Lincolns Inn Fields,
Holborn,
London,
WC2A 3LJ
0871 971 3577
The ViewLondon Review
The terrace at Lincoln’s Inn Fields is not exactly deserving of its hype.The VenueIn the quaint Lincoln’s Inn Fields sits a charming wooden structure. From afar it looks like Ikea has outdone itself with a sturdy, self-assembled standalone shelter. Upon closer inspection, you realize you had given Ikea too much credit; the sound skeleton of sandy-coloured wood pillars that hold the rectangular space upright is more complicated than it seems. Above hangs a translucent white canopy that hovers over a neither permanent nor temporary-looking dark grey floor, and fresh vases of flowers rest on the centre wooden beams that also function to separate the groups of baby-blue-coloured tables.
In the summer, the small terrace that runs along the back is put to use. Unfortunately, concrete tennis courts render the view devoid of greenery; despite being within a park, the Terrace's structure remains disintegrated from nature.
The AtmosphereIt can be hard to get a table during lunchtime as crowds pour in from the nearby offices. At night, when the park closes, the restaurant slows down considerably even though it has a unique location that offers utmost privacy. This inactivity is probably attributed to not being able to explore the garden after hours.
The FoodCelebrity chef Patrick Williams' kitchen brews up a unique fusion of British, Caribbean and French food. The idea is a stunner, but the food itself falls short; let's just say there have been better tasting jerk sauces. The jerk chicken and pancetta Caesar salad (about £11.00 for a main) was mild, both in flavour and spice. This was a less worthy follow-up to the pleasant sweet, warm and tangy caramelised onion tart starter (about £6.00).
The DrinkThere is a good wine selection consisting of at least fifteen reds and twenty whites, most of which are available by glass from about £4.00 and the carafe from about £10.00). The staff may not have full knowledge of the wines, but they will be more than willing to find out. Unfortunately, the information is usually not something you can't read from the menu.
The Last WordThe two selling points of the Terrace - its unique location and unusual fusion of flavours - die out far too quickly. So if you are looking to use the Terrace to impress, don't linger around - stick to the quick set lunch meal and leave before the magic fritters away.