Being pushed round London, cruising previous Harvey Nicks, and indulging in a six-course gourmand dinner. It appears like an episode of Completely Fabulous.
Besides we’re on a bus.
Bustronome, a double-decker bus transformed into an upscale shifting restaurant, combines a standard sightseeing tour of London with high-quality eating.
In contrast to your typical alarmingly pink tour bus, its smooth black exterior is extra inconspicuous.
As you await it to reach at Embankment bus station, it’s straightforward to mistake Bustronome for some other coach. That is till you step inside.
Bustronome combines a standard sightseeing tour of London with high-quality eating. MailOnline Journey’s Jessica Hamilton had the prospect to attempt the shifting restaurant final month
The highest deck has room for 38 diners in desk configurations of two to eight and boasts a transparent glass roof
Getting into via the center door, my eating companion and I go a small galley, the place a single chef is making ready our first course, earlier than making our manner upstairs to a sublime eating space.
The highest deck has room for 38 diners in preparations of two to eight. The picket tables and chairs are firmly hooked up to the ground, and every desk is meticulously organized, with magnetic placemats that preserve the cutlery safe.
Above us, a transparent glass roof encases the restaurant, providing panoramic views of the town.
Seating us comfortably in a padded sales space, our waiter swiftly welcomes us with a glass of Champagne and neatly slots it right into a custom-made clear desk holder, which holds a number of glasses all through the night.
He then directs us to a QR code, which reveals our digital menu and the bus route. Forward of us are six programs, 4 totally different wines and a glimpse of some high London sights.
Meals on wheels: Bustronome has a ‘smooth black exterior’, in contrast to London’s common sightseeing buses
The clear glass roof ‘encases the restaurant’ and provides ‘panoramic views of the town’. Above – Jess takes within the sights
Earlier than the bus units off, I attain to pour myself some extra water, however the eagle-eyed waiter rapidly advises: ‘Solely fill the glasses up midway. If we go over a pace bump, they’ll topple over.’
Regardless of my preliminary apprehensions about damaged plates and spilt drinks, the night unfolds easily. We glide across the metropolis centre, with solely the occasional wobble of a wine glass to remind us we’re cell.
‘How do you keep upright,’ I ask our waiter. ‘We have magnets on our toes,’ he jokingly responds. However it might as nicely be true, because the six programs are effortlessly served all through the night.
First up was tuna tartare, served with avocado, tomato and spicy ponzu dressing. Subsequent, a roasted aubergine salad served with tahini sauce, lettuce, spring onion and pomegranate.
Every desk has a custom-made clear drink holder, which holds a number of glasses all through the night
LEFT: Tuna tartare, served with avocado, tomato and spicy ponzu dressing. RIGHT: Mango pana cotta served with home made crumble
LEFT: Rack of lamb, served with candy potato puree in a blueberry sauce. RIGHT: Pan-seared salmon served with leek and potato veloute.
Different programs included pan-seared salmon, a rack of lamb, brie cheese with apple and bear chutney and brioche, and mango panna cotta.
The menu adjustments seasonally, with the chef promising ‘one of the best of English gastronomy with a French twist’.
Every dish was equally spectacular because the final, however the spotlight stays the ever-changing views of London’s high sights.
Crossing Tower Bridge at sundown, the town’s skyline transforms earlier than us, framed by the clear glass roof of the bus.
As we go landmarks reminiscent of St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Harrods, I discover myself snapping extra vacationer images than I’ve in all the two years of dwelling in London. They’re a lot simpler to understand whereas cocooned from the hustle and bustle under.
‘The spotlight stays the ever-changing views of London’s high sights,’ Jess writes. Pictured is the sundown above London Bridge
Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Harrods are simply a few of the sights on present
Navigating via the town’s visitors is a usually sluggish and tedious affair, however to my shock, the night wraps up on time.
Three hours later, we discover ourselves again at Embankment, the bus stationary and the doorways open, providing visitors the prospect to exit or savour their drinks for a bit longer.
