Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
International
Organic
Western
Beer/Wine
Gourmet
London vegetarian restaurant, near Chancery Lane Tube Station, off Chancery Lane. Aims to elevate meat-free cookery to a level that delights discerning palates of all tastes. Has a vegan menu with 2 choices per course over a 3-course menu. Reported closed September 2020.
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Last update on 04 Oct 2020 by craigmc
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Added by JohnnySensible on 21 May 2008
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68 Reviews
First Review by JohnnySensible
Saddler
Points +165
Dining excellence - Edit
Vanilla Black is a rarity among vegetarian restaurants; it caters for discerning diners who are not over concerned by price but who want to sample high-end cuisine. I suspect that many vegetarians would bridle at that concept, preferring the wholesome, macrobiotic approach. But, in the name of variety and in setting the standard, I applaud Vanilla Black. They have a varied menu and their approach is to deconstruct well-known dishes and present them in new forms (you would not recognise the jacket potato!) as well as bringing together unusual taste combinations (brie ice-cream for example.) Everything is presented exquisitely in modest portions and tastes divine. And the staff are only too willing to discuss the food with you and offer recommendations. The only major reservation is that it is pretty hopeless for vegans, a failing that could be fixed with a little imagination. In summary, so long as you realise that this is not cheap place and that vegans need to call in advance, you will have a memorable and exciting meal.
Read morePros: Excellent and exciting food, Wonderful presentation, Helpful staff
Cons: Poor for vegans
Guest
LaraJames
Points +48
interesting - Edit
It's true that if you are vegan you'd better let them know in advance. That's what we've done both the two times we've been there, and we haven't been disappointed.
Read moreVanilla Black is a french influenced contemporary vegetarian restaurant, and this is what you'll find here.
It's not cheap, and it's not an everyday place to go neither. But a dinner here is an experience that you wont find in any other veggie place in London.
For a special occasion, and for something really different and hight quality.
Pros: interesting and original menu, elegant , good wine list
Guest
Beanie779
Points +28
Definitely worth a try - Edit
I went here with my boyfriend last night and we both thought it was really lovely. The food seemed a bit unusual (e.g. creamed jacket potato - essentially mash for a starter), but was lovely all the same. I'd also say that some of the food was a bit too intense in flavour - but I am a bit picky!
Read moreI don't think it was quite 'our cup of tea', but as a vegetarian, I really do think it's worth going to and giving a try. Also, the staff were absolutely wonderful, I thought they were really friendly and helpful.
Pros: Friendly staff, Good selection of food, Yummy
Cons: Eccentric choices, Intense flavours
Guest
Sernicki
Points +394
Worst ever place I have been - Edit
I visited this place with another fellow vegan and was very disappointed at the service, food selection and the price for what we had. On booking the table they did not ask if we were vegetarian or vegan and being a veggie place we assumed it meant vegan as well. On asking for vegan options we were then advised that we should have told them in advance as they may not be able to provide anything. After they discussed with their chef we were told it would be ok. However all was not OK and the food we were served was disgusting. We had a salad to start which was suggested and it contained very basic salad items that were just thrown together in a rush. After debating the mains and causing a bit of commotion as the waiter was not sure what was in we were ordering had to keeo checking with the jitchen and got a bit irate. In the end what we got was over priced vegetables presented in an attempt to look chic and sophisticated but failed on both accounts. We decided not to stay for deserts and also got a tut we we decided not to have alcohol with our food. Never again shall we visit this place and I will save the money and get some proper food next time. The worst experience I have ever had.
Read morePros: None, None, None
Cons: poor service, bad vegan food, very expensive
Guest
s_k_
Points +656
sublime - Edit
We both eyed the Fried Onion Broth. I love a good French Onion Soup
Read moreand it's so hard to find one that isn't or doesn't taste beefy. But
here we were, two vegetarians at an all-veg restaurant with numerous
options, and we were both getting the same dish? I also had my doubts
about how it'd go with my main, and my waitress concurred the ensemble
might be too salty. That gave me the out I needed; I got the Whipped
Jacket Potato instead.
The Broth was nothing quite like I'd expected -- much thicker than a
soup. It was good, but my little taste of it seemed very salty.
The Potato was sublime. My partner's comment was, "I didn't know a
potato could do that".
For the main, she got the Goats Cheese and Toasted Cauliflower Mille
Feuille. She said it was good overall, and the cauliflower sublime.
I got the Salted and Ash Baked Celeriac and Foraged Garlic Leaf. My
whole plate was brilliant. The ash did something amazing to the
celeriac, and the remaining members of the ensemble held up their end
of the bargain.
After this we had to get dessert. She got the Peanut Butter
Cheesecake and Cracked Cocoa Beans. The "cheesecake" wasn't anything
like we expected in form factor -- they were little sticks. They
unfurled in three distinct flavors: first a setup, the second a solid
peanut butter, but the third a cleanser that left no PB taste in the
mouth. Brilliant engineering, but a bit odd. The toffee sauce and
banana bread were very good.
I had the Iced Malt and Burnt Orange Marshmallow: a soft but spottily
crunchy marshmallow with an orange infusion. My meringues were too
hard: you want them to crunch a bit and then yield, but they persisted
a little longer than one anticipates (though they tasted fine). The
puree tasted a bit like Horlicks or Ovaltine (I can never remember
which one's which), a bit on the malty side, and a lovely complement
to the crunchy sugar marshmallow. A superb ensemble.
My partner chose conservatively and got solid dishes; I picked the
riskier options and in each case it paid off splendidly. I'd gladly
eat the same set again, and I wouldn't trade any of my three dishes
for my partner's.
We expected snooty service, given the price and location and concept
and that we weren't dressed up, but got the opposite: the staff were
friendly, helpful, and seemed to know precisely when and how to glide
in and out.
95 GBP for two people to have three courses and a glass of wine each +
service. Totally worth it.
Pros: inventive, tasty, elegance without snobbery
Cons: expensive
Guest
REMF
Points +57
Vanilla Black - Edit
There are a lot of negative reviews here which do not reflect my experience of the place (I have been twice.) Yes it is expensive, but they are hardly opffering mushroom risotto and goats cheese tart here. I thought the food was delicious, and refreshingly different without being unidentifiable as the offerings of some vegetarian restaurants seem to be. The service was impeccable. I am very happy to be able to go somewhere upmarket for a change, as few of the more well-known 'posh' restaurants in London cater satisfactorily for vegetarians.
Read moreGuest
AnnFromIllinois
Points +845
Fit for foodies - Edit
I don't understand the negative reviews -- this place is fantastic! The staff is wonderful and friendly. The food is a feast for the eyes and the palate. We ordered off the vegan menu and had several wonderful choices. We made reservations in advance and mentioned we were vegan. I don't think that's too much to ask. This is the type of place that you'd make reservations at anyways. We felt very welcome and had a long and lingering dinner that was just fabulous. Will definitely return and recommend to others.
Read morePros: Fine dinning, Good wine list, No rush
Guest
Glenys
Points +44
Sophisticated dining in a lovely restaurant - Edit
I think there must have been some changes since the last reviews as I was very pleased with my vegan options. They were not the same as the vegetarian ones with the veggie parts omitted but instead had additional ingredients which were all tasty and very well presented. I'm a vegan and went with an omnivore friend. We ordered the mushroom mouses both of which were rich in flavour but different to each other. My friend tasted mine and really liked it. Overall we had outstanding service, high quality food although the portions were very small. We went on a Friday evening and the restaurant was full with a lively atmosphere. The surroundings and decor were classy and sophisticated and we had a very enjoyable evening for a very reasonable price. Given the location and the style of restaurant we were surprised at how low our bill was. We would both recommend it so long as you've got a huge appetite! My recommendation to the restaurant would be to increase portion size.
Read morePros: high quality food, sophisticated dining for veg*ns
Cons: small portions
Guest
Joyatri
Points +600
Disappointing! - Edit
We felt the previous reviewers' criticisms concerning the decor to be unwarranted. So, too, the criticism of the restaurant's request that vegans give advance notification. Given that this restaurant is located in an area frequented by lawyers and other professionals, it makes sense that it has a formal decor and restrained ambiance. The restaurant does state on its website that they be notified if the diners want vegan options. The main problem is with the food.
Read moreWe know vegetarians that love Vanilla Black and this is probably because they have a different experience eating there. On arrival we were presented a vegan evening menu. Sadly, it was a vegan menu by omission -- in that they had simply taken dishes and veganized them by omitting or substituting ingredients. The amuse-bouche of horseradish turkish delight wrapped in edible rice paper with a mint-lemon shot was unusual and tasty. The bread was flavorful as was the olive oil that accompanied it.
A starter of potato cakes with black radish slices, capers, and tomato sauce was disappointing. The potato cakes were creamy but lacked flavor. The tomato sauce that came with it was overpowering. We avoided the peculiar-sounding starter of asparagus with "salt and vinegar gel" which normally would have included feta cheese.
For mains, we had a onion tartin with purple potatoes (not dyed as a previous reviewer speculated!), parsnip crisps and wilted spinach. The portion size was small, and the dish underwhelming. The other main course of fried mushroom mousse was lacking in mushroom flavor and we didn't like the texture. It was accompanied by baby potatoes, fennel and broccoli. The restaurant had omitted the tarragon waffle that was in the vegetarian version. The vegetables were cooked appropriately.
Our disappointment was compounded when we saw that the only vegan dessert options were two granita/sorbets. As mentioned by a previous reviewer, this is an uninspired and
tired offering.
The staff was friendly and attentive.
I doubt we would eat again at Vanilla Black. London has much more interesting and vegan-friendly options available.
Pros: Elegant decor, Attentive staff, Good bread
Cons: Uninspired cuisine, Small portions
Guest
veganaurora
Points +318
A bit vanilla - Edit
Vanilla Black is a vegetarian restaurant, you have to let them know in advance if you are vegan. Somehow my friend and I felt disappointed by the experience of eating there. Although, the staff were friendly and attentive, the decor is very muted and the place feels rather formal. In this kind of environment you would expect the food to be the special focus but it didn't quite shine as much as we had hoped. It was nice food of course, the starters were tasty: a beetroot terrine was very fresh-tasting and a sort of dhal with spicy oil was more-ish. But the mains we had were a bit dull, a slice of a potato/truffle layer thing with some vegetables and mushroom pastry things with the same sort of vegetables and more beetroot on the side. Nothing really made us feel excited and because the price is high and the atmosphere is so subdued, we expected to be more inspired by the food.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Tuesday December 22, 2009
Pros: attentive staff, healthy food
Cons: expensive, uninspiring mains
Guest
kool_kitchen
Points +875
Extortionate and disappointing - Edit
I fail to understand good reviews for this place. I went there for my birthday and was incredibly disppointed. The portions were tiny and everything had a sickly sweet taste. The lacklustre mish-mash of cuisines were deeply uninspiring and a meal for two came to over £90. In London there are many veggie restuarants that can do so much more at half the price or even less than that.
Read moreCons: Extortionate, Sugary sweet dishes
Guest
natz
Points +133
Good, fine dining for a special occasion - Edit
Wasn't too difficult to find - it's right next to the Chancery on Cursitor St and most taxi drivers know where that is. We went on a monday night and it was quiet, only four tables so great service but was quiet and cold as quite empty - take a jumper. Decor is stunning you can tell it's all brand new. All the cutlery, crockery and linens are of a very high quality - fine dining for veggies, very rare! Food was gorgeous but only two vegan options for starter and for main. The menu is on the website and updated - there were quite a few cheese dishes, but a selection of cow, sheep and goats cheese. I had the sweetcorn creme brulee with tomato salsa to start which was gorgeous, more like a pudding. My friend had the cheese toastie with picallili which she said was amazing. Main courses we had were the goats cheese on potato rosti and I had the mushroom torte with seasonal veg. All were excellently presented and the mix of vegetables and sauces wonderful. Not massive portions but all is very filling so you wouldn't want it any bigger. Great selection of desserts and good for vegans to get something other than a fruit salad. Bill came to £85 for two (but that only inc one glass of wine) so it's not a cheap eat - we had the 3 courses for £30 and were full. Would recommend as a romantic dinner venue for vegetarians wanting to impress! Will be going back.
Read morePros: fine dining - rare for veggies, great wine selection, excellent food and service
Cons: cold, quiet, expected more selection for vegans
Guest
marcstevens
Points +114
Sophisticated, contemporary, delish - Edit
We've enjoyed Vanilla Black many times in York and were gutted to find it had closed there. However, to discover it had moved much closer to us was excellent compensation!
Read moreThe food is even better and more imaginative than we remembered from York, with seasonal and 'different' veg; the decor is the same extremely classy affair, and the restaurant much larger.
We (and the friends we took) will be heading back as soon as we can. We were there on a Friday night and although there was a nice buzz there was plenty of room for more customers so get booking and fill this great new place up to the rafters.
I'd recommend it as an excellent option for persuading non-veggie friends that veggie food isn't necessarily all lentils and lettuce!!
And if you want a good pub nearby to start off in, the Cittie of York on Holburn is 5 minutes walk and serves Samuel Smiths beer, a lot of which is vegan and gorgeous.
Pros: Delicious food, with a twist, Seasonal and unusual produce, Sheer class and style, central location
Cons: Not open weekends as area is very quiet, MORE PROS: lovely, knowledgeable staff, Lots of vegan options
Guest
JohnnySensible
Points +7566
Lovely place - Edit
A really friendly restaurant - lovely decor.
Read moreUsed to be in York - closed there & reopened in London a few months ago.
Donna & Andrew are excellent restauranters.
Several vegan option each day.
Take a good look at their website.
It is best to book ahead for dinners.
Perfect for lunches if you are in "The City".
Very close to Chancery Lane Tube Station.
Guest
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