Jamie Oliver Catherine St

Jamie Oliver’s journey began with a passion for feeding families, bringing simple, healthy, and approachable recipes into homes through his cookbooks and television shows. It’s fitting, then, that his beautifully dressed Catherine Street restaurant turns back to his own upbringing, celebrating the indulgence and nostalgia of British classics.

Inside, it really is a stunner: all ruched lamp shades, deco styling, and enough foliage strung with fairy lights to satisfy even the most Instagram-hungry. On a Saturday evening, it’s filled with parents visiting London-living children, young families after a day out, and Theatreland tourists drawn to the Jamie Oliver brand.

Jamie Oliver Catherine Street trades in comfort, highlighting twists on the familiar. A black pudding Scotch egg, with its rich runny yolk and swipe of prickly mustard mayo, is a case in point: an encouragingly decadent opener, both gastro-pubby and elevated. Salmon gravlax follows suit, supple and blushing, cured with beetroot and vodka, coiled around a mound of horseradish cream.

For mains, there’s a very good Hereford Ribeye - dry-aged for 80 days, robata grilled, and served with a choice of sauce - alongside a chicken and rabbit pie. The latter offers more chicken than rabbit, but its meaty intensity is there, bolstered by a leek and cider sauce. Rich and comforting as it is, it teeters into too-salty territory - though creamy mashed potato, a jugful of extra gravy, and a glass of Verdicchio soon relieve any gripes.

Elsewhere, you’ll find chocolate mousse, thick and indulgent, drizzled with olive oil, and accompanied by a helping of Chantilly. There’s honeycomb, too - a fantastic idea - though with some pieces we detect a telltale metallic-bicarb tang. Blackberry pavlova, meanwhile, comes pepped up with a dollop of lemon curd and crowned with a rocher of blackberry sorbet. It’s the size of a large grapefruit, and though some might miss the fresh fruit, the balance is spot on.

Oliver’s Catherine Street restaurant can feel a little costly, and we note a few missteps. That said, classic British cooking, a convenient location, and efficient service all combine to create something reassuring and welcoming - just what you need amidst the chaos of the West End.

A vibrant British restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden, Jamie Oliver Catherine St serves as a testament to dishes from Oliver’s childhood and years in the kitchen. Set just yards from the iconic Theatre Royal, Jamie Oliver Catherine St is a nostalgic celebration of British cuisine with a modern twist, perfect for pre-theatre dinners, celebratory meals, and casual dining.

Upon entering, guests are greeted by a verdant courtyard garden with climbing plants. The main dining room features striking art deco detailing, cosy booths, with Jamie's favorite artwork adorning the walls, and a mahogany and marble bar for pre-dinner drinks and snacks.

The menu reflects the entirety of Jamie’s journey so far, taking cues from his River Cafe roots, as well as from his restaurant Fifteen. At the heart of it all is a dedication to great British produce, whether it be sustainably-farmed British meat, British-grown vegetables and fruit, or award-winning producers up and down the country like Neal’s Yard Dairy, Exmoor Caviar and Wonky Veg.

The Jamie Oliver Catherine St menu kicks off with snacks like Dusty Knuckle sourdough crackers with whipped butter, cods roe on beer-battered sage leaves, and croquettes with Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese, sweet leeks and pickled walnuts.

Starters meanwhile, include the likes of posh prawn cocktail with British crab, shrimp, yuzu and focaccia crisps; house gravlax with Loch Duart Salmon cured in beetroot and vodka; and roasted hand-dived scallops in Cafe de Paris butter. As for main courses, anticipate beer-battered hake and chips, beef shin cottage pie, as well as pasta dishes and steaks, chops, and burgers from the grill. Not to mention, the iconic 'Trevor's Chicken' - juicy chicken breast cooked in mushroom duxelles and puff pastry - a tribute to the same dish once cooked by Jamie's father Trevor at his pub.

There’s also a great roast dinner and set menu deals on the table, not to mention one of the best pre-theatre dinner menus in London. Plus, Jamie Oliver Catherine St also lays on a considerable selection of house cocktails, including a mezcal Margarita made with smoked jalapenos and an ‘Espresso Martoffee’ with brandy and butterscotch.