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I had only ever been to Canary Wharf once before, about six years ago to see my step-cousin run the London Marathon, but when I was asked to review a restaurant headed up by the people behind
Gymkhana, Bubbledogs, and Trishna, I knew I couldn’t turn it down.
The Pearson Room opened in 2013, and offers contemporary dining in the heart of Canary Wharf overlooking Canada Square. Housed in the Reebok Club, the view at sunset was pretty magical, and the cocktails from the Bombay
Sapphire menu were delicious!
Bombay Sapphire currently have a partnership with The Pearson Room, with the Bombay Garden, which includes a live wall, and really refreshing gin based cocktails!
Henry and I were long overdue for a catch up, so I took him with me and after a very slight faux pas on my part (I got lost and walked the wrong way, then sobbed my way through the bankers and suited business-men in a panic amongst this concrete jungle as
Google maps stopped working), I eventually arrived.
The delicious Garden Mojito combined with Henry making me laugh soon made me relax, and we ordered our food. We decided to share a starter (Fried Squid), and then for mains Henry went for the fish of the day which was Monk Fish, while I opted for the Soft Shell Crab Roll with Thai Chilli Mayo. I wasn’t in the mood for meat, and to be honest there weren’t a lot of seafood options (I don’t eat salmon, and Henry went for the fish of the day so I couldn’t have that as well).
I adore lobster rolls, and had never had a soft shell crab roll before so when I saw it on the menu I was intrigued to try it. Also as Henry had ordered something healthy and photogenic, I figured I could go for the opposite.
It was exactly what I needed. I only ate a few of the fries and left the rest, they weren’t particularly interesting fries and to be honest weren’t worth the calories. I needed to save myself for dessert. Despite getting major food envy over Henry’s dish, the soft shell crab was perfect, it was like a luxurious, classier, and far tastier fast food roll. Perfect comfort food to end a stressful week. I did try a small piece of Henry’s monkfish though, and it was so full of flavour! He remarked that he doesn’t even eat courgettes as he can’t stand them, yet he ate the ones in the dish as it all tasted so good together.
The restaurant was quite quiet, however it was early on a Friday evening so most people were either still at work or in the pubs. Apparently they’re busiest earlier in the week.
We tasted some different cocktails, but weren’t so keen on our second round (a Glow Sour and a Flower Fizz). The Glow Sour tasted a little like bleach (I think it was the tumeric), and the Flower Fizz tasted nothing like a normal Elderflower Fizz, it tasted really strongly of alcohol – I’m not great with strong cocktails. If I were you I’d stick with the Jasmine Bliss and the Garden Mojito.
Dessert was
New York Cheesecake with blueberry coulis for me, and Sticky Toffee Pudding for Henry. The perfect ending to our meal. Both were just divine. And how cute are the plates!?
We had a really lovely evening at The Pearson Room, the room was light and airy, and I adored how it had different sections. We were sat in the more formal dining room, but there was a more relaxed area which would be perfect for lunch or drinks at the bar. The view was fabulous – the sun-setting behind the skyscrapers was just beautiful. I felt as though I were in a city in a foreign country, rather than in London. The food was excellent, though I’d avoid the fries, and make sure you get the Garden Mojito – a really refreshing cocktail, perfect for summer! The staff were also really friendly, this was our barman…
If you’re looking for a relaxed and trendy restaurant in Canary Wharf, you must visit The Pearson Room, and make sure to check out their Bombay Garden and the Bombay Sapphire cocktails! Also it took me the same amount of time to get to Canary Wharf from my office as it does just to get to Belgravia (despite Belgravia being just across the other side of Hyde Park!), so I’d love to explore the area more now. I just fell in love with having this huge mini-city and massive skyscrapers so close to our beautiful and historic centre of London.
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*Our meal was complimentary, however as always my views are my own.
Catherine Lux
Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of Content Marketing at Amazon by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.
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It looks like a fun place. I got SO lost in Canary Wharf, in the rain, when I went to review Sticks n Sushi. It's like a maze round there, and I used to work there!!!!
Rosie xx
Such a maze!! So confusing, it really stressed me out haha!
Delicious (well, once Google maps decided to work again…!) I love popping up to Canary Wharf occasionally – it's surprisingly fun!
Haha yep, very delicious when Google maps eventually worked! 😉
I've swum in that pool, a friend was a member – I always get lost in Canary Wharf too. The cheesecake looks delicious
Suze | LuxuryColumnist
It was so yummy!
I, unfortunately, seem to make a habit of getting lost in London! Love those dessert plates – how cute! Totally agree with you when it comes to chips – they really have to be worth it to eat them!
Lauren xx | The Lifestyle Diaries
I know central and west London like the back of my hand, I think it's helped driving around those areas so often. But put me in east or south London and I go into a panic and have no clue where I am or where to go!
Great spot! Everything here looks so delicious!
http://www.racheldinh.com
It really was! 🙂
I love soft shell crab, if its done well it's one of my favourite things! That cheesecake looks like an absolute beauty!
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
Same, soft shell crab is just incredible! I love Roka's one!
Looks incredible, I'm a huge fan of anything bombay sapphire!
dannah | australian lifestyle blog
Snap! Let's have a bombay sapphire party when I'm next over 😉 (aka…a gin party, a gin cocktail party).
Oh i love the view of the sky.
So perfect for a drink.
Love the photos.
The Bandwagon Chic | Instagram | Bloglovin
It was such a gorgeous view – so different for London as you only really have the big skyscrapers in the City and Canary Wharf!
I love the great pics of the cocktails, the images look so atmospheric 🙂
Mehreen A | wrapyourlipsaroundthis.com
Thanks Mehreen!
I can't say I find myself in Canary Wharf very often either, but it's not too far from where I live and I love the sound of this place. Bombay Sapphire is my favourite gin, and the views sound great. Shame about the fries as I don't understand how restaurants can get these wrong, but the sticky toffee pud sure looks like it made up for it – deeeelish! Lots of love, Andrea xxx
Andrea's Passions
Yes, I really can't understand how anyone can get fries wrong! I think it was just because they tasted so bland and plain, I love fries that are salty or covered in herbs.
Soft shell crab is one of my absolute favourites! CW is such a weird place- so many good spots but so eerily empty on weekends. I'll never understand why it isn't full of crowds on Sat/Sun xx
farrah | hellofarrah.com
Very weird, it was quite quiet when we went as it was a Friday evening, so everyone was in the pubs, but apparently it's packed on weekdays with work lunches and dinners!