Restaurants with great views can sometimes get away with the food not being quite up to scratch. Luckily, at OXO Tower, the food is brilliant and the breathtaking view is an added bonus.

The Venue
The eighth floor of the OXO Tower is divided up into two spaces to take advantage of the sky-high views. Once out of the lifts, the bar and brasserie is to the right and the restaurant to the left, the latter of which is decorated simply but tastefully, with dark blue leather armchair seating and round tables covered with crisp white tablecloths. There are quite a few tables but the spacing is optimal for a dinner conversation – and if there’s a lull, the view of the Thames is gorgeous, especially at night. You can easily gaze at it for ages.

The Atmosphere
The OXO Tower Restaurant has cultivated a reputation for exclusivity and as such the crowd seems well-to-do, with many diners celebrating special occasions. Service is professional and charming and, though there’s no pressure to leave, time slips by quite quickly and you’ll be tucking in to petits fours before you know it.

The Food
With starters upwards of £10 and some mains over £30, the OXO Tower Restaurant is never going to be a cheap place to bring a date. But if you’re looking to impress, you’ll find an innovative menu with loads of choice and plenty of attention to detail. A dish of scallops with pea vinaigrette is brilliant, the sharp flavours of the vinaigrette balancing well with the creamy scallops. Mini spring rolls made with oxtail – described as oxtail cigarettes by staff – add crispness and savoury flavour. Another good choice is the light and fresh Devon crab with citrus creme fraiche, well presented on a long, rectangular plate.

Mains are equally well presented, with dishes featuring several different components. A well cooked fillet of beef is satisfying enough, but here it’s accompanied by a mushroom and tarragon mousse, Madeira sauce and orange marmalade. The duck is served just as requested and has a rich, robust flavour. A polenta cake with tangy slices of apple, indulgent foie gras and a scattering of blackberries complete the dish. Puddings include scoops of rice pudding with a mango parfait, sandwiched between seeded crisps. If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth staff are happy to guide you through the cheese selection.

The Drink
The OXO Tower offers more than 800 bottles of wine starting from about £20 a bottle. If you’re unsure what to order – watch where you’re pointing, as prices rise to over £4,000 bottles – the house red is a solid choice, smooth and just a little spicy.

The Last Word
The views are sky high and the prices aren’t far behind, but luckily the food lives up to the OXO Tower’s lofty heights.

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