Glass dines at the newly opened The Dining Room in Mare Street Market

SINCE opening its doors as the last addition to the indoor Mare Street Market indoor complex in early December, The Dining Room has won over guests with its modern British menu, quality driven drinks, and antique-esque interior. Stepping through its doors, you are welcomed by a ceiling of glass, gold and all things sparkly. Consisting of chandeliers, modern light fixtures, and stone carved angels, the effect on the dining atmosphere is impressive. In a matter of an instant, you feel overwhelmingly fancy and can’t help but spend a while admiring the fixtures, and of course, having a nosey at the prices – each antique is for sale, in collaboration with the in-house furniture store Pure White Lines. This shop-while-you-eat approach is a novel and a clever way of encouraging online sharing of the new addition to the Mare Street Market.

The Dining Room, Mare Street Market

Starters at The Dining Room, Mare Street Market

In November 2018, head chef Dominik Moldenhauer, previously of Notting Hill’s The Shed – famed for its farm to kitchen table approach, took the reigns at The Dining Room. Since joining, he has dedicated The Dining Room to homegrown, quality food and drink and the menu has been updated with a focus on modern, seasonal British cuisine. Their seasonal menus are full of British classics with a twist, sometimes this twist is Japanese seasoning, on others, it’s a twist with an unusual ingredient like pickles or brussel sprouts.

Desserts at The Dining Room, Mare Street Market

Taking my seat in a plush, art-deco leather chair, I devoured the menu with my eyes. Starters range from grilled hispi cabbage with a pork belly crunch and kimchi yoghurt, to mackerel ceviche, clementine, crisp fava. For mains, you can choose from meals like roast hake, kohlrabi, smoked mussel broth and seaweed, and duck breast with chestnut gnocci, girolles, and sherry butter. Plus, they have a separate vegan and vegetarian menu that you are able to choose from too. As we deliberated over their wine list, we delved into our snack of scallops grilled in the shell with miso butter, chill, and cavolo nero, delicious!

Ox Cheef The Dining Room, Mare Street Market

Their wine list is impressive, not only for its variety but also its selection of unique, independent winemakers. We settled on the Black Book Winery, Pinot Noir, Essex & Battersea, and fell in love with its light and fruity blend. The wine was sourced and produced locally and aged in 5-10-year-old barrels for 7 months. It was the perfect accompaniment to my hash brown and duck egg starter and my roasted hake main – both overflowing with flavour and salty crunch. As delicious as the food was, the presentation and design of the meals was also something to marvel at too. Served on white china plates, cast against out marble and gold swirled table, it was rather embarrassing how much I felt the need to take my phone out to capture it all.

Then came dessert, I went for the chocolate brownie and it was a great choice, delicate in texture but heavy with flavour, it was oh so more-ish. On advice from our lovely and attentive waitress, Sophie, we finished the evening with a taste of their best selling cocktail, a delicious concoction of gin and passionfruit. A fitting end to the sweet and delicate evening we had experienced. If you’re after reasonably priced, well-prepared food in a gorgeous interior, with an ambience to match, then The Dining Room in Mare Street Market is where you must go.

The Dining Room, Mare Street Market