Patrick Powell (ex-Chiltern), serves modern Euro cuisine in very uptown surroundings at Allegra. Set on the 7th floor of the impressive Manhattan Loft Gardens, book a room and make a special night of it. Patrick gives us some of his favourite London and global spots – and from his answers, sounds like we’d get along great!
UJ: What are your favourite London restaurants?
P: The Ledbury every time for special occasions. Black Axe Mangal is also great – it always delivers.
UJ: Where do you go to celebrate?
P: For friends and hospitality friends’ birthdays, we love to go to Xi’an Biang Biang Noodles. It’s cheap, delicious and fun.
UJ: Favourite international restaurant?
P: Septime in Paris.
UJ: Most interesting dish you’ve seen on other menus recently?
P: The fried curry cheese bao at the new Bao in Borough is so delicious and familiar. The space is amazing too.
UJ: Favourite dish you’re cooking at Allegra?
P: We are doing a whole roast chicken for two to share at the moment. We present it to the guests as a whole bird, and then bring it back to the kitchen and carve it. We then do a second serve of the thigh. It is a lot of fun to cook and guests love the ceremony.
UJ: Do you have a favourite spot in London that’s a bit of a hidden gem or that we might not know about?
P: Umut 2000, a late night Turkish place in Dalston. It’s open till 2am, always buzzy and the food is delicious.
UJ: What chef should we have our eyes on? Someone who is inspiring you?
P: Kirk Haworth from Plates restaurant. His overall food knowledge is incredible.
UJ: Favourite thing about Allegra?
P: The space itself and the location. It is a little bit of a journey to get to us so we always have to deliver. The room has a real wow factor when people walk in and has so many layers of detail.
