Rebecca Wilcock takes a tastebud trip to Greyhound Cafe, the fun Fitzrovia restaurant bringing a dose of Bangkok to London
Who doesn’t love street food? Hardened travellers will tell you the best thing they’ve ever eaten was from a dusty food stall by the side of a road, somewhere in deepest darkest Asia. And there’s a reason why food pop-ups are gathering all over London.
Greyhound Café is all about bringing a bit of authentic Thai street food to the London restaurant scene. It’s a self-styled Bangkok lifestyle café, bringing a taste of the Thai capital to Fitzrovia.
The Venue
A couple of hundred metres north of Oxford Street you’ll find Greyhound Café on an innocuous Fitzrovia street corner.
The restaurant is industrial chic, with fun colour accents – like origami paper fish hanging from the ceiling. It’s all dark grey colour scheme, with an open kitchen and exposed shelving. Plus, a tempting glass dessert case to remind you to save room for pudding.
The menu is like a beautiful A3 design magazine, with vintage effect food photos that make you want to order everything. As soon as you open it, it evokes the spirit of Bangkok and you know you’re going to enjoy yourself.
The Menu
Weeping Wolf is recommended by our waiter as his favourite thing on the menu. Soft buttery lamb sits on fresh cucumber ribbons, with heat from their signature green sauce – almost like a pesto made from medium-hot green chillies.
The Bangkok Bruschetta is a surprisingly delicious clash of Italian and Thai – crisp baguette rounds topped with soft, spicy pork mince that’s seasoned with lime and chilli. And the little single bone chicken wings, are crispy, golden and delicious.
After a lot of deliberating we went for Hot Oil Pork Knuckle and Rib Eye Yang Fai for the main plates, although I could have eaten almost everything on the menu.
The pork comes out on the bone and won’t let you leave hungry. Crunchy crackling, soft fat and fried meat galore are accompanied by jammy, slightly sour tamarind sauce and a super sticky rice package in a little woven square basket.
Soft and understated, the beef could not have been more opposite, with a lightly pickled vegetable slaw and a sweet jaew sauce.
After the heat of the mains, the Young Coconut Sherbet for dessert was a refreshing change of pace. Pieces of young coconut and roasted peanuts add texture to the super smooth cream that melts in my mouth.
The Wordrobe verdict
With everything at Greyhound café made fresh to order which means it comes out when it’s ready, it conjures the feeling of being on a bustling Bangkok street.
The menu tastes as exciting as it sounds, with its ridiculous mix of East, West, traditional and international creating ridiculously good fusion food. I can’t wait go back for another round.
Make it happen
Where: 37 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3LZ
How: Please visit greyhoundcafe.uk to make a booking
Words by Rebecca Wilcock
