Allegra: London’s Hidden Gem

It’s rare to go to a restaurant and immediately think it’s art. That happened. It happened at Allegra in Stratford.

I know what you’re thinking: how can you get an incredible restaurant in the deep(ish) East of London? The answer, I don’t know, but it’s real.

Atmosphere

Allegra is part of the Manhattan Loft Gardens, one of Stratford’s most iconic buildings, which is also home to The Stratford hotel. Travel up to the 7th floor, and you will be welcomed by a beautiful New York style restaurant, with a serene outdoor area fit with waterfalls and sofas. Perfect for Manhattan, I mean London in the sun.

The restaurant also has some incredible live music on Sunday lunchtimes, and I’m not talking your everyday background tunes, I’m talking proper music. If you’re a neo-soul lover like me, you will have to stop yourself singing along, but it’ll be worth it for the food.

Food & Drink

Not many times have I gone to a restaurant and thought of the food as art. Not just based on how it’s presented, but because of the beautiful and unusual flavours and ingredients combined. The food, created by Patrick Powell, ex-head chef at the Chiltern Firehouse, really did take my breath away.

The menu at Allegra on the surface seems pretty standard; barbecued beef, chicken, gnocchi and roasted fish, but trust me it’s not. There’s no way to explain the explosion of flavours behind every bite, so I’m not going to try.

Price

Considering the quality of food, Allegra is a steal. You can enjoy a starter, main, side and dessert for less than £65 per person.

The wine list is huge, and ranges from £36 for a bottle of white, to £690 to pop some Dom Perignon. Cocktails are on average £13 and a beer is around £7.

Overall

Allegra is a hidden gem. I would go all out and say it is one of my favourite restaurants in London. The food, the décor, the environment as a whole – and the fact that I can get there in about 10 minutes, are ingredients for a winning night.

I would highly recommend booking a table here.