We have been Somerset House to see the Escher exhibition, and now - tired, hot and confused - we are looking for lunch. I had thought of trying Poon's - a regeneration of a very old favourite - in SH itself. But it's too hot to face a full meal, so we go in search of something lighter.
Heading up towards Covent Garden, we come across Plume. It seems quite open and airy and is not very busy, so we go on in. We are offered a very nice table, sat underneath two rather beautiful asymmetric ceiling fans. It's not a very big place, at least here on the ground floor. The waiter is charming and knowledgeable (offering some good advice to other punters), but I have already settled on the white Rioja as our choice. I thought it was £45, but it turns out to have been £51. There's not really anything under £40.
The menu isn't extensive, but that's fine for what we need. We order the plate of mixed meats, a halloumi and butter beans dish, and some padron peppers. The peppers come first, covered in sea salt - B thinks she one of the spicy ones. The other dishes follow - we focus on the halloumi first because it is hot. It may be rather too heavy a dish for a warm day, but it is very tasty. The halloumi is quite salty, but the beans and tomatoes make it a rounded dish, very nice on top of the salt dough bread.
The meat plate is serrano ham, chorizo and salami, supported by gherkins, grapes and nuts. It's a very good size, but we do get through it and the bread.
It's been a very relaxing and pleasant meal. We chatted to a mother and daughter pair at the next table who had also been to the Escher. There is a soundtrack of some relaxed modern jazz/soul ( a bit louder than ideal)
Total comes to £133, including two more glasses of Rioja and some sparkling water. So not bad for somewhere so central. Certainly somewhere to remember for similar occasions.
