Food review: Summer menu at Camden Town’s The Foundry

In light of this season’s belated sunshine, the Foundry in Camden Town has been opening up its terrace to a whole host of visitors sporting sunglasses and floral dresses. To sate this surge of al fresco dining, they have also created a new summer menu full of light options – perfect for those trying to keep their bikini bodies in check.

Visiting last Friday, my guest and I sampled an evening meal which began with their famous cocktails. Opting for a fittingly continental, dry gin Negroni, I could have quite happily continued to explore their substantial list all night. With an offer of two cocktails for £10 lasting until 8pm each night, it represents good value for what is a consistently exotic and varied selection.

Similarly good value are their small plates/starters. With another deal of four plates for £10, they are styled like up-market tapas dishes, but boast a range of cuisine that extends even beyond the continent. We tried the crab salad and seared scallops and both were presented with an eastern accompaniment of wasabi, yuzu and Chinese cabbage. The rich, zesty dressings and cool, fresh fish meant that, like the cocktails, it was hard not to further investigate their entire collection of plates, which are perfect to share over an airy lunch.

Of course in the evening time, most are in the mood for a more substantial meal. For £13, the chicken, parma ham & asparagus roulade proved an excellent choice. The ballotine of chicken was cooked expertly, fluffy but still moist, and the parma ham was so flavoursome it was more akin to smoked salmon. For a further £7, the rack of lamb was coated in a deliciously thick and peppery mustard crust and again was cooked rare to perfection.

Further innovation could be found in the dessert. A white chocolate bamboo log turned out to be exactly that; a crunchy cylinder of white chocolate, dusted with pistachio to look like a log, filled with a creamy chilled ganache that made for a highly indulgent but equally enjoyable dessert.

With nightly entertainment from adjoined-sister venue The Forge – in this case the endearing and madcap folk music of Josienne Clarke – there was a fantastic and informal atmosphere accompanied by prompt, polite service. The Foundry has grown in reputation to become known as one of Camden’s classiest nights out, but with their new menu, it should prove equally as popular during hours of daylight. Whether it’s a light snack or a full three course meal, there is plenty of quality food and entertainment to far outweigh the reasonable price tags.

For more information on pricing and menus, visit foundrycamden.co.uk