Vinicius Santos A Well-Executed Pre-Theatre Experience at Cora Pearl
The décor is relaxed and intimate, complemented by soft background music that creates a warm, understated atmosphere. Expectations were high, especially as Cora Pearl has been ranked by the Michelin Guide as the best pre-theatre dining spot in London.
We visited as a family of four and arrived about ten minutes before our pre-theatre reservation; our table was already ready, which was a great start. My parents both chose the three-course pre-theatre menu: potatoes with cod roe to start, pork steak for the main, and the After Eight crémeux for dessert.
I had the butternut squash with coconut cream as a starter—the cream was thicker than I expected, but still very rich and delicious—followed by the wild sea bass with Jerusalem artichoke velouté, salsify, and bergamot. Overall, the food was excellent: well executed, well balanced, and thoughtfully put together.
We shared a bottle of Riesling and I ordered the Cheeky Peach cocktail, as the restaurant is known for its cocktails. Both were enjoyable, though not particularly memorable. The Parmesan fries, however, were outstanding and easily a highlight of the meal.
The staff were attentive and friendly throughout, although service did slow down a little during busier moments. That said, it didn’t detract significantly from an otherwise very enjoyable pre-theatre experience.
