Rosarium Has Made A Brilliant Start To Life

The whimsical world of Rosarium has been open for three months now and quite frankly we couldn’t be happier with what they have brought to The Sidings with their immersive dining experience and sublime customer service. 

Just in case you are one of the few that’s not been able to visit yet, we thought we’d give you an overview of the experience. Having visited ourselves and seen over 80 reviews on Google, giving them a 4.7 out of 5 rating, we felt it was a good time to showcase what everyone is talking about.

The Dining Experience

We have to start by talking about the restaurant itself and the many varied areas that it utilises to give the diner a unique experience – meaning you can return multiple times and it feels fresh each time. If you are planning to take a large group of people, then we’d suggest booking into the glasshouse space. If it’s drinks and food with a group of mates, then check out the Indoor Terrace. Looking for an intimate evening with that special someone? Then you can eat in the Secret Garden.

We’d also like to make a special mention of the chainmail wall, one of our favourite restaurant features anywhere, which is used to section off the private dining area.

We might be closing in on winter but whilst the temperature remains warm in this Indian Summer, why not make the most of the new outdoor seating area they now have. Lovely food and people-watching, what’s not to love…

Let’s talk toilets. What?!?! I know, it might seem a strange thing to mention but when we are talking about the overall dining experience it’s hard not to mention them because they are so unique. All we’ll say for now is dark, fish wallpaper, mirrored – now you’re intrigued…

Prepare To Be Surprised

And now for the real reason you should all be rushing downstairs to Rosarium, the exquisite menu, which does evolve as the weeks roll by. So whilst we will mention some of the personal choices that we’ve feasted on, don’t shout at us if they are no longer on the menu when you visit!

Special mention for the starters, no predictable bruschetta or garlic bread in sight, instead you can choose from crab cupcakes, herb-crusted sardines or steak tartare. Unusual and tasty, they make for a dining delight without filling you up before the main course. Speaking of which…

‘Fish in a chip’ messes with your mind as much as you’d expect by the name, but it’s worth trying, we promise. We could try to be erudite and clever with how we explain the dish but at the end of the day, it’s a fish inside a massive chip, enough said.

On a more traditional level, we have roasted duck, but this being Rosarium it comes with a twist. When did your duck last come with salt-baked pineapple and turnip & nut puree? I’m guessing never!

If you are looking for a vegan surprise, they have you sorted – no boring tomato pasta or chickpea curry here. The trio of roots and shoots is accompanied by lovely Jerusalem Artichokes and wild mushrooms.

Room for dessert? Let’s hope you have because classics like cinnamon churros partner delightful sounding alternatives like iced affogato with Cointreau mist – although our personal choice would be The Rose Garden. In the reviews, the desserts are unsurprisingly some of the most mentioned plates.

‘The food truly lived up to our expectations (especially the Champagne Trifle which was genuinely the craziest dessert I ever had in the UK!‘

The menu at Rosarium is an experience in itself, but don’t take our word for it, let us share one of the many 5-star reviews in the last few months that sums up the menu beautifully

‘The food is incredible – a must try is the pork belly. My friend had the steak which she said was one of the best she has had. The atmosphere is lovely and the staff very warm and welcoming. Can’t wait to go back to try out some more of the menu, including the Champagne Trifle which sounds pretty immense.‘

A Boozy Ending

To accompany your meal, you have all the usual drinks options, but we are not here for the basic options, so we’ll immediately point you at their signature and self-titled cocktail, The Rosarium – Vodka, hibiscus tea, lemon, sweet violet and foamer bitters.

If for some reason that doesn’t grab your attention, then why not try the Underland which has a Tequila kicker combined with spicy bitters and ancho reyes. 

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten our tea-totallers. The Rosehip is a peach-based cocktail, that’s 0% alcohol and 100% delicious! As one recent customer put it…

‘A special mention to the cocktails that are as tasty as they are theatrical.‘

How do we finish our review of the best new restaurant to hit the Southbank in 2023? 

Well, we’ve mentioned the surroundings, the food and the drinks but it would be remiss of us not to mention the people that bring the whole experience together – the staff. If you were to scroll through the multiple 5-star reviews on Google or Open Table, you’d see so many mention the great service they received. Here’s just one example from last month

‘Our waitress Alicia was lovely and attentive to our table all evening.‘

We can certainly say our time in the restaurant matches that of others. Attentive, helpful and frankly fun service. And that does feel like the most appropriate adjective to end on – fun. Rosarium is the perfect combination of high-quality food, lovely drinks and a fun setting. But keeping with the spirit of the article, let’s allow one of their customer reviews to end it all for us.

‘The food here is seriously good. The beef tartar was one of the best I’ve had and even the bread is worth shouting about. We shared a bunch of mains between the table and each of them was as delicious as the next, although a special shout out to the hake which was just so tasty. The desserts are stunningly presented and v indulgent.‘

‘Excellent service too and all in a beautiful, creative and out of the ordinary setting – what more could you ask for!‘