Acorn House

Address:	69 Swinton Street WC1X 9NT
Tel	020 7812 1842
Email:	bookings@acornhouserestaurant.co.uk
Website:	Visit Acorn House website
Price: £42.00	Wine: £13.00	Champagne: £32.00
Opening Hours:	Mon-Fri 8am-11am 12N-3pm 6-10.30pm Sat 10am-10.30pm

Square Meal review of Acorn House:

Acorn House takes ethical eating to new levels. A joint venture between the Terrence Higgins Trust & the Shoreditch Trust, the restaurant not only selects & trains its staff from the local community, it’s also largely built from recycled & organic materials, with all produce coming from sustainable sources. But this is no hairshirt operation – the interior is glamorous & the service is slick & professional. Ingredients are as eco-friendly as possible, & much of the food is very accomplished: there are homemade pastas, fresh zesty salads such as crab & dandelion leaves, & char-grilled fish of the day with cardamom & horseradish. That said, the simple nature of the dishes can mean they lack excitement & there are a few underwhelming items, such as a bland starter of beetroot, olives & Jersey Royal spuds. Overlook the occasional inconsistencies & Acorn House is deservedly successful for many different reasons.

Chef: Arthur Potts Dawson

One half of the team behind eco-restaurant Acorn House in King’s Cross, Arthur Potts Dawson came into the spotlight in 2007 when the fledgling venture was named restaurant of the year by Observer Food Monthly magazine. He started cooking at the age of 16 & took up a three-year apprenticeship at Roux Restaurants. After stints at Kensington Place , La Tante Claire & a period in Australia, he joined the River Cafe, rising to head chef, before Jamie Oliver asked him to become executive chef at Fifteen. It was here that he met Jamie Grainger-Smith, with whom he set up Acorn House in November 2006. The two launched a second eco-friendly restaurant, Water House at the end of last year.

Acorn House Location: