View from Babylon at Kensington Roof Gardens

Babylon at Kensington Roof Gardens has been on Jeff and my bucket list for a while now, so a couple of weeks ago we decided to get dressed up and treat ourselves to Saturday lunch. It’s not something we normally do – most Saturdays we’ll be found lounged about the flat in our pjs! – but it was a nice change to our routine and also fun to head out to West London.

All dressed up for Saturday lunch!

Cocktail: Babylon Sling

Starter: Mi Cuit Salmon

Main: Beetroot and Haloumi Kofta

Dessert: Pumpkin Tart with Ginger Ice Cream

Babylon offers a set menu on Saturdays with two courses for £25 or three for £29, and with views like that it really is a good deal in London! We planned to indulge with three courses, so planned for a late lunch around 2pm. Luckily, we didn’t need a reservation for such a late hour.

To make the most of our Saturday lunch out, we started the meal with cocktails. I love a good gin cocktail, and the Babylon Sling certainly delivered: Tanqueray gin, apricot brandy, Cherry Heering, home-made grenadine, bitters and lemon and pineapple juice. Lightened with a touch of soda for a long, fruity sling. While I stopped at one, I easily could have drunk these straight into the evening.

For a starter I opted for the Mi Cuit Salmon: cured Scottish salmon with a tomato gazpacho and coriander purée. The salmon and gazpacho were light and refreshing, while the coriander purée was wonderfully zesty. For a cold dish it wasn’t served too cold (you know how it is – sometimes you get cold food served freezing, but not this time!) and while it wasn’t a hearty portion it was just the right amount for a first course.

For the mains I selected another light dish, the Beetroot and Haloumi Kofta: served with broad bean hummus, black tahini, shaved beetroot and mustard leaf salad and pomegranate molasses dressing. Well flavoured and incredibly scrumptious, this vegetarian take on a traditional meat kofta was truly enjoyable. Like the starter it was a light dish, so there was still room for a third course!

When it was time to order dessert, there was no debate from me: when I saw the pumpkin tart on the menu, I knew that was what i was going to have! Served with crumbled pistachios and dallops of burnt orange caramel, this was one of the better pumpkin tarts I’ve had in London, and the scoop of ginger ice cream really complemented the flavours.

It was a wonderful lunch, and I hope that Jeff agrees to go back soon!

Which restaurants are on your London bucket list? Where would you recommend checking out?