Florentine restaurant, Waterloo
Sunny Side Up
It was a gorgeous sunny day in London, when I dined at Florentine restaurant, Waterloo. This was following weeks of unbroken sunshine – a rare British heatwave. It might have been stifling but for the cloudy sky, which afforded a little relief. I know that England is hardly famed for its balmy weather, but believe me London can get very hot and stuffy, especially for tube commuters, as I used to be.
Anyway, what a perfect choice of eatery for a lovely summer’s day. Florentine’s cheery yellow signage would brighten up even the darkest of days, and for us the place seemed to promise happy times. That, and the little fun touches splashed playfully around – a glass drinks dispenser atop the bar, filled with wine corks; a chunky, vintage knife sharpener by the front desk.
Funky flatbreads
We chose a rose wine, and it was spot-on – light, refreshing and not too sweet. Tap water, too, was provided – essential during a spell of balmy weather. After a few sips of each, we were in business – our flatbreads had arrived. We’d plumped for an aubergine and tomato with buratta cheese, and wild mushroom, truffle and ricotta.
The flatbreads were light as air, thin yet pillowy-soft inside, with a pleasing crunch to every delicious bite. The toppings were abundant and beautifully balanced; the choice of cheese complementing each delightfully.
Melt-in-the-mouth
Satisfied we were, yet hungry for more. Oh my, are we glad we did. We had rosemary and lemon infused chicken, which was juicy, succulent and seasoned to please – very much indeed. The real star of the show, though was the steak. The steak! My friend described it, later on, as ‘so tender, it was like a hot knife through butter’. Couldn’t put it better myself, so I won’t even try.
Previously, the best steak I’d ever had was at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze Grill. Well, move over Maze, you have serious competition here. From Mayfair to Lambeth North might sound like a drop in standards, but please take my word for the fact that it is not. A drop in price, however – all the better for every Tom, Dick and Benedict to enjoy Florentine’s bounty more often.
A fabulous find
Florentine is actually part of the Park Plaza London Waterloo hotel – but, I implore you, do not let that put you off. For one thing, you might never know, if entering the restaurant from Hercules Road, near Lambeth North tube station. What a lovely surprise for the hotel’s guests, in fact; to stumble upon this funky, tasty little beauty, right on site. The hotel is in fact equally fabulous, and I can say it’s well worth staying there, as I did.
The bottom line? This place cares, and it shows in their decor, the ambience and, of course, the food. Check out their social media too – like the food it demonstrates flair, imagination and attention to detail. Not least, it will certainly whet your appetite. Look out for the ostrich eggs – a house speciality. The Herculean burger, too, is worthy of mention – a huge sharing platter of a meat patty.
Head south to Florentine restaurant, Waterloo
Go South, my friend. Take a Bakerloo line train to Lambeth, or a short stroll from the South Bank or Waterloo. If, like me, you live out of London, it’s certainly worth booking ahead for your next day trip or business visit to the capital. As luck would have it, trains from my nearest station go direct to Waterloo. How handy is that?
To see up-to-date reviews and prices for Park Plaza London Waterloo, click HERE.
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Note – I received a free meal and drinks at Florentine as part of my work as a content creator. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion. It was entirely my idea, and choice, to write this piece for my own blog.
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