Holy Carrot — Restaurant in London

Listen, somebody's spent a lot of money here recreating LA cool in the heart of Portobello. Walls of white waves created by a plasterer/sculptor of supreme skill. Terrazzo tiles I feel as if I should jettison shoes to walk over. Zig zag lighting. Jet Gwyneth in and you've got the whole package. A king's ransom dropped and yet, right at the point of interaction with those that are going to repay the investment, service from someone who hasn't read the LA "you're so welcome" script. She's a newbie and The Holy Carrot is still finding its feet so some slack must be cut. But when the abiding memory of the place isn't of wavy walls or excellent hispi cabbage or the groovy word benders populating the joint but of a waitress who was going to do it her way or the five lane highway, that's got to be a problem for patrons who are starting out on their road with a hefty debt to make up. Our Waitress's idiosyncracities were wide and varied. Her looming presence as she handed us our menus. She was busy, we needed to order NOW! Her refusal to allow us to order nibbles before we ordered mains because she'd 'prefer it if we ordered everything at the same time"'. Her love of Twister which we played every time she was passing and decided to take a plate with her even if we were still serving ourselves from it. And yet finished plates were still on the table after we paid the bill and departed. Apparently they don't have taps here. Bottled water was duly despatched. To be fair the water is unlimited past the cost of the first bottle, a deal too tempting not to take advantage of. "Remove those orchids would you please and bring me the vase." The food was a side show. But for the purposes of a balanced review and with respect to the kitchen staff, here goes. It was nice to try a vegan restaurant that wasn't using veganism as an excuse. We nibbled away like rabbits at some interesting raw veg ordered as a starter. All beautifully trimmed and beautifully crunchy though the dish was light on the good stuff that lurked beneath in the form of dressing. But the care taken over the dish made it fun to eat. No actual cooking but lots of thought. Veganism as it should be, not an apology but a celebration. Flatbreads were nothing of the sort. They came like donuts and were none the worse for it, topped with a beautifully bright red harissa. Leeks on a bed of a Romesco sauce would have been a winner but for the accompanying grit. Tender leek hearts charcoal grilled for extra robustness and the accompanying sauce rounded off the smokiness well. Chunks of Hispi cabbage came griddled on skewers. A more than adequate meat substitute in every way. The Indian seasoning and the skewered presentation providing real oomph. Satisfaction for both mouth and belly of which mine are ample. The puddings were awful.. Vegan pudding is rubbish so it was our fault for ordering but the chocolate mousse thing which was whipped with tahini was claggy enough to grease the bottom bracket of my old Condor steel frame. It's rare that I won't eat a dish I've ordered but the vanilla amazake was putrid. It may well have been executed correctly so I don't necessarily blame the chef but this stuff was horrible enough that I actually left it and given I have polished off Subway foot longs, tinned ravioli and whole bowls of lampredotto in my not too distant past, leaving a restaurant dish, a pudding one at that, is some going. Amazake it turns out is fermented rice. The description matches the dish. Rotten. The wine list was great. Lots of choice, lots of price brackets and our two glasses were fantastic. This was more luck than any judgement on my part but it's nice to know a lucky dip can produce such interesting and reasonably priced organic wines by the glass. Putrid pudding aside, The Holy Carrot is an interesting place to challenge yourself. But if swapping the zig zag lighting for an Osram lightbulb shaded by something from Ikea leaves more cash for the staff training programme it would be...

Get ready to immerse yourself in a deep dive into the culinary wonders of Holy Carrot in London. The experience started with a selection of house-pickled and fermented snacks. Among them, the fermented mushroom stood out spectacularly—the depth and complexity of its flavor was a revelation, with earthy, umami-rich notes brought to life by the fermentation process.

Moving on to the small plates, the beetroot cooked in a broth of cold blueberries and pine nuts offered an exquisite balance—sweet earthiness of the beetroot complemented by the tartness of blueberries and the subtle crunch of pine nuts. It was a harmony of texture and taste that felt both surprising and indulgent.

The grilled smoked watermelon with cashew cream and ponzu was another revelation—a playful dish where the smoky sweetness of the watermelon paired beautifully with the creamy richness of cashew and the bright umami hit from the ponzu. Each bite was a perfect balance of smoky, creamy, and tangy notes, making it one of the most memorable small plates I've ever tasted.

For the larger plates, the smoked carrots with harissa butter and bean purée were nothing short of a highlight. The smoky sweetness of the carrots combined with the spicy warmth of the harissa butter was a match made in heaven, while the bean purée added a comforting, velvety texture to round out the dish.

The grilled onion with wild garlic, smoked tofu crema, and orzo pasta, while tasty, didn’t quite deliver the same excitement. It had pleasant savory notes, but lacked that extra element of surprise. When you’re paying this price, you hope for every dish to leave a lasting impression.

For the sides, the summer leaf salad with mustard dressing was light, refreshing, and one of the best salads I’ve had—though the portion was on the smaller side.

For dessert, the matcha tiramisu was a good rendition of a classic, though it didn’t particularly stand out. However, the orange bergamot pudding with spiced custard was a revelation—beautifully balanced acidity and a rich, intriguing texture. The sweetness might have been a touch on the heavy side, but the vibrant citrus notes cut through perfectly, making it a must-try for dessert lovers.

Overall, Holy Carrot offers an unforgettable plant-based dining experience that’s full of surprises and bold flavors. One note for the future: elevating their coffee offerings with specialty, organic brews could truly round out the experience and attract even more discerning diners.

Beyond the incredible food, what truly elevated the experience at Holy Carrot was the staff. The team was a beautiful reflection of cultural diversity, and each member brought their own warmth and personality to the table. I really enjoyed how they joked and had fun with each other behind the scenes, creating a relaxed and joyful atmosphere that added to the overall charm. They were thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy what they do, which made the dining experience all the more memorable.

The ambiance also played a big part in the overall vibe. The warm, soft lighting created a cozy, almost candle-lit atmosphere that was easy on the eyes and made the entire space feel intimate and inviting.

If I had one recommendation for improvement, it would simply be to freshen up the paintwork, as it looked like the space could use a bit of a refresh. But honestly, that’s a minor thing compared to the overall warmth and character of the place.

This combination of delicious food, wonderful people, and a cozy atmosphere makes Holy Carrot a place I’d...

Came to Holy Carrot this evening and overall it was a disappointing experience. It was me, my wife and our 2 year old toddler.

We arrived and 3 staff were just waiting at the front talking to one another. We entered . There was no "welcome to Holy Carrot, do you have a reservation?" No smiles or customer service. Off to a bad start.

We got to the table and our toddler was getting to his seat climbing up on the bench. Straight away the lady with the tattoos said something about him not standing on the seat. We removed our toddlers shoes for this reason. I do wish we were served by someone else.

We ordered our drinks and food. We had the following:

Coal roasted leeks, corn, almonds, aji chilli Cuore Del Vesuvio tomatoes, almond ricotta, kombu, fine herbs

Hispi cabbage dolma, vadouvan butter, cashew cream The Hen Tofu

The starter and mains were okay but not exceptional. Certainly doesn't justify the ridiculous prices they are setting. I understand this is considered fine dining / a 5 star experience but it just doesn't justify the price. Having travelled the world to some of the best vegan restaurants in the world this just doesn't come close.

The best part of the meal was the dessert. The matcha tiramisu was fantastic. Also, the speed at which the food was served was good.

It was my wife's birthday. I had emailed the restaurant before hand to see if they could use a candle on the dessert. I had no reply to my email. I also requested at the restaurant to the waiter if he could use a candle. He said this is not something they can do. The only thing they did was the lady with tattoos came out and said "happy birthday" while serving the dessert. It would be good if they just had a candle or something. Especially if someone is celebrating a birthday or special occasion.

The bill came to well over £100. I don't think the food nor the service justifies this price point . I would not recommend. The portion sizes are incredibly small. If you have a big appetite a 3 course meal here will not...