Last Updated on June 4, 2024
Friday fun at OXBO
Fridays, don’t we all love them? With a long weekend stretching ahead, Friday night becomes the perfect excuse to let your hair down. Located at the Hilton Bankside, OXBO Bankside offers a stylish and vibrant setting between Southbank and Borough Market, just a short walk from London Bridge. OXBO has recently unveiled its new ‘Prosecco Fridays’ package to kick start the weekend. They offer guests a 3-course meal and unlimited glasses of prosecco every Friday from 6.00 pm – 8.30 pm. It is an ideal way to end the week with friends, colleagues or a loved one.
I went along to try it out. We sat at a large, high-sharing table with a great view of the bustling open kitchen. The cool, contemporary décor boasts warm brown tones, walnut wood cladding, white brick tiles pillars black metal and glass partitions, modern chandeliers and a parquet wood and hexagonal black-and-white tiled floor. Along with the high central sharing table, there are low tables with black leather-backed chairs and caramel banquettes. Adding a quirky touch, model animal heads of buffalo, zebra and giraffe adorned the walls.
You’re in safe hands at OXBO as Ollie Couillard, the Executive Head Chef at Hilton Bankside, brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. His impressive background includes working at Michelin-starred restaurants La Trompette and The Square in Mayfair, as well as at luxury hotels such as The Dorchester and Grosvenor House. Couillard has opened five successful restaurants, crafting concepts and menus for each. As Head Chef at La Trompette, he earned numerous accolades, including AA Guide Restaurant of the Year 2002-2003 and Best New Restaurant in both the Good Food Guide and Time Out 2002.
We browsed the set 3-course menu, which offers a tempting selection of seasonal dishes with meat, fish and vegetarian options. We started of course with glasses of Prosecco, after all, it was “Prosecco Friday’, Vin Frizante, Ca di Alte – light and crisp with notes of honey, pear and green apple. And on the table a basket of fresh bread rolls.
I started with a fresh crunchy salad with grilled asparagus, pickled Romanesco and purple cauliflower salad with baked Roscoff onions and creamy truffle – a lovely fusion of flavours and textures.
However, I must admit I was envious of my friend’s miso cod. It was elegantly plated and beautifully cooked, served with luscious wilted bok choy, a sweet carrot and lemongrass puree, and a soy and sesame dressing giving it an umami kick.
For the main event, I chose the chicken breast, which was tender and juicy, served on a generous bed of morel, pea and broad bean risotto, with shaved Parmesan, rocket and drizzled in basil oil, making for a fabulous summer dish.
My companion’s sea trout was perched on a bed of pea purée, grilled asparagus and crushed Jersey Royals with fennel salad – simple, fresh and unpretentious.
And finally, to hit the sweet spot, one of the prettiest crème brulée I have ever seen, laced with gooey spiced plum jam, topped with fresh berries and delicate edible flowers…perfect!
Equally well plated was the mango and passion fruit baked cheesecake served with pistachios ice cream & sassy pineapple salsa.
For just £40 per person, OXBO Bankside offers a great deal. Excellent food in pleasing surroundings, friendly service, and free-flowing, good-quality Prosecco, you can’t go wrong….or can you?!
The Prosecco Fridays Experience Every Friday, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, guests are treated to an endless flow of prosecco (for 1.5 hours) paired with a three-course meal for £40 pp.
Hilton Bankside, 2-8 Great Suffolk Street, London, SE1 0UG
Telephone: +44 20 366 75600
https://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/hilton-london-bankside-LONSBHI/index.html .
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