Review: Little Bay, Farringdon

Style Points: 4/5
Price: £
Overall: 4/5

When we arrived at Little Bay, we greeted warmly and given the choice of tables. The interior at the Farringdon branch is in line with the Little Bay brand. I have been going to the Kilburn branch for many years and I adore its exquisite Parisian-style red and gold furnishings. 

However although the classics on the menu cross over, there are no romantic balconies or dripping candle bottles at the Farringdon branch, though I later realised it had something different to offer. A secret tucked well up their sleeve!

Would I Want Seconds?

We decided to order a glass of wine each with our meals and a basket of soft white and brown bread was placed before us with butter. Our starters arrived and my guest tucked into her  parson's pastry which had a golden crispy coating and a delicious chicken and mushroom filling.

I had the goat's cheese which was soft in the middle with a slightly harder texture on top as if it was baked. The sweet and sharp surrounding salad and dressing really complemented the taste of the goat's cheese and both starters were well presented so we were very happy with our starters.

Next up, our mains! My guest ordered the confit duck which was served with a crispy skin and juicy meat. The sides were butternut squash mash and red cabbage. The red cabbage went really well with the duck as they were bold flavours together. 

I ordered steak which had great flavour and I liked the lashings of gravy, however there were some chewy bits to the steak so I couldn't finish it. I also had chips on the side. 

As a dairy free diner, I know I can push it with some cheeses and chocolates but I definitely draw the line at cream and ice cream so dessert was a bit of a no-go area for me but I did have a bite of my guest's warm apple cake which had the perfect combination of pastry and apple filling.

We soon realised that we had probably picked the wrong table as we were sat under a fan or AC unit, this meant our dinner lost its heat much quicker than usual. There was also another surprise I had seen a lady dressed in a luxurious gown and I thought she was slightly overdressed but I thought nothing of it. Mid-way through our meal, the lady began to sing opera as she walked around the restaurant approaching each table. 

As pleasant as the live entertainment was, it was rather unexpected as she was walking around the small restaurant rather than in one place, I was unsure whether I was supposed to stop eating and watch the performance or continue eating as if it were background music. But hey, now we know they have live opera from 8pm on Thursdays and Saturdays!

Could I Afford Seconds?

This is fine dining for less, perfect for a regular evening out when you don't fancy slaving over the oven but also ideal for date nights and birthday dinners.

The food is consistently good, the menu offers a small number of simple, great-tasting classic meals which means they have been able to perfect the recipes over the years and they miraculously manage to keep the prices down too.

Overall: 4/5

A nearby table was celebrating a birthday and the staff bought a cake over and sang to the guests, I know from experience that this is a regular occurrence and explains why Little Bay has such loyal customers. 

I enjoyed my meals and I will always return to Little Bay but I think I may stick to the Kilburn branch which is closer to home for me.

Reviewed by Guest Writer Syeshia Sweeney

Website: www.littlebay.co.uk
Address: 171 Farringdon Road, Clerkenwell, Islington, London, EC1R 3AL
Closest Tube Station: Farringdon