Stylish and diverse with a friendly air, Bluebird knows how to welcome you in and keep you there with its splendid menus.

The Venue
Within a courtyard protected from sight by a grand wall, Bluebird manages to hide away from sight while at the same time shouting out its presence to the Kings Road. Once within, you’ll find the cafe to the left, the epicerie (food shop) to the right, and after swivelling your head back and forth for a few seconds, you’ll finally see the completely unremarkable entrance to Bluebird restaurant and bar, hidden away in the far left corner.

A lift and a staircase lead you up to the main restaurant, but you would be forgiven in thinking you’d stumbled into a council estate tower block, complete with the lifts buttons coming away to show exposed wiring. Yet once you’ve climbed the stairs and have been greeted pleasantly by the host, all previous concerns melt away.

The decor is eclectic but intimate and funky. An oval bar is the first thing you see, with crowds of city workers gathering to have a relaxing drink after work. Comfortable armchairs and low tables with magazines are set to the right but feel somewhat incongruent, as if you’ve stumbled on a hotel lobby or function room by accident. Travelling past this, you come to find yourself in a sky lit dining area with stylish lighting and contemporary furniture, giving the restaurant a sharp edge, as if snapping you to attention so you can concentrate fully on the cuisine.

The Atmosphere
This is a warm and comfortable place but its fashionable edge makes it a place where the more the merrier comes to mind. Parties and groups will enjoy its fun atmosphere but a romantic couple may find themselves overwhelmed and intimacy hard fought for. The staff are plentiful and although they are friendly, you may find confusion among them and it often seems as if the right hand doesn’t talk to the left. It can leave you longing for a simpler time when you had one waiter only and they dealt with everything.

The Food
The restaurant is known for its oysters, which never fail to hit the mark. However, if raw crustaceans are not your thing, you’ll find executive chef Mark Broadbent’s menu well rounded with contemporary European dishes. The restaurant can be proud of its extremely well sourced ingredients and support of English produce. As with all London restaurants, expect London prices. You’ll see ranges from £8.00 - £16.00 for a starter, £17.00 - £30.00 for a main course and £6.00 - £8.00 for dessert.

The menu is delightfully seasonal in places while also having its main staples always ready to order. The selection of bread rolls offered are plentiful and come in all varieties, including marvellous brown rolls baked. Starters sweep from pork rillet with onion marmalade, to a terrine of poultry livers, pickles and melba toast. The cured herrings with pureed beetroot deliver to each of the four taste senses. Sweet and soft herring fillets with sour lemon and dill sauce drizzled artistically around the plate are complemented by hot bitter horseradish within the beetroot puree, and on the mixed salad there’s a hint of salt. The shards of toasted bread lying over the dish give everything a smoky crunch. Main courses are perfect in size, designed to fill you, but not to bursting point. The sweet Saltmarsh Herdwick lamb rump is perfect in size, designed to fill you, but not to bursting point. The Saltmarsh Herdwick lamb rump delivers an earthy, intense flavour while being sweet and juicy. It simply melts in your mouth and leaves you humming with delight. Free range Cumbrian veal chop and duck cassoulet are also available.

The Drink
Having a bar as a central feature in this restaurant means top quality cocktails with the freshest of ingredients. The wine list is an eclectic showcase but all in keeping with the dishes served. Prices can range from anything from £17.00 - £42.00 for a bottle of wine.

The Last Word
Superb food makes Bluebird a definite winner and it should be visited at least once. However, hold out until you have a big group with you to really enjoy its hip atmosphere.

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