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7 decadent desserts to try in London this Easter

OpenTable April 19, 2019

Looking for somewhere to satisfy your sweet tooth? If you’re staying in London for the long weekend, look beyond the average Easter egg and try one of these decadent Easter desserts.

Chocolate sharing platter at Florentine
At Florentine, a short walk from the South Bank, they’re serving traditional Sunday roasts all weekend. Don’t fill up on Yorkshire puddings, though – you’ll want to save room for this chocolate sharing platter. Designed to feed four, it features waffles with chocolate sauce, chocolate and lemon pavlova, and chocolate egg shells filled with panna cotta and mango jelly.

Easter Freakshake at Maxwell’s
Head to Maxwell’s for an all-American feast followed by their eggs-travagant Easter freakshake. The giant chocolate egg is filled with chocolate milkshake and topped with whipped cream, chocolate bunnies, Smarties eggs, Oreo cookies, wafer biscuits, and rainbow sprinkles. It’s on the menu until Monday, priced at £12.95.

Mini egg croissant at YOLO
YOLO is a new dessert bar in Covent Garden, specialising in cakes and desserts made with all-natural ingredients. This weekend, they’re serving the ultimate breakfast treat – a freshly baked croissant filled with chocolate whipped cream and smashed mini eggs.

Seashell dessert at J Sheekey
J Sheekey is the perfect place to escape the West End crowds and sample some of the best seafood in town. Their set lunch menu – 3 courses for £30 – is available daily and they serve brunch accompanied by live music in the Atlantic Bar on Sundays. Don’t miss their limited edition seashell dessert – a chocolate shell filled with raspberry ripple ice-cream, raspberry compote, and mini sea-themed chocolates and jellies (£10.50).

Crème egg doughnuts at VIVI
Enjoy the best of British food this Easter at VIVI, a glamorous 60s-inspired brasserie overlooking Oxford Street. It’s open all weekend, serving everything from bottomless brunch to late-night dinner and drinks. Their Easter menu is a bargain at £24.50 for three courses, including a glass of fizz or a Pink Floyd cocktail made with rhubarb vodka. Save room for their bite-size Crème egg doughnuts with lemon curd and chocolate soil.

Hot Scotch bun ice-cream sandwiches at Mac & Wild
Scottish restaurant Mac & Wild is taking the hot cross bun to new heights this weekend. The buns will be toasted and glazed with Dalmore whisky, filled with salted caramel ice-cream, and drizzled with hazelnut and chocolate sauce. They’re available at their restaurants in Fitzrovia and the City until Sunday.

Easter afternoon tea at The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental
After an extensive restoration project, the Mandarin Oriental is now fully open and looking better than ever. This Easter is the perfect time to visit, especially if you’re in the mood for indulgence. You can enjoy traditional afternoon tea in the elegant Rosebery lounge, accompanied by teas from around the world or sake, if you fancy something different. This weekend, their dainty sandwiches and freshly baked scones will be accompanied by Easter bunny-inspired sweet treats.

Visit OpenTable to book or find out what more of London’s top restaurants have planned for Easter.

Just desserts: 5 sweet spots to discover in London

OpenTable March 29, 2019

Dessert lovers, listen up! We’ve done all the hard work for you and uncovered five of the best locations for sweet treats in London. Whether you fancy cheesecake, traditional scones or trendy cronuts, we promise the right dessert is waiting for you. All you have to do is get your spoons at the ready, wear something stretchy and indulge yourselves.

Maître Choux
Maître Choux really is the master of éclairs (and choux buns) – head pastry chef Joakim Prat has been working with pastry since he was 15. You’ll feel like you’re in a Parisian patisserie choosing your favourite dessert. Whether you have a weakness for pistachio, cappuccino or salted caramel, there’ll be a flavour for you. We recommend you try their afternoon tea and treat yourself to a selection of delicious patisserie items while sipping a glass of Champagne. Santé!

Visit OpenTable to make a reservation at Maître Choux in Soho or Chelsea.

Cakes & Bubbles
World famous desserts, anyone? Uber-talented pastry chef Albert Adrià, who made his name at El Bulli, is the man behind Cakes & Bubbles at the Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street. It’s his first opening outside his native Spain, so Londoners can count themselves very lucky indeed. The sweet treats at Cakes & Bubbles contain less sugar and no colourants or artificial flavour enhancers. Try their famous cheesecake made with white chocolate, hazelnut and Coulommiers (a soft French cheese). You can thank us later!

Basement Sate
Desserts needn’t be just an afternoon treat – they taste equally good paired with a cocktail at all hours of the night. This Soho nightspot is the place to be if you’re looking to revel in a night out filled with sweet treats and great drinks. We recommend the triple chocolate mirror cake with mint ice-cream – a real treat for chocoholics. Resident DJs mean you’ll be able to shake off those cakey calories in no time.

The Parlour at Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason is the place to go when it comes to experiencing a traditional British afternoon tea, but ice-cream lovers will be pleased to find out that their sundaes have made quite a name for themselves, too. Whether you are looking for pancakes, scones with jam and clotted cream, or just a scoop of something delicious, The Parlour ticks all the boxes.

Dominique Ansel Bakery
If you know your pastries, then this incredible bakery will already be on your radar. It’s situated on a stylish street close to London’s busy Victoria station and is perhaps most famous for its Cronut – the calorie-loaded love child of croissants and doughnuts. Pastry chef Dominique Ansel is the face behind this scrumptious creation – it’s no wonder he won the title of World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2017. You can also tuck into frozen s’mores, chocolate chip cookie shots (filled with vanilla-infused milk), and liquid caramel peanut butter mousse cake.

This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.

Sweets for my sweet: 7 desserts to swoon over this Valentine’s

OpenTable February 13, 2019

Make sure your romantic meal ends on a sweet note with these decadent desserts.

The Ivy Collection – Chocolate bombe
Whether you’re dining at the buzzy Ivy Market Grill or amongst the foliage at Ivy Chelsea Garden, there’s one dessert you really need to try. The chocolate bombe melts when hot salted caramel sauce is poured over it and reveals a vanilla ice-cream and honeycomb centre. Ask for two spoons – this show-stopper is made for sharing.

Flesh & Buns – S’mores
The DIY s’mores at Flesh & Buns are a date night favourite. You can get hands on this Valentine’s Day with the special strawberry-flavoured version on their set menu. Snap up one of the last few tables at their Fitzrovia izakaya and enjoy a selection of small dishes and maki, followed by brisket and teriyaki salmon in steamed buns.Continue Reading

Go nuts! 8 Nutella desserts to try in London

OpenTable February 5, 2019

With one jar sold every 2.5 seconds, it’s fair to say we’re nuts about Nutella. Whether you’re spreading it on toast or spooning it straight from the jar, it’s guaranteed to improve your day. If you’re a self-confessed Nutella addict, here are seven decadent desserts to try in London.

NAC – Nutella éclair
NAC (North Audley Cantine) is a French sharing plates concept and buzzy weekend brunch spot in Mayfair. Their fresh seafood dishes, plant-based plates, and colourful salads are great if you’re trying to eat healthy. If it’s indulgence you’re after, their new homemade Nutella éclair will definitely hit the spot.Continue Reading