Last Updated on December 19, 2022
Dining with a view – Origin, Kensington High Street.
December is one of the most special months for exploring London, with many of the city’s famous streets decked out in brightly lit decorations to celebrate the festive season. Londoners and tourists alike visit Kensington over the Christmas period, it is the home of glitz and glam and many famous shops and cultural attractions including the Royal Albert Hall and, of course, the annual Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. The luxurious Royal Garden Hotel, on Kensington High Street, is right in the center of the action this time of year. I was delighted to be invited to dine at Origin Kensington’s newly launched restaurant, which provides diners with a varied menu all produced using seasonal British produce (there is a special Christmas menu available now too).
Origin is beautifully located with views of Hyde Park, and the décor is modern and sophisticated, befitting its location on the ground floor of the famous Royal Garden Hotel. Floor to ceiling windows let in plenty of light even in the dead of winter. A live musician performed Christmas carols during our visit which added to the fun and festive soundtrack. Opened in September this year, Origin currently offers a winter menu from Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday nights, and also offers an Asian style menu and tapas.
When we visited on a Sunday afternoon, we were happy to try the lunch menu. We started by ordering from the seasonal cocktail menu. The Old Sailor, made with tidal rum blended with chocolate, orange and Angostura bitters and a hint of cinnamon is cleverly rendered and the cinnamon notes shine through without overpowering the milder citrus flavors. From a selection of seasonal mocktails, the Winter Cherry is served with foam on top which delivers all the fun of a cocktail in an alcohol-free package.
From the “Jukebox” lunch menu, we ordered Forman’s London cured smoked salmon on a Brick Lane bagel. What really stands out about this dish is the quality of the ingredients. Smoked salmon generously layered over top quality piped cream cheese, gently smoked and without too much salt. The bagels themselves are delicately baked, soft and chewy. We also enjoy the soft poached Burford Brown eggs with crushed avocado on Paul Rhodes mush toast, which is a healthy base for the perfect poached egg with a deep, orange yolk.
On to the main course, and the braised beef short ribs in a grain mustard sauce, pickled onions and Yorkshire pudding proved to be an excellent dish to order on a cold winter’s day after a walk in Hyde Park. The beef stew is sweet and gooey with mustard sauce and the Yorkshire pudding is super crunchy with a soft inside. We also enjoyed the prawn and coconut laksa which had a rich and warming broth, essential this winter.
For dessert we ordered the raspberry cranachan and glayva with caramelized oats along with the bread and butter pudding with marmalade ice cream. Glayva tangerine and honey-spiced whiskey liqueur shine through, making Origin’s cranachan a fine version of the Scottish classic. The bread and butter pudding was also well presented and served hot, a well made British classic.
The Royal Garden Hotel’s latest offering provides visitors to the area with superb views, luxurious surroundings and a varied menu catering to all tastes this Christmas period.
Kensington origin
2, 24 Kensington High St
London W8 4PT
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