Decked out with dolls-house like furnishings – think lengths of velvet and soft pinks and greens – Millie’s at The Ned promises to charm.
I checked out the British brasserie on a Tuesday night after a perfectly poured martini over at the Library Bar (a must-visit for champagne and martini-lovers).
One thing that immediately struck me about Millie’s was how much space there was.
Nowadays so many London restaurants ram as many tables as they can into a venue leaving you almost playing footsie with your neighbour.
However, at Millie’s the tables were well spaced, which added to the sense of intimacy.
The eatery was busy but the service never felt stretched and as soon as we were ready to place an order a smartly-dressed server suddenly appeared.
Sat on a table on the outskirts of the restaurant – meaning I revelled in the comfy couch seating while my friend sunk into an equally plush armchair – we quickly settled into The Ned’s convivial swing of things.
The all day dining menu at Millie’s features a great spread of fodder, divided into sections including bites, shellfish, caviar, starters, salads & vegetables, mains, grill and sides.
To start, the server suggested we try the scotch eggs and we rounded this off with half a dozen ousters.
The scotch eggs are definitely a winning nibble, with the yolk seductively oozing out.
The oysters weren’t shucked but we attempted to de-shell the plump molluscs the best we could.
As always, there was a great atmosphere at The Ned on a Tuesday night, with the cavernous building filled with the sound of people having a good time and the jazz band tootling away on the band stand stage.
For mains, we both decided to go vegetarian. I went for the cauliflower salad, topped with pickled girolle, aged pecorino and wood sorrell.
Meanwhile, my friend Iona opted for the creamed barley dish, with the warming creation permeated by woodland mushrooms and berkswell cheese.
The salad I’d ordered was spot on, and well-sized as a main, while Iona struggled to make her way through the large portion of barley, but gallantly made it to the end.
Despite the struggle, our charming waiter somehow convinced to order a couple of desserts.
He kind of advised against the chocolate mousse – saying that it’s not actually a chocolate mousse – but this note of caution intrigued us and we wanted to check it out for ourselves. Plus, the menu stated that it would be served with a splodge of dulce de leche, which made us lick our lips. Balancing it out with something slightly healthier sounding, we went for a wedge of pear frangipane tart, topped with star anice ice cream.
In true Ned style, we washed the sweet treats down with a bit of cognac and port.
We steadily wiped the plates clean and I can say the chocolate mousse is well worth checking out. While it might not be a traditional chocolate mousse, it definitely satisfied my chocolate cravings, with layers of dark cocoa oozing, over biscuity bits and dense cream. It proved to be a textural delight!
A Tuesday night dinner at Millie’s had definitely put us in a festive spirit.
We discovered that the restaurant also serves up an all-you-can-eat brunch on Sundays. The £45 feast, served from 12-5pm ,welcomes diners to gorge of limitless supplies of lobster, oysters, breakfast dishes, roasts, salads and desserts.
A definite reason to return!!!
Millie’s at The Ned is located at 27 Poultry, EC2R 8AJ
To make a reservation call + 44 (0)20 3828 2000 or visit www.thened.com/restaurants/millies-lounge
