Westminster Kitchen in Waterloo

Opened in July this year, Westminster Kitchen is, as the name would suggest, located in the heart of the constantly busy City of Westminster. Just a stone’s throw from the Southbank, the restaurant is well located for the throngs of tourists who descend on the area every day. 

This is the latest launch from Turkish restaurateur and entrepreneur Ibrahim Dogus, who is behind the popular Middle-Eastern cafe Troia near Waterloo. With his new premises, Dogus combines a selection of Middle-Eastern food with traditional British fare to offer up a varied menu to Londoners and tourists in this buzzing part of the city.

The venue is an extremely spacious, brightly-lit dining room, with industrial ceilings, a long bar and large open kitchen. We settle into a cosy, horseshoe booth in the far corner to study the menu, which has a large grill selection of English meat and sustainably sourced fish, along with Middle-Eastern options such as Westminster Pides (a type of flatbread with toppings, often called a “Turkish pizza”) and Britishish Kebabs – shish kebabs that are a little bit British. The drinks menu is largely wine and beer, traditional beverages to accompany the largely traditional food options.

Looking at the hearty-sounding main dishes, we decide to start light, and order the Tricolore Salad and a Citrus Avocado Tartare. Both are incredibly fresh: the avocado tartare – essentially a neat stack of chopped avocado with salad – is a tasty combination of creamy avocado with zesty lemon dressing and balsamic glaze.

Next, we set our sights on the extensive grill section. A slow-roasted, free-range half chicken with rosemary, lemon butter, french fries and paprika ali-oli sounds too tempting to miss. The plate is a little smaller than expected, but the chicken is perfectly roasted and the crispy skin is full of flavour. A generous portion of thick-cut chips accompanies both the chicken and the flavoursome lamb shish kebab, which we also try.

For dessert, we decide on a selection of fine British ice cream, and a chocolate brownie. The brownie is not quite as drenched in chocolate as the menu description had suggested, and is rather more dry and spongy than we’d imagined; not bad by any means, but more of a cake than a brownie. The ice-cream on the other hand, is a perfect way to finish off the meal, creamy and full of flavour.

Westminster Kitchen offers something that suits the area: a warm, friendly and relaxed restaurant, with a varied menu that can please sightseers and local workers looking for a convenient spot for traditional food and the option of something a little different.

Joanna Blyth
Photos: Matthew Pull

To book a table at Westminster Kitchen, 3A Belvedere Road London SE1 7GQ, call 020 7928 1986 or enquire here.