Hither + Seek is running an array of exciting Christmas offerings in beautiful settings inspired by Christmas in the Woods.
I feel this winter has brought many tasty dinners for reviews including this riverside bar Hithe + Seek. Located in a 5* hotel The Westin on the river Thames Hithe +Seek offers panoramic views over the river and The Globe.
With most of the seats cleverly positioned facing the floor to ceiling windows, it’s set for a perfect romantic ambiance. The bar menu serves bar snacks while more substantial dishes can be found one floor up in Mosaic restaurant.
And since we’re on the run-up to Christmas, it’s all around us here. Inspired by the current hotel Christmas in the Woods decorations Mosaic is serving special Christmas in the Woods Afternoon Tea (till 5th January) as well as dinner with butter roasted turkey on the Christmas Day.
We’re here for the view and the cocktails though, after exploring the decorations, which set the mood for classy countryside Christmas. The toy train circling around the miniature woodland is particularly magical.
We go back downstairs where we take a sit at the Hithe + Seek. The view is a stunner. Sadly, despite all my attempts at picture taking it’s a failure as nighttime, windows + indoor lighting equal reflections on the glass.
That’s only the case on pictures though, sitting down here the view is clear and it’s rather relaxing watching the Thames flow.
For the food, the menu is split into the locations from the land and sea with quite a generous selection of the aquatic dishes, which is where we decide to start: octopus, scallops, tuna and lobster roll sound tempting so we go for those.
Octopus is finely sliced, so thin it’s almost feather like, very tasty, tender and delicate, we just wish there was a little bit more of it.
It comes with jerusalem artichoke chips too for a crunchy bite. We’re definitely in jerusalem artichoke season now, a yearly event in the food calendar.
It’s a splendid accompaniment to the smoky 1666 cocktail with defining Laphroaig single whiskey from Islay island. Mellow marzipan from Amaretto Disaronno rounded up with IPA and Rosemary reduction and lemon in a tumbler makes it perfect for any occasion.
We are continuing with our sea journey going to the fluffy brioche bun with juicy lobster chunks. The meat vs bread ratio is a little bit off, we wouldn’t mind a tad bit more meat.
Our most fought over sharing dish is scallops, striking presentation of white rounded plate, contrasting black squid ink risotto and white juicy scallops dotted around.
It’s not just a looker on the eye but also the spoon. I certainly haven’t eaten a risotto like that, at least not in the UK. The chef absolutely nailed it with that crunch to the risotto and light sea like from the ink.
It’s flavourome but not overpowering. And the biggest surprise is to find it in a bar rather than a specialised seafood restaurant. A sizeable dish, more than a bar bite I’d say too.
Having properly sampled the sea section it’s now time for land: the steak sandwich. I’m not going to lie I was a bit surprised when two mini burgers arrived. But it’s meat between two slices of bread so technically it’s a sandwich.
Featured charcoal in the bun makes it an esthetically pleasing dish. I feel the charcoal adds a bit of a chalky in a good way flavour to the bun.
There’s something special about holding a miniature burger and sinking your teeth into all of the various textures from cloud soft bun, generous melted slab of cheddar until finally reaching the juicy tender steak.
Our second cocktail is also a masculinice tumbler glass under the name of Revolver from the classic menu. Filled with warming amber colour it’s Woodford Reserve, hint of Kahlua and orange bitter.
It’s both Christmassy on smell and tongue, smooth with a good alcohol content. Hithe + Seek serves impressive looking desserts, which worth a try.
But as Hithe + Seek is a bar one is free to turn up for a drink only, then add a few dishes midway through the cocktail sipping. Or even just coffee and a dessert. That’s the beauty of hotel bars.
Hithe + Seek is a well rounded bar, sophisticated yet laid back enough for guests to sink into a comfy sofa and mesmerise the river current at their own pace with a glass in hand.
Hithe + Seek, 60 Upper Thames St., London EC4V 3AD