I remember reading about the Wood Street Bar and Restaurant from some blog (that I can’t find any more) and didn’t realise how close it was to me. Situated on the opposite side of the Barbican Centre, it looks like a pub from the outside but has some intimate booths for parties simply drinking and a small dining area for those that want a more substantial meal. From what I can remember, there was probably five or six tables with only a couple with the spectacular window side view. I didn’t even realise the Barbican had a small pond and with great weather, certainly looks amazing.

The menu is best described as Asian influenced European foods with classic European dishes tweaked with the addition of an asian cooking ingredient like chilli or ginger although they have some British classics like potted shrimp, or roast lamb to please all. I started with the the chilli salt squid, served with a salad of chilli, bean sprouts and a sweet vinegar dressing. The squid was crisp and unfortunately not spicy enough to register on my palate and best eaten with the salad.

For the main dish, I had the soy marinated salmon served on a bed of mango salad, the mango slightly under ripe giving a perfectly subtle tartness to the overall sweetness of the dish. The chef cooked the salmon perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning and the super crisp skin.

This restaurant is hidden away and is definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area. Dinner for two people including three courses, and a bottle of wine was £80.

Name: Wood Street Bar & Restaurant
Found at: Corner of Fore Street & Wood Street, EC2Y 5EJ, London, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.woodstreetbar.com/