It’s all gravy, baby. Writer Alissa Stroud heads to No. Fifty Cheyne in Chelsea for a taste of their weekend roast
I don’t often find myself in Chelsea – as gorgeous as it is, it’s not particularly convenient to get to via public transport… plus a host of other undisclosed reasons.
This being said, No. Fifty Cheyne had recently come on my radar following a raft of social media posts showcasing the gorgeous interiors and tempting plates of food, and I’d found myself desperate to go, so was thrilled to receive an invite to try their weekend roast.
My guest and I headed to the restaurant on a mild spring Saturday. The exteriors were beautiful, with a gorgeous floral display bedecking the façade, a theme which continued as we ventured in. The interiors felt very Chelsea – soft and neutral tones with glittering chandeliers and long curtains, but the vibe was surprisingly buzzy and exciting.
The Food & Drink
Our visit fell over St Patrick’s Day weekend, and there were some tempting specials on offer that we couldn’t resist – namely half a dozen Irish oysters with crème fraiche, pickled rhubarb and caviar. The plate of oysters arrived and each was topped with vibrant splashes of green, pink and white. The unique combination of ingredients added a fantastic depth of flavour to the oysters and they were the perfect start to our meal.
We also shared the Dorset crab mayonnaise with pea and mint puree, on a bed of pickled cucumber, Granny Smith apples, confit baby potato salad and sherry vinegar jellies. Again, the presentation and choice of contrasting flavours was a real stand out.
A mound of crab meat was piled high on the plate, surrounded by the various other additions, each adding something different. The slight tartness of the Granny Smith apples alongside the creamy baby potato salad, smooth puree and tart sherry jelly was delicious.
For mains, we both opted for the weekend roast which we had seen flying out the kitchen ever since arriving – and for good reason, we would soon find. I’m a firm believer in never ordering a chicken roast when I eat out and turns out so was my guest, so we both went for beef but thought we’d try both of the options on offer to compare – one a 45 day aged rump (£28) and the other a 40 day aged sirloin (£39.50).
When the plates landed on our tables, we both couldn’t wait to get stuck in. The meat on each was exquisitely cooked – perfectly pink with a delightful fatty crust packed with flavour. I will say – you could definitely taste the difference between the rump and the sirloin. Whilst both were incredibly tasty, the sirloin just had a bit more meaty umph to it, and was ever so slightly more tender, but both were a treat and you honestly would be happy with either.
The trimmings were no afterthought either – sticky glazed whole carrots and grilled hispi cabbage came alongside a crisp yet satisfyingly squidgey Yorkshire pudding and oh, the potatoes. THE POTATOES. I could eat a whole plate of those potatoes.
I pride myself on being a bit of a roast connoisseur (i.e., I just really like to eat roasts and lots of them) and these potatoes were out of this world. They were a great size and despite being slightly larger than your average roastie, they lost no crispness for it.
The exterior had such an exquisite crunch to it, packed full of flavour, before finding your way into the pillowy soft centre of fluffy potato. They might just be the best roast potatoes I’ve ever had. I’ll have to go back to double check.
A short but sweet pudding menu featured some tempting choices, including a gorgeous sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream ice cream. This is another British classic that I can’t get enough of and this was a tasty take on it – warm, ooey, gooey, and all that it should be.
My guest opted for cheese which I confess I probably ate half of too and each piece was delicious. Good thick wedges of a nice variety of cheeses, with plump and juicy grapes and those gorgeous crackers with nuts and sultanas laced through them.
The Wordrobe Verdict
I haven’t stopped raving about No. 50 Cheyne to anyone who will listen since visiting. The interiors are beautiful, and the food even more so. Whilst some of the menu is more on the ‘special occasion’ pricing side of things, the roasts are highly affordable for the exceptionable quality on offer. If you’re looking for your next roast in London – this should be it!
Make it happen
Where: 50 Cheyne Walk, London SW3 5LR
How: Find out more and make a booking via fiftycheyne.com
Words by Alissa Stroud, freelance writer
