Caravan City, a review.

A Quick Overview

Cuisine: Seasonal, Global

Price: ££

Location: 22 Bloomberg Arcade London EC4N 8AR

Food: Well-presented, brunch foods inspired by global flavours

Vibes/Aesthetic: Casual, modern, simple

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Caravan City, Bloomberg Arcade - London Restaurant Tour

Visited: 20/01/2024

Nestled in the heart of London's banking district, Caravan City in Bloomberg Arcade offers a tranquil escape on a Saturday mid-morning. The restaurant stands out as one of the very few that opens when the bankers have gone home, making it a hidden gem for those seeking a quieter London atmosphere compared to Covent Garden or Soho, yet still desiring a central location.

The restaurant's curved glass frontage, combined with its high open ceilings and clean, modern interiors, creates a spacious feeling. The seamless blend of these industrial open ceilings, warm wooden elements, and white marble is not only very current but also aesthetically pleasing. Caravan hasn't packed every square foot with chairs, so it doesn't feel like you are sitting on top of each other, yet there is still a warm buzz of atmosphere.

After being promptly shown to our seats, I opted for the warm Golden Spiced Milk (almond milk, turmeric, cinnamon, raw honey). Vibrantly yellow with turmeric, the initial sip was quite savoury and caught me off guard. There was very little raw honey to balance out the turmeric, and the cinnamon sits subtly at the back of your throat. While it is an intriguing combination, a touch more sweetness would have enhanced the palatability.

Moving on to the food (which arrived very quickly), the vanilla pancakes from the winter menu were a delight. Topped with lemon curd, lemongrass and bay leaf poached pear, and a pumpkin seed and sumac praline, the pancakes were sweet, light, and well-portioned. The velvety smooth lemon curd provided a perfect balance of sweetness and sharpness, while the praline added crunch, and the sumac introduced a welcome savoury spice that complemented the sweetness of the pancakes. The poached pears were cold and offered a temperature contrast and a burst of freshness. However, the promised flavours of lemongrass and bay leaf were not able to stand up against the boldness of sumac and tangy lemon curd.

For the savoury main, we had the Korean-style buttermilk fried chicken with kimchi pancakes, gochujang ketchup, and fried egg. The egg had a perfectly runny yolk with the deep red hue characteristic of a healthy chicken and the gochujang ketchup carried the dish with its vibrant flavour. While the pancakes were pleasant, they lacked the distinct kimchi fermentation flavour and the soft finely chopped pieces of kimchi, would, for me, have been more successful as larger pieces for additional texture. The well-cooked, juicy chicken had a crispy batter, contributing the necessary texture to the dish. Yet, similar to the pancake, it fell short on seasoning.

The waitstaff maintained a pleasant atmosphere, ensuring swift service without making us feel rushed. Caravan City is part of the broader Caravan Restaurant network scattered across London. And, despite some minor critiques, the sweet dish shone, and the overall experience was positive. With a diverse menu to explore, I would return to this particular establishment or try one of their other locations for a satisfying brunch offering. In conclusion, Caravan City delivers a solid performance, earning a solid seven.

If you find yourself in London and seeking a dependable brunch experience, locating a Caravan near you is a safe bet.

7/10

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