I’ve walked past countless times but only recently discovered its buzz
There’s a cluster of restaurants at the end of Hanover Street fairly understated in otherwise busy surroundings. I’m sure it’s difficult to rival Maggie Fu‘s pink neon lights and the racket echoing down from Roxy Ball Room even at the best of times.
I’ve wandered past Albert Schenke, Bistro Franc and Salt House Tapas countless times, always promising myself I’d call in but never picking up the phone to arrange a booking. It wasn’t until I was told Hanover Street Social is one of the busiest restaurants in the city that I finally took the plunge to visit.
Hanover Street Social was another on my list of must-try restaurants. The reason I never called in before yesterday was that it always felt like a staple of the area rather than a destination. It opts for classic styling and isn’t garishly noticeable from the street, so you may miss it entirely.
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There’s not necessarily a strong USP compared to other restaurants in the city, it’s simply a great venue that does it all. After finally visiting Hanover Street Social, I left regretful that I wasn’t a customer years ago.
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My partner and I were seated in the window to the right of the restaurant with a prime view of Hanover Street. If, like me, you’re a sucker for a rainy evening watching the lights and people of the world whizz by, it’s absolutely perfect. It’s arguably the best seat in the house so be sure to request it.
The interiors are moody, dark and understated. One side of the restaurant caters to various party sizes whereas the left-hand side, is designed for larger groups. Scattered square panels act as a barrier between diners and the bar area, with no seats in the house particularly poor thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s cosy without feeling cramped and lively enough to speak freely at a comfortable volume.
We arrived at 6pm and it wasn’t long until claims of it being the busiest restaurant in the city were proven true. Within the hour, it was full. Every Monday, Hanover Street Social offers guests two courses and an “entire bottle” of wine for £32.50 per person. I was reassured by the server the “entire bottle” wasn’t a misprint – it’s very true.
My partner and I decided to take up the offer, which I assume everyone else did, too. As we waited for the first course to arrive, we basked in the cosy surroundings. Leading into the cold autumn months, it’s exactly what you need in terms of atmosphere and warmth.
The first dish to arrive was my starter: a hot smoked salmon & shrimp fishcake, chive and cream sauce, and a poached egg. My knife glided through the egg releasing perfectly runny yolk that dripped over the fishcake. It was too good not to get the sauce, egg and fish into every mouthful.
It upgrades the classic Eggs Royal from breakfast to dinnertime without stumbling. The fishcake was piping hot with a delightfully crunchy coat encapsulating the potent but not overbearing seafood inside. A great opening experience.
For my second course, I opted for the 8oz rump steak cooked rare, accompanied by chunky chips and peppercorn sauce. It’s not the experimental dish I’d typically go for but you can’t beat a classic, especially when done well. With little effort, my knife glided through the meat to show the pink insides just how I wanted them.
My partner and I nattered away and before we knew it our plates were cleared. There wasn’t a single thing left. The Monday deal includes two courses but we added a dessert onto the bill each simply because we had to have more. We decided to share a cheeseboard and vanilla cheesecake with drunken raspberries in order to wind down the evening and polish off our respective wine bottles.
I wish I called in years ago when I first promised to. It’s too easy to walk straight past because of where it’s located in the area but Hanover Street Social deserves your attention. I’m somewhat behind the curve considering every Monday is packed to the rafters but my experience warrants explicit praise.
Everything from the ambience and service to the food was perfect. Hanover Street can sometimes feel a little dreary but if you’re seated within Hanover Street Social, you’ll witness everything through rose-tinted glasses. Book yourself in (and request that one table I mentioned).
