We discover our favourite new location for a meal on the move – Farmstand, the fast casual eatery found in the heart of Covent Garden
Tucked away on a side street in the middle of bustling central London awaits a hidden spot of scenically speedy dining. Offering seasonal, sustainable and most importantly, easy to grab food, Farmstand is an eco-conscious restaurant that’s brimming with healthy options – 52,000 food combinations, to be exact.
The venue
I visit with a friend on a Friday night – hungry after a hard day’s work, the spacious chic and plant-filled venue makes a welcomed change to the earlier packed tube. With soft lighting, a relaxed atmosphere and exposed-brick walls, the stylish 30-cover restaurant takes its name from the US roadside stalls known as ‘farmstands’ – which sell locally grown fresh produce, and were common in founder Steven Novick’s hometown.
The food
Ideal for the health-conscious, Farmstand’s menu offers a range of gluten and dairy-free options. Rather than ordering a dish, you build your own box (or tray, if you’re eating in) by choosing one main and two sides (or three sides if you’d prefer).
I ponder the menu board for a few moments before choosing the salmon with herb oil and pea shoots – paired with roasted sweet potatoes, ginger & coconut yoghurt and broccoli, tahini & sesame seeds – all washed down with a bottle of Kombucha.
My generously-sized dishes are all full of flavour but the coconut yoghurt-topped sweet potato is my favourite by far – colourful, fresh and bursting with both texture and creamy goodness. Although I prefer my salmon hot, it’s still deliciously soft and pairs well with both of my chosen sides.
No Friday night dinner would be complete without pudding – we give in to our sweet tooth and opt for a few of the eatery’s baked sweet treats. For me, a blondie brownie. For my companion, a sweet muffin. Both are fantastic – the brownie is chewy and sweet, and just as good as the traditional versions I’ve feasted upon in the past.
No ordinary takeaway, at Farmstead there’s a focus on understand the ingredients behind a meal – and ensuring that the meal you’re grabbing on the go is as equally nutritious as the one you’d spend hours preparing at home.
It’s ideal for city slickers who get bored of the same go-to salads – because there’s so many food combinations, options are endless. Get it delivered straight to your desk or home, or pop in to pick up a box in person.
The verdict
Either way, I’m a total convert. Fresh, fast but most importantly, affordable, go-to grub just got a lot more glamorous.
Make it happen
Where: 42 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5AJ
Price: Starting from £7.50 per box. Click here for more.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7:30am – 9:00pm, Saturday 9:00am – 9:00pm. Closed Sundays.
