Indigo

At first glance, One Aldwych is an unassuming building tucked away between theatres in Covent Garden. But hidden beneath the grey exterior is a five star hotel boasting one of the few dairy- and gluten-free restaurants the capital has to offer. Indigo sits on the first floor mezzanine level, lending itself to both a business lunch spot as well as a date night dinner, with large windows that flood the room with natural light by day, and dim lighting to switch up the ambience at night. 

Upon arriving, we’re swiftly escorted to our table at the edge of the mezzanine level with a prime spot overlooking the lobby - a people watchers' paradise. Whilst nothing groundbreaking, Indigo brings contemporary British food that gives a nod to the country’s favourites, like a seasonal soup or fish and chips, via an a la carte or a six course tasting menu.

Opting for an a la carte, the evening starts with warm bread rolls presented at the table alongside some bacon butter that was wonderfully soft - a small detail that never goes unnoticed or underappreciated.

Scallops with pressed chicken leg, parsnip and truffle make it as the standout dish. Delicate, yet ever so slightly sweet scallops are cut through without a single ounce of excess force, the chicken is intensely flavoursome from generous seasoning, and the sauce is rich and velvety, perfectly coating the other elements. The truffle however gave nothing more than a hint of flavour, but was appreciated nevertheless.

The mains remained consistent with the rest of the meal as they came beautifully presented, along with plenty of flavour in a respectable portion size. Our favourite dessert was the spheroid of chocolate mousse, encased in a chocolate glaze so shiny we could see the excitement on our face as we dug the spoon in.

By and large, Indigo comes at a cost, but is redeemed through its immaculate service and attention to detail on plating.

Housed inside luxury hotel One Aldwych, Indigo is an all-day neighbourhood restaurant serving up gluten and dairy-free dishes that take cues from British cuisine. The restaurant's respect for the seasons and sustainable sourcing means that all its produce is supplied by independent producers across the British Isles, while ensuring that each ingredient is handled with care in the kitchen to ensure the best possible flavour. Indigo restaurant overlooks the hotel’s Lobby Bar and offers a buzzy and informal dining experience.

Both a la carte and tasting menus are available, with dishes changing regularly with the seasons. The tasting menu is comprised of a carefully-selected range of dishes from the main menu, including the likes of Dorset crab salad with compressed cucumber, lime, and seaweed cracker; heritage beetroot with caramelised walnut, black garlic ketchup, and Granny Smith apple; and day boat Cornish halibut with linzer potato, cep mushroom, salsify and red wine veloute A vegan tasting menu is also available for plant-based eaters.

The a la carte menu, meanwhile, offers additional, more casual dishes, including spiced parsnip velouté with roasted apple, One Aldwych’s signature fish and chips, and sides like tenderstem broccoli with toasted almonds, and heritage carrots spiced with cumin and pumpkin seed.

For dessert, you might find the likes of quince and nutmeg creme brulee, bramley apple charlotte with blackberry sorbet, or fresh and poached figs with almond sponge and orange sorbet.

Indigo is open all day and also serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and a pre-theatre menu. For those stopping by in the morning, guests are able to indulge in an array of cooked, gluten-free, healthy and egg-based options. From porridge with agave, berry compote and cacao nibs to a Lincolnshire potato rosti with vine tomato relish and fried eggs.