As you walk into The Delaunay, you enter a world of elegance, luxury, and tradition. Situated on the corner of Aldwych and Drury Lane, this place is 1940s glamour and style at its best. With leather green banquettes, brass rails, dark wooden flooring, an antique French clock, and a black and white marble floor, this is pure luxury as it should be.
The Delaunay’s owners, Jeremy King and Chris Corbin have looked to the grand cafés of Old Europe for inspiration, as they did when launching The Wolseley in 2003.
The café and bar area leads through to the main dining room while next door is the Counter ( a café serving savouries, cakes and coffee, with takeaway available). The menu runs from breakfast to dinner, including afternoon tea. Riding on casots is a glass topped trolley full of teatime treats – lemon and praline millefeuille, Black Forest gateau and a selection of classic Austrian cakes, to name a few, all made in-house.
Dishes are a symphony of distinct European flavours. The menu is divided into sections: Soups, Starters, Salads, Eggs, Fish, Weiners, Crustacea and Caviar, Plats du Jours, Fish, Schnizels, Entrées, Savouries, Cakes, Coupés. The Delaunay aims to be an all-day operation. All dishes are simple, unfussy and perfectly cooked.
Starters include steak tartare and smoked salmon plates; mains include kedgeree and choucroute à l’Alsacienne. There’s also a good choice of sausages including the käsekrainer served with potato salad, sauerkraut and caramelised onions. Keep your eye on the dish of the day, from chicken curry, to fish stew and goulash, each are good hearty dishes cooked exceptionally. For dessert, options include Salzburg soufflé, Scheiterhaufen with crème fraîche and blackberry and pear crumble. And don’t even think about leaving without trying the ice cream coupes. The Lucian is made with hazelnut, almond and pistachio ice creams, whipped cream and butterscotch sauce. If you’ve still got some room left, indulge in some chocolate truffles or the ‘kardinal’ coffee slice, or if you’re more of a savoury fan go for the Käse rarebit.
In short, The Delaunay offers very up-market comfort food. There’s something for everyone, at prices that aren’t greedy given the setting, the high-class service and the quality of the menu.
| 55 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BB | Transport: Covent Garden or Temple tubes, or Charing Cross tube/rail |
| Telephone: +44 020 7499 8558 | Opening Times: Breakfast served 7:00-11:30 Mon-Fri; 8:00-11:00 Sat. Brunch served 11:00-17:00 Sat, Sun. Tea served 15:00-18.30 daily. Meals served 11:30-00:00 Mon-Sat; 11:30-23:00 Sun |
| Price per head: Dinner for two with wine and service: around £120 | Website |
