Food Review: The Parlour

REVIEW

The mark of success for any new bar or restaurant in Canary Wharf is when the locals feel as though its been there for as long as they remember.

So, The Parlour - one of the new additions in the Park Pavilion in Canada Square - is obviously doing something right as it seems as though it's been knocking around the area for years, not just three weeks.

The bar/restaurant has filled a gap for somewhere to enjoy a pint or a meal without having to trek across the Wharf for somewhere suitable. With its funky decor and modern but unintrusive music it's already proved to be a popular meeting place for business lunches or drinks.

General manager Taskin Muzaffer has been pleased with the reception Wharfers have given The Parlour.

He said: "We knew it would do well as a bar but the response to the restaurant has been excellent. We've sourced top quality ingredients to offer to customers at value-for-money prices and it's seemed to work.

"We've broken all our targets from day one and it's only going to get better. We're very pleased."

Whether it's a snack with friends - why not share a platter (from £8.95) - or a quick bite from the gourmet sandwiches and burgers, there is plenty on the surprisingly big menu. And for more serious eaters there's a good selection of dishes to tempt you.

Mains arrive in small cast iron pans - be warned, they are hot to the touch - on a wooden board. The presentation is beautiful, but would the taste match up?

The chargrilled pork sausages with mash and red onion gravy (£8.50) were very good. Three plump, meaty sausages in a tasty jus, while the mash was smooth and creamy. The side order of mushy peas was perhaps more of a puree but was also good.

Vegetarians have several options, including pumpkin, tallegio cheese and red onion lasagne (£7.95). This dish was packed with pumpkin, appropriate at Halloween, full of flavour and the bechamel sauce was excellent. One fault was the pasta itself, which was slightly chewy in places but otherwise good.

Desserts are short and sweet, with four to choose from, all priced at £4.95. Homemade chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream was excellent, while the advertised apple crumble proved to include blackberries, which was a pleasant surprise.

It was packed with properly cooked chunks of apple - not always an easy thing to manage - although the accompanying custard was a little on the lumpy side.

An extensive winelist is made even better by the prices. A decent bottle starts at £12.95, while those less thirsty individuals can enjoy them by the glass.

On the downside service was a little bit slow even though it was well after the lunchtime rush when we ate there, but the friendliness of the waiting staff could not be faulted.

The Parlour is a welcome addition to the Canary Wharf eating scene. It's right at the heart of the Wharf and Wharfers seem to have, quite rightly, taken it to their hearts.

HEALTHY OPTION:

Tired of all those carbs? A healthy salad is what you need and there are several to choose from at The Parlour.

The roasted beetroot and goats cheese salad will set you back £7.95 but your waistline will thank you, probably.

But to be honest the whole ethos of the place is about enjoying food, so calorie-counters should give themselves a break for once and tuck in with gusto.

WHARF VERDICT:

The Parlour
The Park Pavilion
40 Canada Square
London E14 5FW
theparlourbar.co.uk

RATINGS:
Food: 4
Ambience: 5
Service: 3
Convenience: 5
Overall: 4

HOW TO GET THERE:

The Park Pavilion is situated right at the foot of One Canada Square, so if you can find your way there head to the park and you'll easily spot The Parlour.

WHAT THEY SAY:

"We liked how the large space was divided into different sections while still retaining an overall congruent flow."
londonist.com

"The staff are all very friendly, an extensive and reasonable food and drink menu compliments the mult-themed eatery and bar."
london-eating.co.uk

"Wharfers just got one small step closer to Shoreditch. Don't be surprised if The Parlour quickly ends up becoming your home from home."
viewlondon.co.uk

ALTERNATIVELY:

Canteen
The Park Pavilion, 40 Canada Square, E14 5FW
Another Pavilion resident Canteen aims to offer the best of British for Wharfers who like to eat and drink with a view onto their glassy world.
canteen.co.uk

Plateau
4th Floor Canada Place, Canada Square, E14 5ER
Posh nosh in Conran-designed restaurant catering to all tastes, with both fine dining and brasserie areas.
danddlondon.com

Reebok Sports Club
16-19 Canada Square, E14 5ER
Whether you've been working out or just working and fancy a bit to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this venue boasts commanding views over the Square.
reeboksportsclublondon.com