Quo Vadis a Pre-Theatre Gem in London

FINE DRINK & FOOD: Quo Vadis in London’s Soho is great for pre-theatre dinner and drinks or anytime. Photo: Courtesy of Quo Vadis

QUO VADIS
26-29 Dean Street, Soho
London W1D 3LL, United Kingdom
+44 20 7437 9585, http://www.quovadissoho.co.uk/

By Scott Harrah

Looking for an upscale restaurant to dine at before heading to a West End show in London? Quo Vadis in Soho is the perfect place for a gourmet meal before or after a show. This cozy spot is quiet, elegant and has great pre-theatre cuisine as well as fabulous cocktails and an extensive wine list. The fare is primarily modern British classics, and the restaurant even has some interesting history because none other than Karl Marx once lived in the building.

Quo Vadis has a “Theatre Set” menu that changes often. In fact, the daily menus even have the weather report. On the evening we visited—a mild, balmy mid-June day a week before a heat wave hit both the U.K. and all of Europe–items included beetroot and egg salad; lovage (English herb), spinach and courgette soup, ox liver, crisp shallots and sage; aubergine (that’s “eggplant” to us Americans), chickpea and coriander flat bread, and cherry and apricot trifle; strawberry shortcake, all for 18.5 pounds for 2 courses, and 21.5 pounds for 3 courses (prices are good all day).

In addition, look for young garlic, olives and cow’s curd; bacon, tomato and avocado; squid, beans and coriander; peach, Tymsboro ( a cheese made near Bath, England), peas, mint and bacon; and artichoke vinaigrette. Also, there is crab and mayonnaise; QV Aperitivo (Campari, rhubarb and prosecco); and a very British-sounding smoked eel sandwich.

“Bites” include kickshaw; kipper pate; grilled ogleshield (a type of British cheese) sandwich; cod’s roe, boiled egg and anchovy. Try crab soup, rouille (a Provençal sauce made from pounded red chilies, garlic, breadcrumbs and other ingredients) and croutons; QV summer salad; or middlewhite (a type of Yorkshire pork), tayberries (a Scottish berry that’s a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry) and black currant.

Main courses include lamb shoulder, green vegetables and green sauce; brill (a European fish), sorrel (a European lettuce) and herb sauce; hake, clam and leek broth; grey mullet and sea vegetables; and tripe and beans. Or try cold roast lamb, beans and anchovy.

Sides include a green salad; pink fir apple potatoes; courgettes (what the Brits call zucchini), onion and mint; beans, cabbages and mint; and tripe and beans.

We chose a nice glass of red wine, suggested by our attentive waiter, Martin. Next we chose the bacon, tomato and avocado appetizer, which was delicious. The perfect summer treat for a hot day before a show.

JUICY PRIME RIB: A great choice at Quo Vadis in London. Photo: Scott Harrah

For the main course, we had a tender, juicy prime rib, served with a vegetable and a horseradish sauce. However, the prime rib was so succulent that one didn’t really need the horseradish sauce.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING: A British favorite, served here with vanilla ice cream on top. Photo: Scott Harrah

For desert, we had a scrumptious lemon cheesecake with rhubarb and almonds sprinkled on top. We also tried the out-of-this-world sticky toffee pudding, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Sticky toffee pudding is made of sponge cake with chopped dates and covered with a toffee sauce. Some establishments use clotted cream on top, but Quo Vadis uses vanilla ice cream, and it is simply divine.

The service overall was attentive and friendly, and our waiter, Martin, went out of his way to explain some of the dishes with which some Americans may not be familiar.

Quo Vadis is conveniently located in Soho near many West End theaters, pubs, gay clubs, and all the excitement Central London has to offer.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published July 7, 2015
Reviewed in London on June 18, 2015