We explored Hackney Wick last Saturday and booked lunch on Barge East, an impressive 120-year-old floating Dutch Barge on the River Lee. On the river bank is the Barge East Gardens, where ingredients will be freshly picked and added to your dishes. We tried the Saturday Set Lunch Menu, which was lovely. With the sun shining and an uninterrupted view of the River Lee, it was a truly magical experience. Barge East is perfect if you’re looking for the best restaurants in E9, floating restaurants in London or special occasion lunches and dinners in Hackney.
“Soak up the sun and the surrounding buzzy atmosphere of the Hackney Wick Rivera as you dine on the splendid 120 year old Dutch Barge. It’s an unforgettable laid-back fine dining experience,” Homegirl London
Barge East Set Saturday Lunch Menu
We enjoyed the Set Saturday Lunch Menu, which is available as a two-course for £30 per person or three courses for £35. If you intend to drink, you can upgrade to a bottomless version with bubbly or Bloody Marys for an additional £20 per person. Saturday lunch is between 12 noon and 3.30 pm.
My starter was the vegan option of Turnip Baba Ghanoush, English Peas, Candy Celery, Raspberry and Seeded Pea Cracker. The nutty and earthy turnip pulp benefited from hints of sweetness from the occasional raspberry. Overall, the dish was pretty, with an intriguing blend of ingredients.
My partner opted for the Pearl Barley with Blue Cheese, Egg, Radish, Onion and Port. I would have tried some, but I’m not a fan of the blue cheese taste.
My main was a delicious Roasted Mushroom dish with Buckwheat, Almond and Broad Bean Sauce and Spenwood Cheese. It was adorable in appearance with a woodsy and earthy aftertaste. There was an option to have this dish with Aged Tofu, but as I’m not too fond of Tofu, it was the Spenwood Cheese for me.
Meanwhile, my partner was content with his Cornish Cod, Carrots, Catalogna Chicory and Brown Butter Sauce. The cod was perfectly cooked, and the accompanying carrots were sweet and a winning contrast against the chicory.
We shared two desserts; the Dark Chocolate Sorbet with Amaretto, Nougatine and Pear was rich and delicious.
It differed from the summery Poached Peaches with a Cascara Vermouth Soaked Hazelnut Cake and an uncooked Meringue topping.
See My Barge East Video
Barge East Hackney London Information
To find out more, visit the Barge East Website. The address is River Lee, Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane, London E9 5EN. You can walk from Hackney Wick or Stratford stations.
The Barge has different dining areas, a rustic below deck, a stunning room perched on top of the Barge and outdoor seating with shade from the sun. You can snuggle under a heater or blanket on colder days and evenings. I recommend that you book a table to avoid disappointment.
Before you board, check out the gardens opposite, where ingredients grow nestled between the dining area on the River Lee banks.
If dining on a barge isn’t your idea of fun, you can enjoy a meal on land on the terrace or in the garden. It’s a different menu with a few small plates of Chicken Wings and Fried Artichoke Hearts. Burgers filled with Braised Beef, Buttermilk Fried Chicken or Crispy Oyster Mushrooms and Rosemary Fries are the main attraction. They serve a Roast with all the trimmings on Sundays.
Next to Barge East, you will find the Milk Float, a bar and café with Moo Canoes. Enjoy beer, cocktails, coffee and ice cream with views of the river and the Olympic Stadium. Bandito Burger is on the Milk Float serving burgers and dirty dogs.
You’ll see a queue of people renting Moo Canoes next to the Milk Float.
While you are in the area, you may want to explore the area further; here are a few articles to point you in the right direction:
Ten Things To Do In Hackney Wick London
Hackney Wick East London Guide
Ten Things To Do In Stratford East London
Ten Things To Do On Fish Island East London
Ten Things To Do In Victoria Park Village Hackney
Visit Victoria Park East London
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. I only write about restaurants where I had a good experience. I recommend you further research as restaurant standards fluctuate, as do opinions. Please check if the restaurant is still in business and the opening times before you go. If you discover this restaurant has closed, contact me to remove it from my blog.
