Holy Carrot

It’s alright- the ambiance was lovely but there was much left to be desired beyond that. The food was alright but I have definitely tasted better… It took an age for our food to arrive (we saw people who came after us and order after us, get served before us). On the plus side, after complaining, we were given a complimentary side dish (but also nothing to write home about- so much so, that for the life of me, I don’t remember what it was- the gesture is what made me rate it as a 3). The food was overpriced for the portion size (and the taste). When I mentioned that to our waiter- he replied in his Italian accent that “because the food is vegan” 😂😂(he quickly divulged that he was not vegan). Drinks were ok but also nothing special. All in all, I don’t think I’ll go out of my way to come back. So much potential but was well below my expectations. A bit of a downer for a birthday dinner but never mind, there are plenty of great vegan spots in London- this is just not one of them…

Incredible food, amazing vegan menu & choice with impeccable service from a lovely, friendly & attentive team. Took time but it was fully booked so completely expected but food is worth the wait. The truffle mash is heaven! Our only bug bare was being seated at the worst table with back to the restaurant for the entire evening. Couldn’t soak up the atmosphere or the ambience of the place. I’d strongly advise to look at your seating arrangements so all your guests can enjoy the experience equally. Still five stars for food & service.

As a vegan with 40 years of experience eating vegan and vegetarian offerings in restaurants around the world, I can honestly say that Holy Carrot is now in my top 5. Chef Daniel Watkins uses fermented foods and fire in his many and varied dishes, coaxing complex flavours from simple ingredients. We ordered all the starters and sides from the menu and one main so we could taste as many dishes as we could. There were no duds. Our favourite was a Stracciatella starter that featured a plant-based cheese so rich and delicious that I asked the server if it was really vegan. I've never tasted anything like it. The desserts, likewise, and none of them was over-sweetened, allowing the flavours of the ingredients to stand on their own. The chocolate-tahini pudding was genius. I find most chefs who are not vegetarian or vegan tend to over complicate their dishes muddying flavours with too many ingredients or palette-pounding umami. Not so here; the flavours were bright and bold, yet the ingredients spoke for themselves. Chef Watkins told me that as the ferments he stores in his pantry and kitchen develop and mature, he'll create new dishes to add to his menu. Such fluidity and artistry is rare to find and I admire chef Watkins for his skill and passion. I almost forgot to mention their staff: friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. And the bill was reasonable and lower than we'd expected. I'm excited to see what else he creates. Every time I'm in London I'll dine here and chirp about it to everyone I know.

Wow! What a fabulous place. The food was absolutely delicious, created with originality and stunningly presented. Our waitress was warm and friendly. Indeed everyone we dealt with was welcoming. These kind of places can be a little pretentious. This wasn’t. I will be telling everyone about this gem.