Restaurant Review: Garden Café. If you’re visiting the Garden Museum or the Lambeth Palace Gardens, you should reserve a table at the Garden Café. It’s like a secret lunch spot and you’ll be pleased to make the discovery!
“Lovely, tranquil lunch spot located next to the Garden Museum and Lambeth Palace serving interesting rustic seasonal food,” Homegirl London
I’d popped into the café for tea and cake a few weeks back when I visited the Garden Museum. I wanted to check out the restaurant so booked a table there last Friday. The focus is on fresh, seasonal ingredients to create simple, delectable dishes. It’s a concise menu but has enough to satisfy fish and meat-eaters along with vegetarians.
Garden Café At Garden Museum Lunch Menu
Homeboy and I shared two starters. The first was Burrata with Marinated Peppers and Oregano. The burrata was beautifully creamy with a large helping of red peppers and olive oil. Fried Egg with Girolles and Summer Truffle was the other dish. I love Girolles and these were very enjoyable thanks to the woody, earthy flavour. Deep-Fried Gurnard (fish) with Saffron Aioli, Mussels with Parsley and Artichokes with Prosciutto were the alternatives.
Fried Egg with Girolles and Summer Truffle
For mains, I selected the Ricotta Stuffed Courgette with Farro and Basil. Farro is a hulled wheat, this gave my dish a rustic vibe. Meanwhile, Homeboy tucked into his plate of Hake, Aubergines, Dried Tomatoes, and Mint. He was dithering between that or the Squid with Chickpeas and Coriander. Feather Blade (shoulder blade of beef) paired with Runner Beans and Anchovy was the offering for carnivores. Rabbit Leg, Rainbow Chard and Black Olives was another option.
Ricotta Stuffed Courgette, Farro and Basil
The portions aren’t massive so you can fit in three courses. We shared the Baked Apricots and Custard which was excellent. The custard was cold which was perfect because the day was muggy and sticky. Pistachio Cake, Cherries, and Fig Leaf Ice Cream was the accompanying dessert. Both puds were perfect but I had a fondness for the apricots with the cold custard! A cheese plate or single cheese was available.
Baked Apricots and Custard
Starters were £7.50-8.50, Mains £13.50-18.50, Desserts £6 and Cheese Plate £7.50. The drinks list included an interesting curated selection of wines.
Garden Café At Garden Museum Interiors
Restaurant Interior
This eating space is divided into a café and the dining area. From the café, you can order a pot of tea, coffee, and cake. The larger area is reserved for the three-course lunch or dinner. The building is glazed with floor to ceiling windows so you can look out at St Mary’s Church Garden or onto the courtyard area. It’s a very tranquil place to relax and enjoy a leisurely lunch with your partner or a friend.
Garden Café At Garden Museum Information
Garden Museum Courtyard
To find out more about the restaurant go to the Garden Museum Website. The address is 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB. The nearest stations are Lambeth North, Waterloo. Lunch is served 12 noon until 3 pm each day except Saturday which is 12 noon until 2 pm. Dinner is dished up Tuesday and Friday evenings from 6 pm until 9 pm. While you are in the vicinity visit the Garden Museum and Lambeth Palace Gardens (only open April until September on the first Friday of the month.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London, except interior photograph which is from the restaurant website. Thanks: Homeboy for dining with me.
