Restaurant review: The Anthologist

There’s quite a buzz in the air at city bar and restaurant the Anthologist.

Avoiding the stuffiness of other Square Mile establishments, the management have clearly chosen not to shamelessly rinse the no doubt well-to-do clientele - prices are, on the contrary, quite reasonable.

Tucking into a three-course meal though, it was clear that the after-work lot are probably more used to a few drinks in the light, airy bar area than the full dining out shebang. The courses were simply so generous that it became a feat to get through all three – although we gave it a good shot.

My main of bouillabaisse (seafood stew) was jam-packed with muscles and cockles, swimming in an adventurous fish-based tomato chowder.

The other half’s seafood tagliatelle was a touch on the creamy side and too rich to finish but there was a generous splattering of prawns for its price-tag of a tenner.

The desserts were good but be warned - the trio of sharing pots is most certainly not for one.

Chocolate brownie, white chocolate and raspberry cr�me br�l�e and a knickerbocker glory packed with salted caramel and roasted plum was an explosion of saccharine goodness. The sharp caramel particularly complemented the fragrant fruit.

Most of the mains are priced at �9.95 and there is a varied wine list. A swipe-card system means that punters can get fine wines by the glass directly from the enomatic machines.

The machines dispense wine from the bottle using inert gas, which preserves the wine over a period of days or weeks.

On the restaurant’s website it emphasises that the menu concentrates on comfort food and sharing, with its small plates and flat breads. Looking around the packed bar area and restaurant, it became clear that the Anthologist has sociable nailed.

The Anthologist, 58 Gresham Street, EC2V 7BB. See theanthologistbar.co.uk.