ROTUNDA, KINGS CROSS

Two brunches in one weekend isn't something I normally do but last weekend was different. I basically ate my way through the entire weekend! My review of Saturday's brunch will be up soon, but I wanted to start with Sunday's brunch at Rotunda in Kings Cross. Rotunda is my kind of place. They really care about the provenance of the food they serve with their own farm in the Northumberland countryside supplying all the meat that's then dry aged in the restaurant's hanging room. The menu is short and sweet, nothing is over complicated, there's a great drinks list, and it's right on the canal so you can sit and watch the world go by at a slightly slower pace than it normally does in Kings Cross.

I met Michelle at the restaurant, when I finally found it - if you go, get down on to the canal by the walkway and it's easy from there! We went to check out brunch but in order to really check out their offerings I went for the brunch menu, which is served 11am - 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and Michelle had their roast. 

The brunch menu is excellent - there's something for everyone on there and for £26.95 you get one dish from the menu (which includes things like full English; Corneyside Farm 32 day aged steak with Clarence Court duck egg; Cornish crab with avocado, persimmon and buckwheat, and lots more choices) plus bottomless prosecco for 2 hours. I had the poached then deep fried eggs on brioche with creamed wild mushrooms and Parmesan which was so rich and indulgent but absolutely delicious! It's once in not very often kind of dish for me personally, but absolutely worth making the trip to Rotunda for again. Washed down with a glass of prosecco it was really was dreamy. 

Equally dreamy was Michelle's roast. The photo doesn't do it justice, but everything was spot on. You can often have a missing link in a roast - overcooked veg, meat not quite right, gravy problems, but it was all perfect with their 32 day dry aged roast topside of Corneyside Farm beef, horseradish sauce, seasonal veg, yorkies (x2!), crispy roasts and red wine jus. I haven't seen beef that perfectly cooked on a roast in a long time. 

For some totally unknown reason, particularly with this being my fourth meal out in 48 hours which makes it seem even more unlikely, we ordered pudding.... We asked for mini portions just so we could enjoy a mouthful of each, and if these are the small portions I can't imagine how big the regular portions are. Both the salted caramel cheesecake with clotted cream and flourless chocolate cake and macerated cherries, also with clotted cream, were delicious, and if you do have a sweet tooth then I'm sure you would definitely agree! 

Rotunda truly is a hidden gem. Excellent food, relaxed yet attentive service, gorgeous views (despite the pelting rain) and good value - they do an evening set menu of 2 courses for £19.95 and the bottomless brunch seems a great deal if you're into prosecco and something tasty to soak it up!