The Bite Magazine - issue 16

I f London was to have plenty of gems hidden away in places without anyone really knowing, then The Wallace Restaurant in Manchester Square would be a very well-kept secret. This amazing facility located within the historic walls of TheWallace Collection presents al fresco dining in a relaxing, tranquil setting, dotted with trees and sculptures, and a dose of natural light. It is especially beautiful when the sun is shining through the glass ceiling above. We decided to indulge ourselves in the delightful cuisine that The Wallace Restaurant has to offer in an eatery that you don’t necessarily have to dress up to the nines to enjoy their fine food. I couldn’t help but look around and admire the salmon pink walls that sur- round the courtyard, which seems to bring a sense of history to this 18 th century townhouse built during the reign of King George III. As you make your way through to the restaurant located in the courtyard, you will pass one or two of the rooms that house the wonderful works of art collected in the 18th and 19th centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, son of the 4 th Marquess. As usual, we wanted to discover what cocktails The Wallace Restaurant had to offer their diners during the lunch hour(s).They don’t have signature cocktails as such but rather a selection of classic cocktails with a twist. On their menu, you’ll find favourites such as Kir Royale, French Martini and Casino Royale but TheWallace Restaurant is open to sug- gestions so if you have a specific cocktail in mind, they will do their upmost to deliver your favourite tipple. On this occasion, I intended to indulge in just one cocktail as it was early in the day and also try one of their non-alcoholic beverages as well. The Miss Saigon cocktail with Rose Petal Vodka, Hendrick’s Gin and lychees was quite an inter- esting choice. It did have a strong taste thanks to the vodka and gin but surprisingly I found that I enjoyed it regardless.The Banana, Orange,Yoghurt and Honey Smoothie was very refreshing and the ideal drink to have on hot sunny days.With a great dose of healthy goodness, there is no doubt that this smoothie will be quite a popular choice at The Wallace Restaurant on days like these. Just when I thought I was only going to have one cocktail, Artur our efficient and wonderful server suggested we tried Fragonard, a French cocktail with Dubonnet, Plymouth gin and ginger beer as well as another infusion beverage in the form of Cucumber and Mint with Apple and Elderflower. The Fragonard cocktail was more my cup of tea as it had the wonderful delicious taste of ginger beer Jada Brookes passes the afternoon away by indulging in the fine cuisine at The Wallace Restaurant located within the four walls of The Wallace Collection. bite cuisine