I’m afraid that I’ve become a most unadventurous foodie in London. All my meals are happily settled at Ottolenghi, which IMO dishes out the most amazing un-sissy-like salads and too-gorgeous-to-be-eaten pastries I’ve ever had.
And so, I’ve stopped exploring London’s dining scene.
Until a couple of weeks ago. When I knew that Pollen Street Social was going to open in Singapore soon, I made an impromptu reservation at chef-proprietor Jason Atherton’s flagship restaurant in London.
2nd July 2012, table for one, lunch at 2pm.
From the moment I stepped into the tastefully done and elegant restaurant, I was in good hands. In fact, I haven’t experienced such wonderful service in a long long while. A slightly dog-eared menu was immediately retrieved back when the waiter was handing it to me; my pot of hot water was replaced by a fresh one not long after I placed my order (though I barely touched it); every dish was described in detail rather than a mere curt “here’s the starter”; owner Jason Atherton personally pulled back the table for me to slide into my seat comfortably when he noticed I was back from the washroom… Little gestures like these go a long way, kudos to the service team!
Now, to the food. Within 6 months of opening, Pollen Street Social was awarded a coveted Michelin star by the 2012 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland. Easy to understand why, as I literally wiped the plates clean, course after course. Starter of slow cooked egg was paired with an intriguing smattering of curry puffed rice; main of cod was fresh enough, though it lacked the melt-in-the-mouth oomph factor; and dessert, wow, the best out of the lot, a clever deconstruction of the classic black forest cake that’s simply brilliant~
End of the day, the bill came up to a very affordable sum of £31 (approximately S$62), after a discretionary 12.5% service charge. For a Michelin-starred meal, it’s truly a bargain!
That’s the beauty of dining in London.
And guess what? My Pollen Street Social experience didn’t end here.. Check back for Part 2! : )
8 Pollen Street, London
Salt cod brandade, Sicilian green olives, dark sourdough bread
Slow cooked egg, home smoked Scottish haddock, curry puffed rice, parsley veloute
Haven’t seen such a vivid orange yolk in a long time!
Roasted cod, cockle vinaigrette, cooked and raw young leeks
Passion fruit foam, pineapple granita
Chocolate “black forest” fondant, praline, liqueur sponge, cherry sorbet
Green tea macaron, freeze-dried raspberries coated with white chocolate, hazelnut milk praline
Almond financiers
My Food Sirens II 
The price stated in your post is the set lunch or ala carte ?
Set lunch. The menu changes regularly; you can check it out on their webpage 🙂
Hi, I couldn’t help but notice your “I Wanna Go” list after reading this post. I would imagine after Michelin 3 Stars, none of those on the list come close to Pollen. I was lucky enough to eat Jason Atherton’s creations when he catered a gala dinner in Singapore recently. His food was hearty and every bite was a delight. 🙂 Your post on Pollen looks so good and I can’t wait for Part 2!
Hello! You are right, maybe they won’t come close. But being able to dine overseas is (and will always be) a bonus. Ultimately, I’m still keen in our local dining scene, be it restaurants or cafes.
Cool, I’m guessing it’s the charity dinner held at Suntec? Lucky you!! 🙂 By the way, thanks for dropping by!
Thank you! But it was only 3 courses. 😦 Hopefully the service issues in Singapore will be sorted soon. And even luckier you for dining on the house!
Oops sorry, he has 1 not 3 stars.
Love your write up! I’ve heard so much about PSS and their set lunches are so affordable. Will definitely make a trip on my next visit to London! Waiting for part 2 🙂