With an unprecedented panorama over the formidable Canary Wharf, Plateau has presented a platter of contemporary French elegance to London’s cosmopolitan dockside business district for over a decade. With a view more reminiscent of the modern cityscapes of Tokyo or New York, guests can step away from the brimming bedlam of the streets below and enjoy a new perspective over the city through the floor to ceiling glass windows or from one of two delightful all-weather outdoor terraces.
For food, you can opt for the main restaurant or the more informal grill. The restaurant serves fine contemporary French cuisine with a number of elegant signature dishes such as the 28-day-aged Devon beef and the Goosnargh duck breast. Iconic furniture, from Eero Saarinen’s tulip table and chairs to Castiglioni-style Arco floor lamps, give the restaurant its stylish feel and guests can catch glimpses of the chefs at work in the adjoining open kitchen. The wine list is comprehensive and accessible, offering a good selection of Champagnes and wines from across the world.
The grill serves modern, brasserie-style fare in a relaxed environment. A wide selection of steaks and fish are on offer, cooked to perfection in a specialist Josper oven. These are served alongside Plateau classics, such as seared sea bream and Billingsgate Fish Pie. In the evening, a small plates selection is perfect for ‘grazing’. The grill shares the same view as the main restaurant, overlooking the large splash of green that is Canada Square.
Plateau has its own lounge and cocktail bar which has become a popular destination in its own right, serving cleverly created cocktails from a talented team of mixologists with plenty of signature cocktails on the menu including The Green Mile, Red Diamond, Hendricks, Plateau Temptation, and the English Breakfast Martini.
We paid a visit last week to sample this unique experience for ourselves. Arriving on the 4th floor of Canada Place, opposite the One Canada Square tower, we stepped out of the lift and were immediately greeted and our coats taken from us to the cloakroom. We instantly felt a sense of the restaurant’s elegant and contemporary style and were seated in a quieter area in the main restaurant, where we could take full advantage of the wonderful view and enjoy pleasant conversation.
Candles were placed on each table and our main waiter, Pietro, was exceptionally professional and friendly, giving consideration to every aspect of our experience. He recommended all the dishes and cocktails we selected throughout the evening and we had such a great time that we stayed for over 4 hours. We were made to feel incredibly welcome and didn’t feel rushed at all.
We started with a glass of champagne and then decided to sample some signature cocktails and Pietro recommended we try the Red Diamond and The Green Mile which were both delicious.
We then ordered starter and went for the Marinated Scottish Sea Scallops and a Ballotine of Foie Gras. Both dishes were delightfully accompanied by an exquisitely prepared and presented selection of ingredients, which included amaranth, black cherries and crystallised pistachios. Our preference slightly leaned towards the Foie Gras, with the delicious Castelnau De Suduirant wine that accompanied it, although we would highly recommend both dishes.
For our mains, we selected the Fillet of Aged Beef and Saddle of Colne Valley Lamb. Again both were wonderfully prepared and beautifully accompanied. The beef came with delightful girolle mushrooms and spinach in Burgundy wine sauce, which soaked into the meat deliciously, and the Lamb was joined by crisp belly, spicy aubergine, and roasted turnips. Before the meal arrived, we were given a unique blend of two particular red wines by a second great waiter, Tomas, who really knew his stuff. This was a lovely idea and something we had never experienced before. Although the Beef just edged it, again both dishes were superb.
Still with a tiny bit of room left for dessert and drawn in by a tempting selection, we leapt at the opportunity to indulge in some Crispy Cannelloni and Peach Bellini Ice Parfait. Both were mouth wateringly pleasant, with the Cannelloni delightfully assisted by mango sorbet and mousse, frozen yoghurt and white chocolate cake, and the Peach Bellini ably accompanied by poached peach, raspberry crumble and sorbet, and shortbread.
We couldn’t let the night end without sampling some cocktails from the after dessert menu and knocked back a luscious Espresso Martini, before finishing off with the aptly named Adventurous Escape (Hennessey Fine Cognac, Butterscotch Schnapps, Banana Liquor and cinnamon syrup).
Plateau is truly a wonderful place to visit, whether for a full meal or a couple of cocktails. It can be a great choice for either a romantic dinner or a group visit. The view is fabulous and you would struggle to find a higher standard of French cuisine anywhere in the city. The staff work tirelessly to enhance your visit and the postcard left at each table to be delivered anywhere in the world on your behalf was also a great little extra. We will certainly be visiting Plateau again soon.