Bank, the heart of the square mile, is a pulsating intersection that manages a constant flow of Routemasters and footfall from all over the City of London. Here some of the U.K.’s most historic buildings stand shoulder to shoulder with striking modern architecture, an eclectic mix that combines old and new, reminiscent of scenes from New York City. And it is here that a little piece of the big apple can be found in the new NYC styled Jewish Deli Zobler’s, tucked away in the splendour of the newly launched The Ned.
With the doormans velvet rope navigated, we welcomed a brief wait to be seated to gawk at the once banking hall’s grand interior finish. With every inch renovated in a gatsby styled class, it was hard to imagine this space vacant for over a decade, particularly given the buzzing midweek crowd. Pitching up on the bar proved a great dining location, a prime spot to soak in the atmosphere while being in the thick of other diners and, with a live jazz band improvising our evening soundtrack, it wasn’t hard to imagine that we’d swapped London for an evening in Manhattan.
Straight talking attentative service is what New York hospitality is built on and Zobler’s staff have have this approach down, to such an extent that we were left looking for the tip jar. Complete with lab style white coats, common place in American Deli’s, we were guided through the real showcase menu items including Blistered Padron peppers, the signature Zobler’s Reuben, Bone Marrow, the Tower Salmon Platter and the Pastrami Burger.
With the winter chill that’s descended on London we opted for a Matzo Ball Soup to start partnered with the Pastrami & Cheese Fries that arrived overflowing with mouthwatering melted cheese and warm pastrami. The fluffy matzo balls married with quality chicken stock and soft, sweet carrots made this a real winner and a ‘must order’ starter.
Although showing promise on first bite, the Bone Marrow and Pastrami Burger proved an overindulgent main, particularly following our choice of starter. Served with a heap of toasted rye and beef cheek marmalade the marrow was overly rich and more fitting as a share option than one to tackle solo. With another healthy portion of Pastrami, the Burger ensured our evening meat quota was met.
With just enough room for dessert, the NY cheesecake was a no brainer. An alternate take on a classic, the Zobler’s cheesecake is made without sugar and, with its heft and cheesy edge, left us feeling defeated to Zobler’s portion sizes and intense flavours.
The stunning interiors, exceptional service and electric atmosphere make The Ned a unique hangout. With seven other restaurants, a full serviced spa, roof terrace, 250 rooms, the Vault bar and an underground swimming pool, there’s plenty more to keep discovering under this amazing roof.
We were kindly hosted by The Ned, however all opinions are our own.