If you’re visiting Coal Drops Yard, the new development behind Kings Cross Station, you’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of finding somewhere to eat and drink. However, one of my favourites is the Granary Square Brasserie and we took visiting friends for a late lunch.
The restaurant is located in a converted warehouse and has bags of character and style. Having booked a table in advance, I’d requested a table on the terrace overlooking the Granary Square Fountains if the weather was sunny. Fortunately it was, and we were shown to an outside terrace but with large umbrellas taking the glare of the sun – we didn’t need the blankets on the seats although they may have been useful the day before when it was much chillier. Having seen the swish interior, our friends said they would have been happy to sit inside.
There is an extensive range of menus as the brasserie is open all day. We all decided to choose from the set lunch menu, good value at £17.95 for two courses. Friends opted for tomato and basil soup, poured from a pewter jug into the bowl at the table, followed by cod goujons and fries. I thought my choices were the best and most appropriate for a sunny summers day: a salmon tian with avocado to start with and gnocchi and chicken in a creamy tarragon sauce. Two of us upgraded to a third course for £5 with lemon posset trendily served in a jam jar and three large triangles of a tangy blue cheese and crackers for me.
The service is professional but friendly, and the house wine good value at £25 a bottle. There was no draught beer but the waiter helpfully suggested an Italian Menabrea Bionda, probably less good value at £6.50 for a small bottle, whilst my friend enjoyed a summery rhubarb and raspberry gin served with ginger ale.
Altogether, it was a lovely relaxed lunch and as we weren’t hurried out, we had plenty of time for catching up before their train beckoned.
