Allegra

Modern European·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Allegra

Silver Award

A decade on from London 2012 and the revitalisation of Stratford, and Stratford remains... well, slightly more vital than it was. One suspects that the folks at Allegra were hoping that Stratford might have become more of a destination by now. We have this thought whilst admiring the stylish bathrooms, which boast lovely high-rise views over derelict-looking building sites.

Still, that’s no reflection on Allegra itself, which brings Central London chicness out to the city’s far east reaches. Space Copenhagen have done a beautiful job of the interiors, mixing different stone patterns and textures across surfaces, from the smooth stone of the bar to the natural stone floors. Windows surround the restaurant, which follows the extended horseshoe of the central bar - as a result, it feels bright and spacious, whilst vertical blinds give some diffused sun protection on brighter days.

We kick off with a couple of cocktails, including an excellent Apple Hazelnut number, which balanced whisky and Frangelico with the sharp acidity of Granny Smith apple. Like everything at Allegra, it speaks to real thoughtfulness behind the whole operation.

On Wednesdays Allegra offers a tasting menu - perfect for those who prefer to skip the decision-making and get down to business. Combining such a wide spectrum of influences can sometimes lead to dishes that get mired in ideas, but Powell’s food here is crystal clear. A tomato tarte fine with artichoke barigoule is absolutely cracking - deep, roasted tomatoes on a pastry base, with the barigoule blended into a smooth puree; the definition of classic flavours elevated. The main event is a perfect slow-cooked beef cheek that melts away as we tear into it with forks, served with soft, burnished leaves of grilled cabbage. There’s clearly a talented pastry kitchen too, and £52 all in for dinner is an absolute bargain.

Admittedly there were a few timing issues on the night, with later courses coming rather slowly - the sort of thing that happens to any good kitchen from time to time. That only slightly detracts from the quality of the food, and the slick, friendly service managed to bridge the gap. If Allegra were in Central London, it would be the toast of the town.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Modern European
Ambience
Fine dining, Glamorous, Luxury
Awards
SquareMeal London Top 100
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Alfresco And Views
Great views, Outside seating, Terrace
Special Features
Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Celebrations, Dates, Special occasions

About

Head up to the seventh floor of Manhattan Loft Gardens - a mere stone’s throw from Stratford International Station and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - and you'll find Allegra, Patrick Powell's chic modern European restaurant. Powell boasts a rock solid pedigree - he was previously head chef at Chiltern Firehouse for a number of years under Nuno Mendes, and has also spent time with Anthony Demetre at Wild Honey.

The striking interiors are designed by Space Copenhagen - the company behind the interiors at iconic Copenhagen restaurants like Geranium, Noma and 108. An open kitchen sits behind a sweeping stone bar, which bends around the restaurant. As you enter, you'll also find a neat little sun terrace on the right hand side, where you can sit and enjoy snacks and signature cocktails like the Apple Hazelnut, made with whisky, Frangelico, Granny Smith apple and cider.

Powell's contemporary European cooking takes inspiration from far and wide, though many of the dishes are rooted in classic flavours. Starters on the a la carte include a dish of hand-dived scallop, Vesuvius tomato, leche de tigre, cucumber and sea vegetables, with main plates including roast saddle of lamb with tomato tarte fine, lamb faggot, olive and artichoke, and barbecued pollock, Vadouvan spices, potato, spring onion and curry leaf. For those that would rather just sit down and eat, there's a chef's selection available, and a tasting menu available on a Wednesday evening too. Don't forget the desserts, which are worth saving room for - try the apricot baba, lemon thyme chantilly or English strawberry and elderflower tart.

On top of the signature cocktails, Allegra also boasts an extensive wine list as well as knowledgeable sommelier service.


FAQs

Who is the chef at the restaurant?

Patrick Powell is head chef at the restaurant.

Helpful? 0

Do you need to book a table?

Yes, we recommend that you book a table to dine with us.

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This venue also offers

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Kitchen E20

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Private Group Dining

The Stratford & Allegra

The Stratford
Event Party Venue

The Stratford

The Stratford & Allegra
Wedding Venues

The Stratford & Allegra

Location

The Stratford, 20 International Way, Stratford, London, E20 1FD

020 3973 0545 020 3973 0545

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri 12:00-14:30
Sat 12:00-14:30
Sun 12:00-16:00
Dinner
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 18:00-22:00
Thu 18:00-22:00
Fri 18:00-22:00
Sat 18:00-22:00
Sun Closed

Reviews

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3 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Lloyd S

11 October 2022  
Food & Drink 4.5
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 4

We’d certainly heard a lot of good things about Allegra so it was time to finally experience it for ourselves. I am now very delighted to say that  after thoroughly enjoying our lunch on sunday we will definitely be making more visits in the future.

 

The restaurant itself is located on the seventh floor of The Stratford Hotel adjacent to stratford international station. You enter the hotel and make your way round to the lift. Then you just simply press the seven and before you know the doors open and your in the restaurant. We were given a delightfully warm welcome before taking a seat at the bar for an aperitif. This also gave us a chance to have a look around.

 

The bar is on the right with bar stools and a seating area. The far end turns into counter seating where you can see the chefs in action. Then in an L shape you have the restaurant which has a very spacious and modern look. We then ordered our cocktails the Remember The Name of rye whiskey , cream sherry , raisins and the Clementina featuring mezcal , fino sherry and clementine cordial. They were both an absolute delight.

 

After our drinks we were escorted to a lovely round table in the corner of the dining area giving us a fabulous view of the entire restaurant. Once settled our waiter Rodrigo who’s service throughout our lunch was impeccable. He first gave us a description of how the menu works. This is designed for sharing that includes snacks , starters , mains sides and desserts but you could also quite easily create you own three course meal as some mains are smaller than others.

 

We decided to start with a couple of snacks. The Fried Oyster , malt vinegar , sea perslane and yoghurt along with the Pistachio Choux liver parfait , preserved clementine and black garlic. The flavours were amazing leaving us eagerly waiting for what was to follow.

 

Next it was onto the starters where we ordered the Potato Rosti with whipped cod brandade , pickled onions and seaweed , Crab on Toast with elderflower and shellfish sauce. Lastly was the amazing Duck Neck Sausage with poached egg , sauce ravigote and bitter leaves. We were washing these down with a fantastic light red wine from Greece. The Xinomavro 2020 from the Thymiopoulos Winery was full of strawberry flavours.

 

Now it was on to the main course. Here we shared the Aged Sirloin of Grass Fed Beef with a bordelaise sauce that was heaven. We accompanied this with side dishes of Crispy Potatoes with pickled onion and wholegrain mustard , Roasted Carrots , harissa , almonds and yoghurt , Purple Sprouting Broccoli with hazelnut butter and toasted yeast. We really were enjoying all the fantastic flavours and each dish was perfectly cooked.

 

We then needed a little rest before moving to desserts. What was to follow were three delicious treats consisting of the Fig Mille Feuille with epping honey ice cream  , the Milk Chocolate , speculoos and fig leaf and also a clever Ricotta Ice Cream with preserved cherry and olive oil.

 

We finished with a coffee to bring to an end a fabulous dining experience and one that I can’t wait to repeat. I would also like to visit at a different time when their tasting menu is on offer. I highly recommend a visit here as the food was fantastic and matched by excellent friendly service. You can also enjoy a fabulous cocktail at the bar or outside on the terrace while enjoying a great view of the surrounding area.

 

Thank You all for a fantastic lunch and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Simon G

26 September 2022   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 2
Service 3
Atmosphere 3
Value 3
Limited menu

Limited menu available consisting mostly of burgers. Not what we were expecting 

Rachel C

10 July 2022   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 3.5
Exquisite wines

Had a truly wonderful time at Allegra. Lovely, friendly staff and a generous sommelier! Exquisite wine. The soda bread with whipped butter in particular was amazing. 

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