Medcalf

Fascinating venue but very disappointing dining experience: we shared a tiny appetiser of crayfish and bread and got knocked out by something that was supposed to be a red mullet with squid and fregola (a kind of Sardinian pasta). The fish tasted like a Tesco thing, the fregola was not enough and tasteless. Unfortunately we both chose the same main course so didn’t have a chance to taste any meat dish as the ones so well acclaimed in other reviews. Definitely not recommended.

Really lovely addition to the Medcalf, this.
Ever so British. Set in an old butcher’s shop that probably hasn’t changed much in layout for 100 years. A little austere but cool at the same time. Concrete floors, simple stools, small tables which are easily dragged together for bigger parties.
It’s a small room and the food on offer is on show in the window. Nice trick from the old butcher days. Beautifully put together salads sit on a huge dish which your waiter lifts from and puts on a plate to share. The waitress is there for the whole room and sort of stands to attention in an orderly fashion waiting for people to beckon her over. I think she wears a pinstripe apron to add to the pre-​war Blighty feel.
We both had the special which was BBQ salt beef. Strange combo which worked brilliantly. All the taste of BBQ AND salt beef. Really works. Sitting on a big old mound of sauerkraut, crunchy and tangy and with lots of caraway.
The salads that came with that were very good. Lots of interesting textures and flavours. Well dressed and inventive. Celeriac. Beetroot. Red cabbage. Pickles. Lovely.
I’m a greedy pig and even for me the slab of beef was enough and the salad plate to share was plenty (although I reckon I took more than my fair share cos Darin isn’t a greedy pig).
Glass of very good house red each and chilled bottled water presented on arrival.
A very nice way to spend an informal lunch gossiping about the state of everything. For less than a score. That’s £20 of your Great British Pounds in Medcalf Traiteur speak. Nice one.

couldn’t fault this place, Simon and his crew offer a lovely environment with great food and pleasant service.
we sat outside for lunch, 2 small plates for £10 so we had everything they do. bream, fried buttermilk chicken, roast beef, heirloom tommys, rarebit were all superb. I thought the fried fish skin and anchovies were delightful but may not be to everyone’s taste. the goats cheese, peas and mint on toast was sublime. 6 plates was a perfect amount.
the wine list is decent, not too overpriced and plenty of assistance was offered.
£65 for 6 plates, one side, one bottle of white, tip.
very impressed and would come back in the evening.

Nice old bistro look and good bistro food. But not any more than good. There is some fine cooking to be had at its neighbors, like Moro, Morito, and the Quality Chop House. Rather dull English food here but very satisfactory look to the place. And great layout for socializing and meeting new people.

The atmosphere was brilliant. Not shouting over people, and equally not looking forward to hearing crickets in the distance. The service was great if not a little bit off the mark (I asked for a wine spritzer and patiently waited but had to remind them. A friend also ordered a beer before me and they’d forgotten about that too).
I’d ordered the steak as I’m a sucker for steak anywhere… I wasn’t blown away (it’s a Gastro pub, I get it) but equally for a med-​rare steak it was teetering on the side of rare. Of course personal preferences are different and I’d hardly say no to going back again.

Came here for drinks when the football pub across the way was packed to the brim. There’s indoor and outdoor (sidewalk) seating. They have a very wide selection of beers (mostly in bottles). They also have some interesting cocktail combinations, but I was not really a fan of the two I tried. Definitely come here for the beer selection. The inside space is also pretty big.

Rustic but modern, intimate feel. There are normal tables in the front, then a couple very large L-​shaped wraparound leather seating areas (perfect for a big group or to cozy up next to someone) and a small back patio (just a couple tables in a very narrow space) to eat outside.
Impeccable service. Our waitress had many recommendations and was quite attentive. We did go on a Sunday morning so there wasn’t much traffic. I’m surprised there weren’t more people there for brunch actually.
While they do have brunch fares 8 – 12 pounds and lunch was more around 10 – 15, they also had the amazing option of smoked salmon on brioche for a mere 4.50. What a steal, given the portions were absolutely perfect. Seems like there’s a wider range of prices than at Caravan down the street. Had a 1 pound scoop of elderflower ice cream, which was so sweet and delicate (how have I never had this before!). The server also recommended a peanut butter ice cream.
I see there’s a Unilocal deal (free glass of champagne) and there was a great looking 12 pound oysters and champagne deal they had going. Better go back and try that!

The atmosphere was a charming blend of simple, cosy and elegant, with competent friendly discreet staff. The food was fine yet not the best I’ve had of the London gastro pub scene: A medium-​rare steak came out closer to rare and its matching green peppercorn sauce was too heavy on the cream to taste the green peppercorns I had been so looking forward to having. The wines and digestifs were ok but again, not the best I’ve had in a London gastro pub. I would return for the place itself and the atmosphere, not for my taste buds.

We came on a weekday for an early dinner so mostly enjoyed the pre-​theatre deal of two courses for £15 (done between 5:30pm and 7:30pm). The pre-​theatre is good value considering it included most of the mains which cost about that on their own. The service was great and the food was delicious. They also obliged us with the free glass of bubbly with the Unilocal check-​in deal.
I originally found this place while googling around for a good English Gastropub to take some out of town visitors but I wouldn’t really say this is a pub. It’s more of a chic rustic English restaurant with amazing locally sourced fare.
Starters:
squash soup — ehh. it was ok. I had to add salt pepper which is a bad sign.
rare beef, rocket & horseradish — pretty good
Yorkshire wild rabbit, foie gras & raisin bread terrine — loved it
Mains
Mount Grace farm British Lop port chip, English mustard cream — loved it
Wild black bream fillet, cauliflower purée — loved it
white park bavette steak with chips — loved it (and finally some good chips! the right combo of crispy on the outside, delish on the inside)
The menu changes frequently (maybe even weekly) so take the above as indication of style you’re likely to see.
A few miscellaneous items:
They advertised a brunch but it doesn’t seem to be american style — i’ll have to give it a go and update this review later. The server said they served a mean bloody mary. We shall see.
I also noticed a side room which would be perfect for a party! They had it set up with a large feasting table at the window facing the street and to the back a nice leather couch and seating for a cocktail area. I can imagine a small engagement party, rehearsal dinner or our sad so say leaving London party I’ve yet to plan.
Enjoy!

Really nice environment ! The inside decoration and design is really nice, the staff is really welcoming. I went there for lunch with a friend. Only tiny thing, we were very tight in terms of timing with one hour lunch and the service, we ended up having 15min to eat our lunch…
I took a Bavette and really like it, the sauce was great. My friend took a burger and thought it was a bit dry and could be more tasty.
Overall, good experience, I will surely come back !

What a wonderful place! We had a reservation for lunch and fully enjoyed it! I have the haddock and chips which was such a change from the chippy fish and chips, paired with a lemon making it so fresh and light. The chips were shockingly fluffy on the inside with a crisp outside. My friends had the bangers and mash dish which was apparently including the best mashed potatoes one of them had ever had, with a mustard taste! The pints were perfect! Great service, great atmosphere! Would def go again.

Went on a Wednesday night. Had the rarebit, smoked salmon, mushroom toast, lentils and plum crumble.
Rarebit and salmon were great. Mushroom toast and lentils were under-​seasoned. I tweaked the lentils with some vinegar and salt. Crumble dessert was great, not to sweet.
Excellent service (our waiter was great) and so was the kitchen as all orders came out fas., Reasonably priced booze is always a plus. I think the affordable drinks added to the noise of the place.
Overall I’d return. Nice place. Good food and fair prices.

Everything from the décor and music to food reflects a rustic personality with a hint of modern sensibility and style.
Inventive cocktail list, decent wine selection and their one vegan option (the butter bean casserole)? Amazing.
Dim mood lighting and staff that don’t interrupt or hover make for a fantastic date location. I went on the weekend and the place was pretty empty– I guess this is just one of those areas that outside of the workweek they don’t see much traffic. So go! Support them! Enjoy!

I like how Medcalf experiment (in a good way) with their food and are not afraid to run a special of Duck Hearts. The food though tends to lack finesses and balance and the cooking seems uneven. Four of us had a steak recently, all asked for medium rare and they were all cooked to a different degree of doneness. Staff are a mixed bag. At lunchtime they tend to be understaffed. In the evening they are often distracted by ‘friends’ that come in for a chat.
Its good to have Medcalf on Exmouth Market though as it does dare to be different.

Another good restaurant in Exmouth Market. I popped in for lunch today and was treated to good food and a bit of a bargain as the set lunch (two small plates) came to only £12.95 including a glass of wine.
From the 7 or so options, I selected a to start Welsh rarebit followed by pigeon with chicory and pear. Both were delicious. The rarebit was particularly excellent with a great mix of cheese and mustard flavours — although I must admit to loving all rarebits of any quality. The pigeon was served rare amongst a scattering of thinly cut pear slices and chicory. The slight bitterness of the later complimented the former (and the pigeon perfectly). Both were eaten with gusto.
Combining this with pleasant if low key décor and friendly staff is a winning combination and I look forward to my next visit.

Medcalf is just great! the atmosphere is cosy and friendly! u just feel like at home!
after eating at medcalf nobody could ever say that english food doesn’t taste good! medcalf’s kitchen is just gorgeous!
and the staff is friendly and you feel welcome straight away!
I highly recommend this restaurant!
thumbs up!

Medcalf can be a bit difficult to find in the evening when the dark obscures its sign. But it’s well worth finding.
The pig cheek on rosti appetiser was cooked perfectly. The cheek fell apart at the touch and was rich without being overly fatty. Surprisingly, the rosti didn’t make the dish too oily. My only gripe was with the mixed greens they served alongside the dish. The vinaigrette wasn’t strong enough to cut the unctuousness of the rest of the plate. I didn’t mind the richness; it came across as sinfully gluttonous, not overbearing. However, the lack of contrast could disappoint some diners.
The bavette came out at a beautiful medium-​rare, served only in its pan juices. Again, I found little to fault with the course. It did come with the same inadequate greens as the cheek, but I happily ignored those and turned instead to the lovely, thick-​cut chips. Still, I would have liked a bit more in terms of a sauce. The beef was capable of speaking for itself, but would have benefited tremendously from the addition of a compatible flavour: perhaps a touch of red wine sauce.
The service lagged at times; yet my waitress was personable enough to make me forget the lag time between being seated and receiving the menu and again between asking for and receiving the check.
As for value, two courses and a half-​bottle of wine ran at £45 with tip. I can’t think of many other places in Central London which can match Medcalf’s level of quality with that price. I’d be elated to have a neighbourhood restaurant of comparable quality and value in the gastronomical wasteland that is Fife.

A very splendid establishment to be situated a short walk from your office :)
I’ve eaten here a few times and the food is excellent pub food, very well presented. It also makes a great place for drinks, and the atmosphere is fab too.
Many moons ago the building was a butcher’s shop, and the owners have done really well with space, it’s pretty cool!
Looking forward to my next visit!

Medcalf screams sexy time. Delicious, steamy, sultry, British sexy time. (And to think, a mere five months ago I thought those words were oxymorons!)
I’m a sucker for an intimate venue, that rare independent establishment that doesn’t advertise beyond a modest awning yet still manages to be filled to the brim on a Tuesday evening. The menu’s only consistency is that it is constantly changing, keeping up with the freshest seasonal ingredients to appease the distinctly British theme.
However, the atmosphere demands a bottle of wine and close conversation, so prepare yourself to delve into the intimate (while devouring a basket of bread). I would highly recommend sticking Medcalf on your «place to take a date» list… but only if you’re ready for some serious action.

A couple of weeks ago I went to friends 4oth which he held at Medcalf.
I had been here a couple of times before with him — it is his favourite restaurant!
A very modern and clean interior with smooth surfaces. Wooden floors and light wood tables and chairs. There is a lovely area out the back of the restaurant for sitting in during the summer and or for having a cheeky cigarette. It is a glass door and wall so you can see into the restaurant.
The food is delicious and aspects of the menu change. I had delicious scallops as my starter. They give out a decent portion and they are fantastically cooked. Other at the table had steak, pork belly and lamb and all thoroughly enjoyed — the plates were all cleared, no food spared. I had salmon with a delicious homemade pesto sauce.
The atmosphere is perfect for a quiet meal of dinner party. Very civilised, great mood lighting and a relaxing music playing.
Afterwards you can pop through to their Bar area which livens up and is usually busy, but not packed in the evenings after 9pm.