Scotch Eggs: the Scottish way.
How do you like your eggs in the morning? I like 'em with haggis, ever since tasting Mark Sargeant's game changing creation. I got my teeth into these bad boys at his latest restaurant Sargeant's Mess. This being his first standalone site in the capital - following on from the award-winning AA Double Rosette Rocksalt in Folkestone. With years of experience under his belt - having gained 3 Michelin Stars while working at Sous Chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and opening the acclaimed Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's where he was Head Chef for several years - Sargeant now turns his gaze to the river.
So I took my other half and we made a beeline for said river. Nestled between London Bridge and the Tower of London, this latest venture is named after the room in which the armed forces eat their meals. The diner and café aim to showcase the best of British dining, using locally sourced produce and quality ingredients. Both spaces are light and airy, with high ceilings and huge windows. Our table faced the water, with gorgeous views of the bridge. With a terrace boasting beautiful views of the Thames and the iconic Tower Bridge, it's easy to see why Sargeant chose this stunning location in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces. Tearing ourselves away from the view, we order drinks, which revolve around twists on classic cocktails, like The Burrough Negroni (£9) and The Sargeants Mess (£8.50); the signature aperitif.
Working with chef Simon Oakley, Mark describes the menu as "elevated pub food." I dig in to the aforementioned Haggis Scotch Egg (£8.75) a perfectly cooked egg incased in a meaty shell, served with gem lettuce and a tangy tomato chutney. For the main event, we choose a Roast Red Onion and Gruyère Tart (£13.50) and a moreish Suet Pudding (£16.50) with creamy mash, mushy peas and a succulent gravy. For puddings we go for tarts; from Bakewell (£5.50) to Treacle (£5.50), though we hear the Strawberry and Vanilla Cheesecake (£4.50) also packs a punch. City slickers can visit Sargeant's Mess Café in the morning, or dig in to afternoon tea and bottomless brunch at the weekend. With ambitions to open multiple sites around the city, we'll be keeping an eye on this one.
You can find Sargeant's Mess at Tower of London, The Wharf, St Katharine's & Wapping, London, EC3N 4AB. The café is open daily from 8am to 4pm, while the restaurant and bar operate from 9am to 9pm from Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sunday.
