The uber-swanky Fitzrovia members’ club has its very own restaurant that’s definitely worth a try.

The Venue
The restaurant is right off Vanilla’s bar area, with its white furniture, coloured lighting and sparkly chandeliers. Vanilla’s restaurant is practically opposite in decor – whereas the bar area is light and floaty, the restaurant is darker, with black and white patterned wallpaper and black leather chairs and booths. Although the wallpaper looks very cool when you just walk in, it makes the room seem smaller than it is and it’s sure to make you dizzy after a few drinks.

The Atmosphere
Vanilla’s members-only policy means that not everyone can wander in and book a table. Basic membership is free, however, so the crowd isn’t snooty by any means and you won’t feel out of place. Service is friendly, professional and eager to give recommendations if you have trouble choosing off the menus.

The Food
The food at Vanilla is modern European, nothing too fancy and nothing too boring, either. Portions are perfectly sized and prices are surprisingly reasonable for a members’ club. For starters, try the lightly seared scallops with cauliflower puree or the lobster bisque, a slightly creamy soup with chunks of lobster and tenderly poached prawns.

Mains include sea bass with an interesting combination of artichokes and edamame with Amaretto and vanilla sauce. Although it sounds odd, the sweetness and saltiness complement each other well and the fish is very fresh. Black-chicken fricassee comes stir fry style, with asparagus and mushrooms. Desserts are an absolute must – try the sinful chocolate and jasmine fondant with olive oil ice cream or the caramelised pineapple ravioli, which comes with tiny parcels of pineapple slices and mango sorbet.

The Drink
The cocktails at Vanilla are amazing, so make sure you stop by the bar before your meal. Try one of their perfectly made mojitos or the Arctic Kiss, made with vodka and Midori, Framboise along with crushed green apples, grapes and fresh lime juice. The wine list is extensive and ranges from reasonably priced to bottles that are best left for special occasions only.

The Last Word
If you can uncross your eyes enough to look past the wallpaper you’ll find that Vanilla serves up delicious food with the all-important innovative twist to make it stand out from the pack.

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