Monday 2 March 2015

Picture

Great British tasting


Picture, photo from management

Picture is a modern British restaurant on Great Portland Street that has a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its good value quality food. It has been on my to visit list for ages since it first opened back in 2013, but for one reason or another I kept delaying my visit until recently. Two years, after all the buzz of launching 
had all but faded from the press and the blogger community, can Picture still maintain the standard and reputation? For a restaurant to be successful for a long period of years, consistency is the key.


bread
cauliflower and white turnip soup

I went for the 6 course tasting menu, cauliflower and white turnip soup was really light with the bold flavour of the turnip really standing out which reminded me of how the traditional Chinese do their turnip stock in winter season. Pork cheek was a greatly executed dish, the meat was still really moist with just the right level of seasoning, the British essence: rhubarb and pickled beetroot worked well with the soft pork cheek with its sourness and bitterly sweetness, it was a very creative dish that matched in both concept and taste. 
roast butternut squash, Portobello mushroom, goat's curd
pork cheek, rhubarb, pickled beetroot and red onion

Less impressive was the crisp smoked haddock, the haddock itself already had plenty of rich flavours so the extra stage of cooking was rather odd. While it wasn't too oily, I just found it unnecessary as it added nothing extra for me. The winning dish on the night was the 28-day aged beef, a rich and powerful flavour with a beautiful moist texture. The roast onion and curly kale was the perfect harmony to the beef, a simple combination but a very successful one. 

crisp smoked haddock, charred young broccoli, black quinoa
28-day aged beef, curly kale, roast onion
chocolate mousse, clementine curd,
toasted oatmeal biscuit

I enjoyed my meal at Picture a lot, for under £50 per person including drinks and service, I had some of the very best cooking in London in that price bracket, not to mention it was a tasting menu instead of the usual 3 courses. The food is contemporary with some creative elements which I am sure the owners had picked up while working under Anthony Demetre of Michelin fame. To sum it up, great value for money cooking in a modern and relaxing setting, well worth a visit.



Food 3.5/5


Executive chefs: 
Alan Christie, Colin Kelly

What I paid: 
£41 per head

Average cost without drinks and services :

Tasting menu: £35

110 Great Portland Street, London W1W 6PQ

http://www.picturerestaurant.co.uk/


Picture on Urbanspoon

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