New chef at Maida Vale’s canal side restaurant, The Waterway

One of Maida Vale’s best neighbourhood restaurants, The Waterway, renowned for its great food, fabulous location on Regent’s Canal and expansive all-weather terrace, takes things up a notch with the arrival of new Head Chef, Mahrez Loukal.

With  over  20  years  of  experience  including head chef positions at the  Michelin-starred Chez Bruce, The  Wallace Collection and Quaglino’s as well as at a number of Paris brasseries, Mahrez uses his classical French training (Alain Ducasse Cooking School) and locally sourced ingredients to create refined modern European dishes.

From winter comfort dishes to the best of British spring produce, through to an elevated barbecue and al fresco rotisserie menu come summer, The Waterway is open for leisurely lunches and dinner dates, lazy weekend brunches and hearty Sunday roasts. And with an intimate bar and a fantastic riverside terrace and garden, it’s one of London’s hottest drinking spots.

The menu kicks off with starters such as veal carpaccio with horseradish and truffle vinaigrette, duck rillettes with sourdough; and sashimi tuna tartare with cucumber and soy. Main courses run the gamut from grills featuring prime cuts of steak and lamb sitting through to a range of gourmet burgers including pork, portobello mushroom, chicken and British beef. Roasted fish and the Chef’s signature lobster and crayfish roll appeal to seafood lovers whilst zesty salads include burrata and pomegranate. Decadent desserts come in the form of gooey chocolate brownie, pecan pie and winter berry crème brûlée.

Weekends at The Waterway are a leisurely affair with brunch from 10am until 1pm every weekend. Start as you mean to go on with a selection of freshly-baked, homemade viennoiserie, before choosing from a range of eggy dishes served with the likes of spiced avocado, grilled Toulouse sausages, gammon or smoked salmon. For a Mediterranean twist on a full English, the Canal Breakfast comes with poached eggs, confit peppers, sundried  tomatoes, baby spinach, hummous, basil pesto, pine nuts and a warm brioche and there’s also a range of healthy options sitting alongside freshly pressed juices and revitalising smoothies.

Come Sundays, The Waterway puts on a traditional roast served with all the trimmings including Yorkshire puddings and lashings of gravy – best served with a spicy Bloody Mary or a robust red.

The menu is complemented by a carefully curated wine list featuring an accessible and interesting range of New and Old World wines including British bins and a larger than average selection of chilled rosés. With choices starting at just £19.75 and wines available by the glass, carafe and bottle, there’s plenty of choice to suit varied palates and budgets.

The cocktail menu includes classics together with signature serves such as Basil Smash – Hendrick’s Gin, lemon juice, Thai basil leaves and raspberry; and the Cabana – coconut , passionfruit, Malibu, Passoa and prosecco.

Interiors

Decked in polished dark wood and furnished with plush burgundy leather seating, the interiors create an aura of approachable elegance and comfort. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural daylight to flood through the venue, while the large central bar elegantly divides the stylish restaurant from the cosy lounge bar, where a roaring fire sets the scene for the perfect night out.

The Terrace & Lower Garden

Boasting one of the largest outdoor spaces in the capital with enviable canal-side views, The Waterway’s fully heated terrace provides the perfect spot for al fresco drinking and dining, come rain or shine. Kick back with a refreshing craft beer and feast on barbecued delights from the outside kitchen, which operates throughout the summer or, pull up a pew in the Lower Garden, available for exclusive hire, and soak up the sun in the leafy surroundings.

Exclusive Hire – Under The Waterway

Venture below deck to the spacious private lounge and dining room which features its own dedicated bar and adjoining terrace. Alongside a regular changing schedule of events, including live music and comedy, the room is perfect for exclusive hire. The unique self-service prosecco, beer and wine station encourages guests to purchase drinks by the keg load, adding a fun element to any private booking.

Offering all day dining, The Waterway is open from 12pm to 11pm (Monday to Friday) and 10am to 11pm (Saturday and Sunday).

The Waterway, 54 Formosa Street, London W9 2JU; http://www.thewaterway.co.uk/; http://www.thewaterway.co.uk/reservations/

 

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