf Forest, Orange juice and White Peach and Jasmine soda. It’s temptingly sour, and lip-smackingly delicious.
Cheese Puffs, Crushed Walnut, Black Pepper Honey
At the start of the menu, you’ll find a perfectly curated ‘snack’ offering, with the Cheese Puffs being an instant no-brainer. These tantalising little morsels of oozing cheese encased in light buttery choux are a cheese-lover’s dream. The addition of the crushed walnut gave an earthy note, and the black pepper honey added a dab of sweetness. The perfect little moreish snacks to whet the appetite.
Glamorgan Pork Croquette, Toffee Apple Sauce
Along with the cheese puffs, another irresistible option was the Pork Croquettes with Toffee Apple Sauce. These miniature, crispy nuggets had the perfect bronzed outer coating. Inside we discovered the softest, pulled pork, which has been slow cooked for hours. The genius idea to pair it with a toffee apple sauce is playful and works incredibly well together. You’ll be tempted to order another portion.
Battered Smoked Londoner Sausage, Port Reduction, Crackling
The final of the trio of snacks was the glorious Battered Smoked Londoner sausage, and what a dish it is. This dish barely counts as a snack; such is the generous size it could well satisfy one person for lunch.
This is a deeply rich, smoked pork sausage, encased in a light crunchy batter with a luscious pork reduction, topped with the crispiest crackling. It’s elevated comfort food, taken to new heights, and it’s one of those dishes that will gain legendary status in time. It’s already a Plate & Place favourite!
Seabass, Orange & Ginger Dressing, Caraway Seeds
An order of the fresh Seabass was our pick from the ‘Raw’ element of the menu. The firm texture of the fish with its mild, milky flavour is perfectly matched with creamy avocado and the bright burst of citrus and fiery ginger. The addition of the crunchy, anise caraway seeds added a satisfying texture. For fans of ceviche, this dish is a must.
Handpicked Cornish Crab, Sweetcorn Sauce, Espelette
The first thing you notice about this dish is the fluffy, yellow sweetcorn which dominates the plate. We believe the sweetcorn is aerated to achieve the lightest, mousse-like consistency. It’s instantly pleasing to the eye. Underneath you’ll discover a generous flaky mound of Cornish crab with its meaty, salty texture. The two ingredients are made for each other, and this dish will have you fighting over the last forkful.
Colston Bassett Stilton Custard, Hazelnut Praline, Seasonal Crudite Vegetables
If you need encouragement to get your five fruits and veggies a day, this is the most enjoyable way to do it, after all, the accompanying dip is a Stilton Custard! This luxuriously thick and creamy custard is best loaded onto the ice-cold veggies, being as generous as you can with the custard. To add to the already glorious richness you’ll find its topped with a sweet and nutty hazelnut praline – heaven.
Monkfish Darne, Mussels, Hollandaise, Pink Grapefruit
The prettiest dish of Monkish with a speckle of plump mussels was a visual delight. The succulent, meaty monkish is one of our favourites, and with the tangy, buttery hollandaise is a match made in fish-lover’s heaven. The sharp, citrus of the pink grapefruit cuts through the richness and adds a fresh element to the dish. For us, it was one of the standout dishes of the day.
Suffolk Lamb Rump, Port & Anchovy Sauce, Mint
The magnificent 8-hour slow cooked lamb still had that perfect touch of pink in the centre when it arrived at our table. We have no idea how this was achieved but trust us when we say this is one of the best lamb dishes we’ve tried. The port and anchovy sauce gave added richness with a slight salty note from the anchovy. Also, the addition of fresh mint is an always pleasing touch, and a combination that can’t be beaten.
Elderflower Jelly, Evesham Pearl Strawberry, Almond Cake
It doesn’t take much to convince us to try dessert, and although we were well sated from the savoury courses, who could resist such a tempting sounding sweet treat?
Elderflower jelly is the star of the show, which is bursting with the floral, fruity notes of elderflower. The set jelly is surrounded by little discs of almond cakes as well as ripe, sweet strawberry. An ice-cold quenelle of sorbet added a much-needed cool component. Quite simply, the taste of summer.
Perfect for…
Long lunches with friends, alfresco dining on their delightful terrace, dinner with the family, a quick bite and cocktail before the cinema. We feel this restaurant truly covers all your dining needs.
Do you need to book?
The restaurant is unfailingly accommodating but we would always recommend making a booking to avoid disappointment. However, if you’re not time pressed you can always have a drink at their delightful bar until a table comes available.
Anything else to know…
If you’re looking to give a friend or family member the perfect gift, you can purchase a Gift Card for the restaurant. It’s a thoughtful idea which will go down a treat with the consummate foodie in your life.
Where to find Highroad Social?
178 Greenwich High Road
Greenwich
London
SE10 8NN
Website:
https://www.highroadsocial.com/
Nearest station:
Greenwich
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