Due to its lofty location above the Design Museum it would be easy for the Blueprint Cafe to sit back and let the views through the floor to ceiling windows do all the work. So it’s a pleasant surprise to find out that this isn’t the case. Simple, well thought out touches include mini binoculars on the tables so that you can zoom in on Tower Bridge just down the Thames and it’s just as suited to a first date as it is to a family meal.

The Venue
Looking up from outside, the Blueprint Cafe and its expanse of glass looks as aesthetically pared down as any of the works contained in the Design Museum below. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Inside, the restaurant’s floor to ceiling windows make the most of its impressive views of the Thames but the decor is decidedly relaxed with wooden French bistro-style chairs arranged around the tables – a relief as admiring the designers’ work on display in the museum is one thing, eating surrounded by high-end designer pieces quite another.

The Atmosphere
Thanks to the staff, eating at the Blueprint Cafe is a convivial experience. The service is superb and they’ll take plenty of time to advise on the daily changing menu and the wine list. Couples and groups of friends out after work mainly opt for the window seats and the mini binoculars that are placed on each table add a fun, lighthearted touch that makes any meal at the restaurant feel like an occasion.

The Food
Given its location above the Design Museum and, of course, those views it would be easy for the Blueprint Cafe to charge far more for the food or to restrict the portion sizes and it’s to their credit that they haven’t succumbed. The lunch (£15 for two courses and £20 for three courses) and dinner (£20 for two courses and £25 for three courses) menus are famed both for the variety of dishes which change every day and the wide ranging ingredients that they use. On occasion, where more expensive ingredients are used they charge a supplement of a few pounds.

For starters, the soup is an excellent choice and is a generous portion served in a deep bowl. As with the rest of the menu, options change daily but if you see watercress soup on the menu it’s well worth ordering as the deep green soup doesn’t just look appealing, its peppery flavour and smooth consistency makes it the ideal start to the meal and is a great excuse to try even more of the homemade bread. The same applies to the ham hock. The plump, pink pieces of ham are formed into a patty and the meat is salted just enough to bring out its flavour without leaving you reaching for your glass of water.

When it comes to main courses, the chef at the Blueprint Cafe doesn’t hold back and there's nothing dainty about these portion sizes - the plates arrive brimming with food. Imagine your Christmas Day lunch and you’ll have some idea as to just how generous the portions are. The pork dish arrives with the tender slices of meat covering virtually the entire plate although they have left just enough room for a healthy slab of crisp golden crackling and fresh apple sauce. The accompanying greens have to be squeezed onto the plate but it’s a small price to pay for such a fine feed. If you’re a fan of red meat, opt for the featherblade cut of beef which is beautifully cooked to order and so tender you’re unlikely to ever request a fillet in a restaurant again.

If you have any room left, opt to pay the extra for the three courses and choose either the British cheese plate (for a £3 supplement) or the restaurant’s version of Eton Mess which consists of a gigantic light meringue overflowing with sweet, ripe raspberries and strawberries and layered with healthy dollops of whipped cream. Both dishes are large enough to share although you’d be wise to order your own as the meringue in particular is so more-ish you’ll find it hard to prise it away even when it’s so generously portioned.

The Drink
Views this good are worth celebrating so you’ll see plenty of tables starting the night off with a chilled glass of Piper Heidsieck Champagne (£11.50) or Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Brut (£7) before moving onto wine. There are plenty of options by the glass and half bottle which makes a nice change from having to try and decide on a bottle that will match the entire table’s choice of food. Glasses of the white Picpoul de Pinet and red Merlot are both just £4.50 but if you want to opt for a bottle, white and red wines both start at £17 a bottle for a 2008 Sauvignon Blanc and 2008 Merlot respectively.

The Last Word
Don’t let the austere exterior of the Blueprint Cafe put you off. Superb friendly service, impressive views of Tower Bridge and plates piled high with food add up to create a meal that sets the standard along Shad Thames.

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