The wonderful team at Salt Yard group does seem to have the midas touch these days. The fifth addition to their group, Veneta is a sparkling addition to the new array of modern restaurants opening in St James’s. Who can fail to fall in love with the beauty of Venice? Well, Chef Director, Ben Tish is hoping you will feel the same way for the timeless charms of Veneta.
The decor is classy and understated with subtle nods to the canals of Venice with the aqua-marine colours in the sofas, partitions, wallpaper and painting. You also can’t help but notice the wavy curves underneath the handrail of the staircase.
What makes Veneta standout amongst the other restaurants in the group is that it is the first to offer a breakfast menu. We went along for a weekend brunch so as to sample the best from both their menus. Venetian cuisine isn’t easy to come across in London and here you can appreciate their cooking techniques as well as more unusual spices, as Venice played a key role in the silk and spice route.
If you are a meat-lover, you are very well-catered for here. They offer some of the finest charcuterie in town with the likes of Salame Casereccio, Prosciutto Prolongo and Speck with just the right amount of saltiness and fat.
If you are want to drop-in for a quick breakfast bite, do not miss their Veneta breakfast sandwich. It might be a simple sounding pancetta, fried egg with balsamic tomato ketchup, but the premium ingredients they use will ensure this might just be the best bacon sandwich you will find in this side of town. The eggs are just cooked to the right degree, so that the yolk readily soaks into the bun.
Next, I recommend trying a dish from their famous raw bar. I tried their most popular dish, red tuna with cumin and apple vinegar. It is hard to find high quality fatty tuna in London, but that is exactly the version offered by Veneta. It has a slightly earthy, nutty taste from the addition of the cumin and a sharpness from the vinegar.
The best dish by far during our visit was the tender tasting chicken which had exciting flavours coming from Medjool dates and saffron and had been braised in almond milk. If you are one of those cynical diners, who think chicken dishes are dull; then this dish will definitely change your mind.
Prices are extremely reasonable at Veneta and the sharing plates are great for social occasions with friends. We think Veneta like Venice will be attracting plenty of visitors.
baldwin@townfish.com