130 Lauriston Road,
Victoria Park, East London,
London,
E9 7LH
0871 971 5073
The ViewLondon Review
The Empress of India, formerly a flower shop, has been restored to its original purpose as a bar and restaurant with a sumptuous decor that far exceeds its former glory.The VenueBased in a fairly remote corner of London near Victoria Park, the glamour of this restaurant is enough to even draw in City workers who can jump in a cab at Liverpool Street and after a relatively short ride arrive at The Empress of India for a decent night out or a working lunch.
The Empress of India is a light and airy environment with huge attention to detail. White walls are interspersed with preserved wallpaper on one wall depicting a scene of Indian flora and fauna, temples and wildlife and even an engraved mirror picturing a young Indian woman playing the sitar has been preserved and hangs on the wall above the bar.
The AtmosphereLocals, media types, young professionals and City workers all flock to the bar and restaurant, filling it to the seams every night of the week. The atmosphere is so vibrant that you may have trouble hearing yourself speak but it's so welcoming you won't mind at all.
The FoodOne of the most important things to know about The Empress of India is that the chef is the former chef of Soho celebrity favourite, The Ivy. Starters include a pint of prawns with mayonnaise, Irish rock oysters and rabbit and prune terrine with granary toast. For the main courses, the halibut comes highly recommended and it is also worth trying the roast breast and confit leg of guinea fowl with sage potato cake and braised red cabbage. Suggested side orders include roast butternut squash with pesto or steamed spinach. As for the desserts, the lemon tart and chocolate and pistachio terrine are both delicious.
The DrinkWhen it comes to drinks it would be rude not to try the bar's speciality - the Raspberry Martinis are not only delicious, they are created with such gusto that watching them being mixed is part of the pleasure. The Jacob Creek champagne is also good value if you fancy some fizz.
The Last WordFans of Ed and Tom Martin's The Gun in Docklands won't want to miss out on The Empress of India. Offering luxurious, quality dining which is more restaurant than gastro pub it's worth travelling across London for.