The Chancery

Situated appropriately just off Chancery Lane, on a corner in Cursitor Street, The Chancery is a small, smart restaurant, clearly catering to a better class of lawyer.  All around are elegantly dressed men, virtually all in dark suits and sharp ties, and conservatively clad women. The place is full when we arrive for our “toptable” booking at 1.15 (having been specifically asked to come that crucial 15 minutes later).  Staff are welcoming and friendly enough, avoiding the formality that could easily spoil your fun in somewhere like this.

 

We arrive ahead of M&G, and struggle with the wine list. The Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier that featured at reasonable prices on the website are nowhere to be seen, and the prices seem to climb steadily.  We’re about to hedge our bets with a glass of Prosecco when the others arrive and we agree on a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet – a slightly fruity, off-dry white at around £25.

 

The a la carte menu is limited to 5 options per course at £28.50 for two, and £32.50 for three (though we’re on the “50% off food” offer).  The “limited a la carte” offers just three choices, but comes in at £39.50 for three courses – work that one out!   M and I decide to start with the cod cheeks in red wine while (after a last minute change of heart) G and B go for the duck’s egg.  The cod cheeks are small round disks of meat, with a rather unappealing dirty red tinge, served with a leek creation and cornichons – pleasant, rather than tasty.  On the other hand, the duck’s eggs had bright yellow yolks, were cooked to be runny and served with some cute little button mushrooms.

 

For main course, I chose the venison (£4 supplement) with beetroot. This came topped with beetroot slices and a small beetroot tart – a little odd. Apparently there was bitter chocolate in there somewhere, though I didn’t detect it – maybe that’s just as well. The meat itself though was excellent, just bloody with full flavour. B chose the plaice with razor clams and prawns, which came with a tasteless foam, and was rather dry and uninteresting.  Both M and Genjoyed the loin of pork rolled in ash, with creamed cabbage and pickled quince. M had also chosen a bottle of Dao at £26 to complement the meats – smooth and full.

 

To follow, G decided to try the rhubarb soufflé, while B and I shared the plate of French and English cheeses (£5 extra) which was good, with both bread and biscuit.  G was impressed with his soufflé which disappeared without trace.

 

Service had been a bit patchy: we’d waited a while to order (though this may have been partly due to G having to make a phone call outside), and one starter was delivered only to be whisked away again.

 

M&G generously paid the bill, so I don’t know the exact cost. But working on the fixed price menus, I think food would have nominally come to £132  - with our deal giving a saving of £66. The 4 bottles of wine were a little over £100, plus some water and coffee, so we’re looking at around £45 a head.  Good value at that price – a little more challenging if you added a further £16 each when paying full price.