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Review of the Jam Cupboard at Rydges.
The Jam Cupboard is located in the newly-refurbished Rydges Hotel on Gloucester Road in the heart of Kensington. The restaurant offers a modern European menu in a bright, airy space with quirky furniture and lighting. I recently went to sample the dinner menu on a Sunday evening.
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My apple martini was deliciously refreshing
After trying the signature cocktail (an Apple Martini) whilst reading the menu, I was finally ready to order – this is a great menu, the kind of menu you can’t decide what to order from because all the dishes sound super. We started with the Roasted King Prawns, Iberian Chorizo, Rocket and Paprika Vinaigrette, which were served on a long thin dish, presented so well it was almost a shame to eat them. The Grilled Scallops, Pea Purée and Crispy Pancetta came served on the same style dish and the plump, juicy scallops were perfectly complemented by the crispy pancetta.
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For mains we sampled the Crispy Pork Belly, Mash, Curly Kale and Salsa Verde, a nice chunk of meat with a crispy top served alongside a huge helping of mash. The Baked Hake with Lime Infused Courgette and Tomato Chilli Jam was a lighter dish - well seasoned white, flaky fish sat on top of a bed of vegetables.
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The food was great quality and the dishes were well thought out and presented, it was just a shame the restaurant was relatively empty. Whilst the a’la carte menu is pricey, there is a set menu for lunch and dinner which offers 2 courses for £15 or 3 courses for £20.
For special events the restaurant also has a private dining room separated from the main restaurant by a glass wall – perfect for those who want to feel like they’re dining in a restaurant with the privacy of their own area.
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Photo credit: LHI Blogger Jules.
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