Usually, I turn my nose up at "hotel restaurants," as my experience leads me to summarize them as…read moreoverpriced steakhouses (and the like), cartoonish cafes, or boring and lacking character.
However, I must say in my two dining experiences at Karpo....I found none of the above to be true, and in fact quite the opposite.
First of all, its not REALLY a hotel restaurant. Yes it has an entrance from the Megaro Hotel and provides their in-room dining, but it really seems much more of a "stand-alone."
Room Service: A pleasant gentlemen delivered me a spread including: hot tea, lam shank with asparagus and pea puree, mac 'n cheese and a vegetable medley. I didn't have any expectations much, just needed a warm meal on a Friday evening after a particularly exhausting week. And...there it was. It arrived within 20 minutes, fresh, hot and satisfying. I actually remarked to myself that the lamb was some of the best I've had. Certainly not typical "room service" fare.
I enjoyed it so much, I headed down for brunch the following morning before tackling all that is London. I perched myself at the bar, enjoyed a double espresso followed by an Americano (told you the week was long!) and then indulged in the eggs benedict. Its not usually my type of dish, but of the few brunch options this seemed to be the best bet for some protein to sustain me through the day. It arrived within 10 minutes, and was delicious.
Also, each interaction with the staff was delightful. Including when one of their "regulars" sat beside me and was blitzed out drunk at noon. Not an issue for me, but after being quizzed on the bio of the British Prime Minister (before coffee!) and then told to take a (expletive) taxi back to the States if I wasn't going to learn the ins and outs of the British Parliament...the staff jumped into high gear, distracting the...errr...passionate gentlemen so that I could enjoy my breakfast. A nice gesture, and I was appreciative. Otherwise the service was also good...all smiles and quite warm and friendly, while staying efficient.
Cost of both meals (on my hotel bill): 43 GBP.
The colors are bright and I am glad I popped into Karpo...worth a try, and conveniently located near Kings Cross, and near many hotels/hostels. Worth the splurge or even just for a pop in for a coffee and croissant to start your day. Skip the chains!