Axis, WC2B 4BZ
- (020) 7300 0300
- 1 Aldwych (map of this place)
- WC2B 4BZ
- onealdwych.com/restaur...
- Lunch: Mon-Fri noon-2:45pm, Dinner: Mon-Fri 5:45pm-10:45pm, Sat 5:45pm-11:30pm
We went here on my birthday after an afternoon spent in Holborn Bierodrome, so I might have been a little tipsy. I really, really liked it. Yes, it's one of those somewhat posh places where the waiters pull your chair out for you and then put it back under you, but it wasn't pretentious at all. They didn't bat an eyelid at us checking a scruffy school rucksack and a folding bicycle into the cloakroom, and they didn't seem to mind me telling half the staff that it was my birthday and I was happy.
I started with white tomato soup, which was creamy and subtly tomatoey, and yes, very white. Richard's crispy duck salad was really quite good, too. My main course was summer truffle risotto — the best risotto I've ever tasted, finished with truffle oil, a couple of truffle shavings, and some slightly superfluous Parmesan shavings (which I left on the side). Wow, that was good, the texture and flavour just right.
There's live jazz on Tuesday and Wednesday nights; the night we were there, a bassist, a guitarist and a female singer, all good, and not obtrusive at all.
I like it here and want to go back. --Kake
The food is not overpriced for the quality you get, and the pre- and post- theatre menus (under £20 for three courses) are even better value. I didn't see the wine prices though. [Prices as of July 2003]
Axis is part of the One Aldwych hotel. Its name comes from its location “where the City of London meets the West End”.