It felt like the first real cold day in London, where a slight chill permeated my spine.
What better way to mark it, I thought, than a good old Sunday roast.
I ventured to Oslo Hackney to check out their meaty offerings.
Located in a former railway station just by Hackney Central Overground, this is a unique space, boasting exposed brickwork, high ceilings and a laid-back vibe.
Immediately on walking in I was struck by a quiet calm; warm lighting, the gentle natter of diners and jazz rifts filling the air.
Oslo’s Sunday lunch menu features a rump of beef, roast half chicken or beer-battered cod and chips – there is also a full menu to choose from if this trio doesn’t tickle your tastebuds.
I opted for roast beef while my friend Maria chose the 1/2 roasted chicken.
On the drinks front I went for a warming whisky-infused old fashioned with Maria sipping on some red wine.
It was 3pm and the restaurant was abuzz, it appeared to be a popular spot with locals and it’s easy to see why.
When the lunch arrived we simultaneously chimed ‘wow’.
On top of perfectly cooked carrots and cabbage stood a stack of beef, sliced into tender slithers.
Maria’s chicken looked beautifully juicy with a golden-glazed sheen.
The mountains of meat were accompanied by smaller outcrops of roast potatoes and parsnips. To top it off, Yorkshire puddings practically the size of my head.
Things got a little quiet at the table as we tackled the meaty mounds before us.
‘This is the best Sunday roast I’ve ever had,’ Maria said – and that’s a big accolade coming from a cook! (Maria runs the amazing cake store Molly Bakes in Dalston).
Needless to say we both made work of the mountains of meat with just a smudge of gravy left coating our plates.
It’s important to stock up resources in winter right? So, we decided to share a dessert.
We were late eating, so unfortunately the tiramisu had sold out. There was a passion fruit cheesecake but we went for the more warming option of brownies.
Fresh from the oven, the slab of chocolate came served a scoop of vanilla ice cream and oozing brown sauce.
Our two spoons made surprisingly light work of the pudding, given the meal we’d just demolished.
Our time at Oslo had come to an end. But we both agreed we’d be back.
£14 pp for one of the best roasts we’d probably ever had (except for my mum’s) is a bargain and a definite winner for the winter months ahead.
To book a table at Oslo Hackney visit www.oslohackney.com or call 020 3553 4831.
