This restaurant has now closed.
Located on the 17th floor of the fashionable M by Montcalm Hotel and overlooking a bustling Old Street, Urban Coterie is a restaurant, bar and members’ lounge known for its impressive views, high-grade cuisine and delicious cocktail offering. I visited on a Tuesday evening to find this unique East London outpost in expectantly fine fettle.
The Venue
Laden with light colours, geometric adornments and a wooden floor throughout, the first thing that'll hit you when entering Urban Coterie is just how open the space feels. Lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, all guests will enjoy a sky-high view of the surrounding city, from pretty much every table. Though predominantly food-focussed, you'll also notice there's a separate bar, dining room and seating area, perfect for a drink-with-a-difference, or of course, for an impressive private hire event. The colour scheme mainly consists of crisp creams and luxurious golds, with the restaurant injecting some character with hanging modern features, sitting-pretty above the main dining space. Overall, the décor creates a contemporary, fresh effect - equally as fitting for a chic brunch with friends as for a romantic evening meal for two.
Urban Coterie are now taking drinks-only bookings at their impressive bar.
The Food & Drink
Urban Coterie is a collaboration between Searcys (mainly known for their champagne bars) and Michelin-trained chef Anthony Demetre, so it'll come as no surprise the food on offer here is pretty special. I was expecting a high quality and interesting plates, but the thing that struck me the most about the food was its seemly-simple eloquence. I use the word 'seemingly' as there was in fact nothing simple about the innovative flavour combinations and perfectly paired accompaniments. Every plate we tried was as aesthetically pleasing as it was damn tasty, each packed with flavour and a brilliantly-high level of sophistication - but at the same time the menu is unfussy, accessible and non-pretentious. Highlights were the slow cooked lamb (served with pearl barley, market vegetables and Scottish broth- £7) for starters, and the Iberico pork shoulder (with black olives, artichoke and shallots - £19) as a main dish; both of which were beautifully presented with a powerful hit of flavour. Drinks-wise, as well as a number of complementary wines, the Urban Coterie bar also boasts a varied range of expertly-mixed, gorgeous cocktails worth checking out too.
Think classic cuisine with a contemporary touch at Urban Coterie.
The Atmosphere
I visited on a Tuesday night so the restaurant wasn't overly busy. You can't help feeling not enough people are shouting about Urban Coterie. Sure, it's not cheap-as-chips, but to be honest it's well priced for the level of service, ambience and cuisine you're receiving - and when you take that into consideration, this is a destinational London restaurant that will no doubt stand out from the crowd in the near future. Since their launch, they have been gaining momentum, and the service has to be part of that. Every one of our servers were extra polite, and all had a great knowledge of the food and drink too - which really adds to the experience at a place like this.
Come here for weekend brunches, business lunches or romantic dinners alike.
Summary
From the interiors to the excellent service, the killer cocktails to the beautiful plates of food - the effort Urban Coterie make to ensure everyone enjoys their experience does not go unnoticed. Even taking the views out of it; once the word really gets out, this sky-high palace is an easy contender as one of Shoreditch's best restaurants. And with that, is well worth discovering for yourself.
