1802, Nrst Tube West India Quay

Museum of London Docklands’ restaurant is 1802. It provides the best in modern British food, referred to as  “… a menu that pushes all the right buttons” by The Square Meal Guide. It is the perfect environment in which to relax and eat and step away from the hustle and bustle of the Wharf for lunch or evening drinks.

No.1 Warehouse
Hertsmere Road
West India Quay
E14 4AL

Full review

Looking back on when I first came to work at Canary Wharf I seem to have only good memories- no worries about job security or bonuses, less pressure in the workplace and an overall sense of excitement about being in the ‘new city’ as I watched it being built from my office window. So many of my memories of those days seem to involve lunch hours or after work drinks sat outside a bar basking in the sun at West India Quay. Happy days, but I hadn’t been over there in years. That was until last week, when one of the girls in the office returned from lunch smiling and with a windswept red face. At the first sight of the sun in months her and a few friends had again ventured over to West India Quay and lunched al fresco! I was jealous, recollections of those care free lunches away from the hustle and bustle of the sandwich and coffee shops of Canary Wharf flooded back and I decided that I’d try the same place, 1802, tomorrow, and even take the opportunity to write a review for the site.

The next day arrived and, accompanied by my best-male-office-friend, I nervously crossed the bridge from the safety of the Wharf to the beautiful old warehouse built on the water’s front. Ok, it was freezing, so no chance to sit outside, but as I entered the warmth of this bar/restaurant I was once again struck by my surroundings. Built in 1802, as the name suggests, the setting is amazing. The cavernous brick and wood beamed hall is a million miles from the polished glass and steel of the Wharf and I instantly felt a million miles from the office.
My colleague had told me that her food had been great the day before and I’d gone all morning without snacking to make sure I was hungry. My stomach rumbled as I studies the menu: scottish rib-eye steak with watercress & béarnaise sauce, salmon steak with rocket & dill butter- all classic British dishes with a modern twist.

Our starters arrived promptly, pretty important when you’re trying to cram a few courses into a lunch hour, beetroot and british goats cheese salad for him and a classic caeser salad for me. I love caeser salad when it’s done well- and it certainly was here. Crispy, fresh lettuce, a creamy sauce and 3 largish ordinary looking croutons that were surprisingly tasty.  My BMOF tucked in to his dish, barely leaving any for me to taste! It was a good salad and they hadn’t scrimped on the goats cheese- it was stacked with big lumps of the stuff. We washed the starters down with soft drinks from the quality Fentimans range, we did have to get back to work after all, but succumbed to a large glass of red each with the main course.

for the first time ever, I fully understood and agreed with a wine’s description!

The Chilean Monte Verde Cab Sav was described as ‘full bodied with aromas of chocolate, tobbaco and red fruits’ and I don’t know if it was because I was writing a review, but, for the first time ever, I fully understood and agreed with a wine’s description! The wine was lovely and the perfect accompaniment to my main course:  Scottish Sirloin Steak with watercress & peppercorn sauce. The steak was cooked perfectly and was probably too much for me to eat, but I gave it my best go. It was tender and tasty and very filling! His Barnsley lamb chop with minted gravy must have been good, because again I was left very little of it to try. He actually said it was the best piece of lamb he’d had! Ever! And I must agree that it was very good. We ordered a dessert between us, baked custard tart with crushed raspberries. We tucked in with two spoons- it was almost romantic! Again I felt a million miles from the office- and BMOF, if you’re reading this, don’t get any ideas! The dish wasn’t quite what I’d expected- it was creamy and almost cheesecake like, but I still managed to force some into my already full stomach

We looked at our watches like Cinderella awaiting the end of our lunch where we’d be transported back across the bridge to work. A young man introduced himself as Mark, the manager, and asked how our meal was. We told him it was very good and I admitted that I was actually writing a review and that he’d have to log on to WeAreTheCity to see if it was favourable!! The offers of a drink on the house were turned down, I have to remain impartial you understand, but I did take his card to give to the boss with a glowing recommendation of a great WATC find and maybe even a venue for a future event.

I hadn’t been to 1802 in years but was sure glad I’d made the trip.

I hadn’t been to 1802 in years but was sure glad I’d made the trip. I told Mark that for the first time ever I’d agreed with the wine description, tobacco and chocolate and all that, and he told me how they’d had rival companies in at the same time pitching their wines across a two day tasting, X-Factor, or rather Wine-Factor style! Now there’s a judging panel I’d like to join, even if it meant sitting between Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole!

So that was that, lunch was over and we stepped out into the cold air and made the short stroll back across to Cabot Square and wondered why we hadn’t been over the bridge to West India Quay in years…. We won’t leave it so long next time! - JT

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