Babel House

Babel House,
26-28 Bruton Place,
Mayfair, W1J 6NG

0207 629 5613
babelhouse.co.uk

Ok - will start with a place I love and have revisited several times since I first went last summer.

On a lovely mews road, just of Berkeley Square in London's Mayfair is a restaurant that is a fusion of what I consider to be Russian food, though obviously influenced by my Odessa roots.

I believe they sell themselves as Black Sea cuisine, and I do feel that is appropriate.

I will figure out the formatting later - but to start, the little black bread loaf was a very nice touch - looks cute and tastes great.

Was curious to see what they would make of a beef tartar - not something I have ever eaten in Russia or Ukraine - though the quality of meat has gotten much better - most people still seem to be avoidant of anything less than well done - so the choices skew in that direction - definitely improving though.

The texture of the meat was near perfect, though my personal taste asks for something with a bit more spice.

The Pelmeni/Pel'meni, however I feel like Latinising it - were fantasic - I believe these are the seefood ones - accompanying sauces suit them well. Strong cheese sauce to go with these. 

And the meat with smetana - Sour Cream - as is right. Great dough - great filling.

One of the minced fish dishes on offer - reminds me strongly of my fathers hometown. Really well executed and presented.

I do not like using the word "divine" to describe anything - but their take on Oliver is almost that.

Not the soviet processed meat sausage and egg variety, neither the Tsar-days grouse and crayfish, but scallops and salmon here and wow does it work. Very delicate, very flavorful, very different, yet distinctly an Olivier

And obviously some fried potato - would just be wrong without it.

The deserts did not disappoint either!

Very light Napoleon cake - I usually prefer a bit of a crunchier dough, but this just works. Delicious.

And this was their take on Ptichie Moloko - or Birds Milk - another classic desert back home. Quite different but again, it does work.

I rate this place very highly (Five Star - I will be rating many places at this level - this is my expectation for a place that I would revisit). But they messed up and the next three times I went there this was not rectified (I mentioned it every time to the staff).

The tea menu just breaks it - it is unfathomable for a Russian or a Ukrainian to not be offered a rich and extensive tea menu - here it feels like it is from a pub. Very disappointing to end the meal like that at a place that comes so very close to creating with its food the illusion on being back home.