After two, ohmygodthisisthebestmealever, experiences at the Corner Room in Bethnal Green Town Hall - I literally had 0 expectations for the Typing Room. I know, there have been rave reviews on a number of sites - I know. I saw them too. But what could possibly top the Corner Room? After last week's visit to the Typing Room, I will never doubt another restaurant decision made in this venue (and I hope there are many more!). You have to go to Typing Room. Right now. I don't even know where to start. There is a set menu, of course, but this apparently varies by the day. We went with a vegetarian friend, so if that is you - you will also feel the love. To begin, the set menu (whether you go for 5 or 7 dishes) all includes a group of "snacks". After a couple drinks at the bar and rearing to see the menu, I can't tell you how excited I was to have food arriving at the table without even having to think. And all of it...was just. so. good. And the bread. I'll be honest - I'm hit or miss with bread - sometimes it looks pretty good and it's still warm and a restaurant has some special sort of butter so I'm all over it. Other times it looks like it's been sitting in a corner of the kitchen for the past week. At Typing Room, the bread was a course in and of itself. I'm not kidding. Two types of bread with two types of delish buttery, chutney, goodness. More bread. PLEASE. By the time we got to the smoke deer roe, I didn't think I could possibly have another bite. But I had too - because the remaining two courses were too good to be missed. Service: Literally some of the best I've ever had in London. Everyone was so super friendly and knowledgeable about each dish. We never felt rushed and each course was given time to settle in. I can't rave about this place enough. 5 stars. read more

Typing Room - That bread, though. - Modern European Near Me - London, XGL

Lee Westcott's new restaurant is getting raves so we booked for a weekday lunch. This place took over for the recently closed Viajante which we tried and were underwhelmed. Not so with Typing room. We had the 7 course lunch and skipped the pairing in favour of a couple of glasses of wine. Setting is similar with the restaurant on the left with very open kitchen when you walk into town hall and a bar to the right. Chef was on premise supervising the kitchen which was nice to see for a weekday lunch. Lots of Beatles and classic rock playing which I enjoyed although one of the other patrons kept complaining about. Certainly didn't interfere with conversation. On to the food the starter you pick from 4 snacks. We had the basil profiterole which was ok but the star was the smoked eel. Then can crab and pea dish followed by cauliflower which were both amazing. The raw beef was topped with what looked like granola and neither of us liked that dish. Too sweet and needed an acid to bring out the flavour of the tartare. The fish course following was also a 5 star. Then the lamb which also was good but have had better. Confit belly was nice but the yogurt didn't add anything and the onions were over charred. Desert started with almond foam and lemon sorbet which was a great palette cleanser and then a very interesting chocolate dessert. Cake almost looks dried out but is the texture of freeze dried chocolate mouse. Very tasty. Overall a couple of misses in execution more than design that I'm sure won't take long to correct. I'd expect this place to get a Michelin star in the near future. The star dishes were well worth coming back for. read more

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The Typing Room stubbornly topped my list of restaurants to visit since it opened in 2014. Highly esteemed by critics, it has been awarded three Rosettes and promises clean, modern and innovative dishes. In other words, this is a gastronomic experience worthy of a special occasion. I had unjustly high expectations when I walked through its doors on my 31st birthday. The restaurant is a short jaunt from Bethnal Green station, situated in the East London Town Hall Hotel. Its façade reflects the original 1910 architecture of the building and is a surprising location for such a spacious and modern eatery. The restaurant seats 40 diners- and this contributes to the difficulty of securing a reservation- yet it was half full when we arrived for a 20:30 seating. A lively atmosphere wafted around the room, but we were still seated opposite the open kitchen and pass. The waiting staff were professional throughout the evening- they were kind, attentive and unobtrusive. The sommelier was happy to assist us in selecting a bottle of wine without any pretentiousness. We settled on the seven course tasting menu (£75 per person) and I was pleased to be offered a pescatarian variation as I did not want to forgo the three plates highlighting seafood; in fact, there was only a single divergence from the standard menu (a crispy pork skin in lieu of smoked eel). There is an option for wine pairing available for an additional £50 that includes six glasses, but we opted to settle on a bottle for the table. Our 'snacks' then flew out of the kitchen, which are morsels intended for sharing. They provide an excellent showcase of the talents of the kitchen. There was a modern adaptation of an onion bhaji, arriving in the form of a cigar with a flaky exterior and accompanied with mango chutney. There was also a crispy fish skin, a feather light smoked cod cracker deftly dolloped with dill and oyster pearls. The snacks bristled with vibrant colours, contrasting textures and bold flavours- the chutney was syrupy sweet and the fish skin had surprising depth of umami and burst of flavour. We were presented with a loaf of robust soda bread made from IPA and paired with marmite-infused butter. It arrived steaming, the residual heat causing the cornet of butter to slide away from its teetered position on a polished stone. The waiter profusely apologised and promptly returned with the plate presented in the intended form. The loaf was perfectly round with a dense crust and pillowy interior- the marmite butter offered an interesting savoury counterpoint. After this introduction, the plates that followed demonstrated further innovative ingredient combinations, harmonies of taste and stunning presentation. Every component had purpose, contributing to the balance of each dish both on the palate and visually. The vegetable dishes surprised; they were delicately presented, but packed with wallops of taste: celeriac was enhanced with pear, fermented mushrooms and hazelnut and cauliflower excelled with a yeasty crust, raisins, capers and mint. Crab was complimented by clean flavours of cucumber, kombu and lime. The first of my favourite plates highlighted meaty arctic char with courgette, razor clams and lemon verbena and the second elevated smoked eel in a radish and bread consommé. Finally, the session was rounded off with a serving of clean sheep's yoghurt balanced with tastes of apple and dill. Despite our full satisfaction with our gastronomic journey at this stage, a selection of artisan truffles appeared and we struggled to gorge any further. Thankfully, a short respite and strong black coffee helped us along. The truffles were rich and melted on the tongue, providing the indulgent finish to the meal that I covertly craved- the sheep's yoghurt cleansed the palate, but lacked the heft and sweetness of a birthday meal terminus. At the end of our meal, I was presented with an unexpected and thoughtful token: a copy of my tasting menu signed by the waiting staff with a personalised birthday message. Our experience of The Typing Room was a memorable one- the food offered a multisensory journey through honest, British flavours. Each ingredient worked in harmony and the dishes were innovative but unpretentious. The atmosphere was relaxed, the waiting staff were immaculate and diners were mesmerised by the precision and painstaking care evident in the kitchen as each dish was prepared. If you're looking to impress and like to be excited by your food, make your reservation at The Typing Room now- in my opinion, this is one of the best culinary experiences available in London. read more

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Expensive but worth every pound! I love the open kitchen where you can watch the precision of each chef. Dishes are beautifully crafted while you enjoy the scene. The ingredients seem strange when you look at them independently but the flavored will make your taste buds dance! read more

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A few months ago I had a trip to London planned with a friend, we wanted to go somewhere nice to eat and she recommended The Typing Room. Then a few weeks later, The Typing Room was featured on Masterchef UK and that pretty much sealed the deal. I wasn't a particularly adventurous eater (I'm not the biggest fan of vegetables in general, and have never really went out of my way to try new foods), but this restaurant completely converted me. The first thing I have to say is that initially I was worried upon arriving that there would be an air of pretension to the restaurant, but when we got there and had an extremely pleasant welcome from the reception, all my worries disappeared. The staff were extremely professional but genuinely welcoming and approachable. Our waiter for the meal in particular was so friendly and you could tell that he loved explaining what each meal was, as well as felt pride in serving such incredible food. The food itself was phenomenal. This was pretty much a trial by fire for myself, so I was experiencing each course (we had chosen the 5 course taster menu with an additional course) with a very hesitant approach, however everything that I tasted was slowly changing my mind about what food I could eat. Given the nature of the menu and how it is constantly changing, I don't think I should comment on the dishes that I had, however there wasn't a single one that I didn't enjoy, and the fact that there are little surprises here and there (the pre-dessert, as well as what is a post-dessert, for example) made for a genuinely unique experience. The thing I enjoyed the most was seeing the kitchen staff creating all of these dishes, with incredible focus but also huge smiles on their faces. The experience is made so much better when you can actually see the passion in the kitchen being directly transferred to the plate. Whilst I would say it's a once in a lifetime experience, I aim to be back here as soon as possible. read more

I had heard about the Typing Room from a couple of people, so it made it on my list to check out. It's not in the most useful of locations, but there is a direct train here from where I live, so I figured why not? We opted for the seven course tasting menu with a supplemental eel course and a supplemental cheese course. We also got the wine pairings to go with (with a supplemental wine with the eel). The first course consisting of the snacks was a bit of a letdown to be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the snacks that came out, so we were getting a bit worried about the rest of the meal. We shouldn't have been worried. The rest of the main courses were pretty fantastic. The celeriac and foie gras was incredibly tasty, and the texture and flavor of the celeriac was amazing. The raw beef course was fantastic with an amazing taste profile: my partner couldn't stop talking about it. The eel was delicious and smokey and the mushroom infusion with it was a winner. The cauliflower, halibut, and pork courses were also great. And the wines they chose to go with them were all perfectly chosen and good on their own and made each course better. The bread they served at one point was also amazing. A sourdough with marmite butter (amazing) and a rosemary brioche with a chicken skin butter (incredible). The cheeses were great (and come from one of my favorite cheese shops: La Fromagerie). The dessert was a bit of a letdown to be honest, but not enough of one that I wouldn't be back. We also got to talk a lot with the sommelier about wines, and he even gave us a taste of one of the reds that went with one of the courses on the five course menu. There was also spectacular service in a small, but modern venue. I'm glad to have found this gem of a restaurant. I'm pretty sure we'll be back again sometime to give them another try. read more

We got the 75 quid tasting menu of 7 courses and we were so glad we did. It came with amuse bouche made up of eclectic blends of flavors, incredible roll of crusty bread with Marmite butter, then seven courses: 1. Celeriac with pear and the cutest fermented tiny mushrooms 2. The most delicate raw scallop with clementine sauce 3. Yeasted cauliflower with raisins 4. Sea trout with pear and cucumber, the broth that came with this kept us wanting more! 5. Roe deer with beetroot and blackberries, a fantastic blend of earthy flavors 6. Sheep's yoghurt, an interesting mix of granite and cream It was my fiance's birthday and they were so sweet and brought out a candle on the dessert and also gave him a signed card. read more

Unbelievable - a genuine culinary experience that won't leave you disappointed. I haven't read the other reviews so I'll keep this brief to avoid overlapping. Myself and my boyfriend went here for a celebration lunch. We were big fans of the restaurant that was previously resident here, Viajante, and we were keen to see if the excellent service and food in a relaxed but professional environment could be replicated and we were not disappointed. It's the kind of restaurant that you should really come to for the tasting menus because it's such a culinary adventure. The chefs do not shy away from innovation so each dish is a delight and you can simply trust that it will be delicious. It's definitely somewhere that I wouldn't even bother looking at the details of the tasting menu because I feel safe in their hands and will try any manner of foods that might traditionally put me off. Beyond that, one of the best things is that the staff are so friendly, have plenty of time to stop for a chat and they all seem to genuinely care that they are dong a good job. Considering it is on the pricey side (but worth every penny), I would be recommending this to anyone in London looking for something a bit special. Wonderful. read more

Places like this make you forget you're in an area that is undergoing huge development and still greatly resembles a dump. A trendy dump, I grant you, but still 'urban decay'. Loved the low lit, cosy bar - perfect for pre-dinner drinks, or just drinks - but your wallet will feel it so be warned! Exquisite combinations. Original flavours and textures - the 7 course tasting menu was a wonderful epicurean journey that had us all wide eyed with delight. Charming sommelier too that didn't take advantage when asked for recommendations and offered mid priced decent choices. If you love food, and you appreciate art, you'll love The Typing Room - every dish was a masterpiece. read more

Phenomenal meal, ambiance, and service. Every course was perfectly presented and absolutely delicious. Highly recommend.

A great Menu inspired by Lee Westcott with perfectly matched wines from sommelier Fred Marti together with excellent service this was indeed a fantastic dining experience. A lovely friendly welcome and a nice glass of champagne while we looked at the menu and as in previous visits we chose the Tasting Menu but this time we also chose to have matching drinks I say drinks because it was a mixture of wine & saki . After having some delightful snacks came the first highlight the fantastic IPA Sourdough bread with Marmite butter I'll just say it's amazing. Then came the first course of Dorset Char an absolute delight this was followed by the signature Cauliflower dish it's just unbelievable what you can do with this vegetable. This was followed by the highlight of th e Menu of Cod , calpots , chicken & black garlic such a fantastic dish next was the main course of Pork Collar , hospital cabbage & baked apple simply delicious. We then went for the cheese course it was a lovely selection of cheese which was matched with a Plum Saki . Finally dessert of Sheeps yoghurt, apple & dill which finished a truly great meal. All the staff were very friendly & professional making our lunch very memorable & already thinking of returning very soon. I do like the open kitchen and it's amazing that despite so much going on to produce amazing food the kitchen was so quiet. I would definitely recommend a visit if you like modern food cooked to perfection & some great wine & service read more

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