By Sunny Andrea
I spent my Sunday with my family at 1 Lombard Street dining out in style experiencing the Sunday Roast in all its glory.
1 Lombard Street sits right in the heart of the City of London — the kind of spot that, during the week, is buzzing with suits, meetings, and people power-walking with purpose. But on the weekend, it’s a completely different world. The pace slows down, the energy softens, and the whole place feels much more inviting for a slow, comforting meal. It really is such a beautiful, elegant space, very relaxed and the staff are ready to welcome you in.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous — bright, elegant, and full of beautiful imagery around the dining floor with the centrepiece bar all decorated perfectly. It has this lovely mix of sophistication and comfort, the kind of place where you instantly settle in and think, yes, this is exactly where I want to be on a Sunday.
We started with oysters and what they have recently added to the menu being the cod cheek bites, and honestly, it was the perfect beginning. The oysters are ordered as a single piece and priced per one, and were fresh and smooth, the kind that don’t need much fuss because the flavour spoke for themselves. We also had the cod cheek fillet bites with tartare sauce — these were lovely, golden and crispy on the outside, soft and tender inside. They were light but satisfying, not overly fishy and dipping them into the tartare sauce was one of those simple food moments that just makes you happy. The quality of ingredients was instantly seen and tasted, the starters were cooked properly, and were full of flavour. The portions were small but still enough to share and save space for the main lunch course.
Moving onto the star of the day: the Sunday roast. I chose to have the recommended Pork Belly, complete with cracking and ALL the trimmings.
The roasts arrived looking classic and inviting, and from the first bite, I was genuinely in love! The meat was tender and by this I mean it actually melted in my mouth, it was full of flavour, it really did not need anything extra because it’s already perfect. The roast potatoes had that very crispy-outside, fluffy-inside balance that is so hard to get right, and the vegetables actually tasted like themselves — fresh, seasoned, well-cooked. The gravy tied everything together beautifully. It was bone marrow gravy so it was very rich, smooth, and so satisfying that I kept adding more even when I definitely didn’t need it. I had to have another pot as it was THAT tasty!
If pork belly roast isn’t quite your thing, they also have a beautiful beef roast which you can have a choice of two different cooking styles and there is a chicken roast and also a vegetarian option, the vegetables consist of cabbage, carrots and roasted parsnips, the Yorkshire puddings were gorgeously fluffy and crispy and so well cooked the meat was delicious and to top it off on the table was also a beautiful portion of cauliflower cheese.
If like me, you have a little one at the table where a roast mihht jot suit, I have to say that the manager was very kind and willing and where they cooked up a lovely cheesy broccoli spaghetti and where my little girl absolutely loved it. She sat eating the little broccoli trees and then dived into spaghetti. The portion was a very good size and where it provided all the goodness and nutrients that she needed. Very nicely cooked by the chef in terms of the texture of the pasta and where all the flavours just worked perfectly!
The restaurant had a warm and friendly buzz to it — families chatting, people celebrating, friends catching up. It felt lively but still calm enough that you can enjoy your meal without feeling rushed. We were really about to take our time and enjoy the Sunday nicely.
The staff were genuinely lovely. Helpful, friendly, and attentive in all the right ways. They checked in without hovering and made sure everything felt easy and smooth. It makes such a difference when the team is that warm — it adds to the comfort of the whole experience. Even with having small children dine, they didn’t make us feel rushed or uncomfortable, it was special.
Even though I was full, I wasn’t wanting to leave out trying the dessert. I ordered the cheese board and the sticky toffee pudding, and the restaurant made a lovely credit crunch ice cream deserts for the children, which I have to say they absolutely loved!
The cheese board was generous and had a nice selection — creamy, sharp, and everything in between. It had a wonderful selection of my favourite cheeses on there, some grapes and onion chutney relish. The blue cheese was so moreish!
The sticky toffee pudding was pure comfort. Warm, soft, sweet, and covered in just the right amount of sauce. It was and certainly tasted like a proper Sunday treat, it was a nice size to share and we savoured every bite. As mentioned by my husband, this was the best sticky toffee pudding he has had!
My visit to 1 Lombard Street felt special in a really natural way and it was very lovely family time too! Beautiful space, incredibly tasty roast, lovely staff, and desserts that completely hit the spot. The portions are definitely large but very satisfying and where it hits the spot.
The restaurant itself made me smile, it was very family friendly and the staff and the managers were absolutely wonderful, so informative and friendly and you could tell that they really did care and were happy to spend time to talk. It’s the kind of place I’d happily return to and recommend this to anyone looking for a great Sunday meal in the city.
It was honestly one of the best roasts I’ve had in London. The way the food was cookies, everything tasted cared for and as a family lunch out, this is a must try and a top spot in the city of London.
A massive thank you to all the staff, Miguel and all the managers and to wonderfully talented Chef Ben, it really was an experienced to remember and one wanting us to come back again! The nearest station talking distance is Bank station and is located pretty much opposite the Bank of England.
For more on this beautiful restaurant, its menu and to book, do checkout their website at www.1lombardstreet.com