50-51 Sloane Square
SW1W 8AX
Tel: 020 7730 2804
Date of Last Visit: Monday, August 27th, 2007
The Victims: Brian, Kate, Al, Barry
The Damage: About £20 each
The Background: Every so often, my friend Brian arranges brunch for our grad school friends. Unfortunately, Brian has been in Dubai for the last six months, and apparently, we are incapable of any organizational activity at all without him, so there haven't been many brunches. So I was glad that he was back and brunch was in the cards once more.
He picks Oriel in Sloane Square which I am surprised by because Brian and I are both East-Central-ers and Sloane Square is more than a bit inconvenient for us, transportation-wise. But with the prospect of friends AND frites in my future, I saddle up the Oyster Card and get ready for the hour long commute.
The Entrance: We score a table outside which is a bit awkwardly placed…I am high up on a cement something or other. But it's fine. It's fun watching the Sloanies walk by, with their sweaters tossed so just artfully SO around their shoulders. And the women in their sky-high heels, who MUST have a driver because they are SO not taking the tube like that. (Either that, or they're walking no farther than Hugo Boss.)
The Food: Fishcakes for me and they are hearty. Very hearty. I can't finish them. This makes me a little sad. I consider asking for a doggie bag, but I don't think the combo of American + no-sweater-around-shoulders + asking-for-a-doggie-bag will work here. So I bid them adieu as our sweet French server–who is sweet but also a bit slow–takes them away.
The Sadness: So I haven't seen Brian in MONTHS and I did not go to visit him in Jordan as per our discussions. Well guess what? This brunch turns out to be his farewell brunch. He moved to Hong Kong the next weekend.
The Verdict: You know, there's nothing wrong with Oriel. It's just not my style. I feel like I should wait to go again until I've had some botox and/or have a lap dog. Note that I am allergic to dogs.
2 comments
I see this place every weekend on my way into town (Battersea – Oxford Street bus route) and never liked the look of it. Less intimidating, with better views and probably better food is the cafe on the top floor of Peter Jones at the other side of the square. You might want to have a look in next time you’re around these parts.
Krista, Some of us wear high heels for a living and can run a marathon in them!!! Well, maybe not a marathon, but a 50 yard dash at least.
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