A new bar, restaurant and late night venue has opened on High Street Kensington, offering amazing cocktails, a delicious food menu and a stylish space in which to drink and socialize late into the night.
The space is a dimly lit basement bar, which oozes sophistication and the food menu is a collection of Asian influenced dishes from classics such as crispy squid to delicious fusions such as green tea fondants.
The cocktail list is both unique and creative, peppered with distinct and bold flavours such as lemongrass, oolong, sherbet and balsamic. These are paired with quality spirits and served in the most unusual and theatrical vessels you could imagine. The 3rd Rock, arrived in an antique globe structure, containing a delicious mix of Bacardi Heritage, passion fruit, pomegranate balsamic, orange flower water and bubbles. I admired a cocktail arriving on an adjacent table which consisted of a golden hand cupping a glass, containing the liquid. It’s unusual to see this much work put into how the cocktails are served and rather than a standard martini glass or a classic high-ball, each vessel tells a story and reflects the personality of the drink. It definitely adds an extra wow-factor.
The food was stunning. It was fusion food at it’s best, offering a range of dishes all flavoured with Asian spices, some delicate, others bold. Meaty pieces of hot smoked salmon were served in a banana leaf with wasabi pearls, which was followed by crispy squid scattered with red chills and coriander. The duck and watermelon salad was delicious; a perfect pairing of these two food friends, with a richly spiced duck and the fresh, fruity watermelon complimenting it perfectly.
Tempura soft shell crab arrived next. A dish which is always a hit and it certainly didn’t disappoint here. The long tentacles were crisp and crunchy with a fleshy crab meat inside the light batter.
A very delicate plum and miso marinated seabass was steamed and served wrapped in a banana leaf which arrived alongside a perfectly pink cut of sirloin beef, placed on a creamy chive mash. Sides of kai lam and fried rice completed the meal.
We just about had space for the green tea fondant which was so delicious. The oozy middle was sweet and smooth, with just a subtle flavor of green tea.
The menu matched the sophisticated, laid-back vibes of the venue, which is the perfect place for mid-week cocktails or a Friday date-night dinner. The music, increasing in volume and pace as the night wore on, created an upbeat atmosphere which set the tone in the bar.
I predict that pretty quickly Beyond London, will be become the go-to place in High-Street Ken for up-market drinking and dining. Every element has been well thought-out and they hit the spot every time with their delicious cocktail and food menu.
