It seems like only last month that we had the closing down week at the old City Boot on Moorfields. All is well, though, because our City Boot has been reincarnated on the Highwalk between the Museum and Alban Gate. Like the old location, not everyone is going to find it easily so let’s get the word out.
Similarly to our old haunt, there is a long bar in the centre of the venue with masses of room for the drinkers. It is a peculiarity of mine that I felt very at home with the leather chairs and dark panelling in the old pub. The new City Boot maintains the style of a gentleman’s club with a discrete private dining area and quaint panelled zones around the circumference of the dining room.
One of the quirky nooks around the circumference of the main dining area
This is clever styling; some 10 or so quirky nooks are so much more fun to eat at that most tables in traditional layouts. I loved the mix and match of tapestry, leather and wooden chairs so you can generally pick your seating to your taste if it isn’t busy.
We arrived for lunch and what looked like a fun office birthday party in the centre of the restaurant, but that didn’t bother us in our window enclave.
Delightfully light window table
The staff made us very welcome but we know that this is not just “reviewer love” because we were there last week with a friend ahead of this visit. So we’ve sampled quite a few dishes from the menu already by now!
The menu is very flexible so you can enjoy City Boot for a quick bite or a sumptuous blow-out.
We started with some very tasty olives which we nibbled on while we contemplated our tasting strategy!
Gordal olives with orange and wild oregano (£3.90)
There is a good selection of wine which ranges in price from about £18 per bottle. My partner and I have different tastes, so it’s great that they also serve most by the glass.
Wine by the glass ranges from £5.25.
A Corbières for me and a Burgundy Pinot Noir for my partner having been ordered, we nailed down the order with our charming and eager waitress.
Starters
Last week, a friend of mine who tours with the Birmingham Royal Ballet was staying with us and so we brought her to City Boot for a quick lunch. My husband had the Wild mushroom starter and inevitably I had stolen some, so this time around I should have chosen something else, but it was so delicious last time that I couldn’t resist it. Please try this if you love mushrooms!
Wild mushrooms on garlic and rosemary toast with basil pesto starter (£7.50)
My partner was smarter than I was and started with the less-filling Homemade soup; Butternut, definitely homemade and quite filling in itself.
Homemade soup of the day with bread (£5.50)
Other starters:
Plate of smoked salmon, smoked salmon pâté, watercress, potato and horseradish salad £7.95
Duck liver pâté with toasted sourdough bread and pickled cucumber, onions and cornichons £7.25
Cornish crab cakes with dill mayonnaise £8.25
Baked goat’s cheese salad with beetroot and honey and lemon dressing £6.75
Main courses
For the main course, I was tempted by the bangers and mash (as last time) but I’m saving them for another visit.
Davy’s angers and mash with Madeira gravy and homemade onion rings (£12.50/£13.95)
Caesar salad is a favourite of mine, and this one didn’t disappoint. The smoked chicken was a new twist for me and the salad was topped off with a cheesy crisp slice instead of shaved Parmesan.
Smoked chicken Caesar salad (£12.95)
My partner chose the steak with peppercorn sauce. I prompted for feedback but she was so busy enjoying it that there wasn’t much in the way of constructive feedback other than a contented ecstatic smile between mouthfuls. What could I do but lean over for a bite? The steak was deliciously moist and tender and prepared perfectly. The sauce was also excellent and presented in a mini serving saucepan on the side. I thought this was a good idea because you can then choose to pour or dip as much as you want to. The side dish of triple cooked chips was a large portion and so I felt compelled to ease her burden there too!
Sirloin (220g, aged for 28 days) including hand cut triple cooked chips (£21.95) with Green Peppercorn sauce (£2.00)
On the previous visit, my friend had selected the duck, which was also delicious: skin crispy and flesh melting off the bone. I snapped a picture so that you can see how well it was prepared.
Crispy duck confit, seasonal greens, warm bacon dressing (£14.50)
Other main courses:
Fish and triple cooked chips with tartare sauce and minted pea purée £14.50
Wild mushroom risotto with Portobello mushroom, kale and Ticklemore £13.95
Ploughman’s plate of home-baked ham, cheddar cheese, black pudding Scotch egg, bread and pickles £13.50
Davy’s steak burger, lettuce, beef tomato, house mayonnaise and dill pickle served in a toasted brioche bun with fries £12.95
(can be served naked with market salad)
Add: Ogleshield cheese and streaky bacon £2.00
Upgrade to triple cooked chips £1.00
Alternatively if you fancy a salad, then apart from the Caesar, the menu also has:
Superfood salad with grilled halloumi, edamame beans, quinoa and avocado £12.95
Steaks are sourced by Donald Russell from UK beef grass-fed outdoors for a mellow flavour.
The meat is cooked to order and served with hand cut triple cooked chips.
Pavé rump (200g, aged for 35 days) (£18.95) and my partner’s choice, Sirloin (220g, aged for 28 days) (£21.95)
Steak extras include: Homemade onion rings (£3.50) and Fried free-range egg (£1.00).
Steak sauces include: Béarnaise, Mushroom and Whisky, Green Peppercorn (£2.00 each).
Sides include:
Triple cooked chips £4.25/£5.95
Skinny fries £3.50/£4.95
Broccoli with lemon, almonds and chilli £3.75 which I enjoyed so much on my previous visit that I forgot to snap it.
Creamed spinach £3.95
Market salad (£3.95)
Heritage tomato and basil salad (£3.95)
For afters, there is a good selection of British Cheese served with grapes, chutney and biscuits:
Tuxford and Tebbutt Stilton made in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire (Cow’s milk cheese, pasteurised)
Somerset Brie made by Lubborn Creamery in Somerset (Soft cow’s milk cheese, pasteurised)
Westcombe Cheddar made by Tom Calver in Somerset (Hard cow’s milk cheese, unpasteurised)
Ticklemore made by Debbie Mumford in Devon (Hard goat’s milk cheese, pasteurised)
One cheese £4.00
Two cheeses £7.00
Three cheeses £10.00
The dessert menu was just right for our tastes; not too much to choose from, perfectly formed and irresistible.
The manager, Alex, recommended the interestingly titled Flourless chocolate cake, so I took the bait. This gorgeous piece of deliciousness was rich and thick and it was about now that my husband popped by for a drink reminding me that I had stolen some of his mushroom starter the other day. I was filling up nicely by this time so I shared half my chocolate cake with him.
Flourless chocolate cake with crème fraiche (£6.95)
My partner chose the lighter Treacle tart, but frankly, as we looked from table to table, any one of these desserts would have hit the sweet tooth spot.
Treacle tart with clotted cream (£6.50)
Other desserts:
Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce £6.50
Bramley apple and blackberry crumble with custard £5.95
Overwhelmingly, I would recommend a visit to the new City Boot. No need to rush, though; this is definitely a comfortable restaurant to enjoy and take in the décor with a menu you can relish so take your time.
Bookings 020 7600 6377
City Boot,
125 London Wall,
3 Bastion High Walk,
Moorgate,
London,
EC2Y 5AP
Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 22:00
Weekends: Closed
