Porte Noire Kings Cross — Restaurant in London

No food at the Inn. Oh dear. Slightly baffled and sceptical of the 4 and 5 star reviews. We understand the challenges the restaurant industry has had over the last few years, the issues with staff and cost of living etc so usually give benefit of doubt however this was such a bad experience, it's hard to find something positive to salvage in it.

Went on a very busy Friday in the run up to Christmas for what was to be a special late lunch/reunion. Passed lots of buzzing and lively places, turned the corner on Bagley's Way into an almost empty, cold and uninviting room with two other tables of people.We checked to see if it was the right place. Having been sat down and coats off, was very casually informed that the kitchen had some issues so a few things were not available from what is an already short menu. This was a fork in the road; this restaurant requires a credit card booking, lots of reminders/confirmation requests of the reservation, "10 minute grace period" etc etc so returning the courtesy of a phone call or email that morning to let us know the kitchen was not functioning was not beyond them. We would have thanked them and looked elsewhere and left with a reasonable impression, however they didn't, which is unacceptable as the food options were extremely limited. And this is not a casual spot and we saw no more than were 10 other customers whilst we were there.

From there, it went further downhill with pace. Before the full menu limitation unfolded ("oh, we don't have that oh or that...") we ordered a £90 bottle of house Champagne, which was okay - massive mark up on the wine bar, (50%?) almost a glass of which was spilled on the floor by the server who opened the bottle and didn't apologise, thanks!. As we were somewhat committed and most of the suitable hot food options were not available, we compromised and ordered cold sharing plates which were underwhelming; small portions, stale-ish bread, weird GF options. We had to ask for every-little-thing, it's like a hit and run service - they drop it and then disappear. Painful and frustrating.

For a virtually empty restaurant, the service as it was, was torturous and slow, even getting water/butter/oil was difficult. Felt like a nuisance. We spoke with the manager who was gracious (2 stars for him) and ultimately did the right thing but it wasn't worth the overall experience. There are plenty of other options in the area. Perhaps they have given up, it felt like it. An aside, the decor was quite dated and the place wasn't particularly clean; the loo's needed attention and it looked like there was a slow cooker appliance on the main counter opposite the loo which I doubt would pass food hygiene standards. Left hungry,...

Dishes designed for sharing are not going to stop me from trying :P Next time l’ll bring friends who can appreciate wine. (How can people come here only for a gelassen of wine each?! Food is good here.)

Thanks for accommodating my early arrival for dinner in the chilly rainy windy afternoon!

Chestnut Celeriac Soup. Rich, creamy, not too heavy. I haven’t tried celeriac before, but it tastes like an earthier version of celery soup. The chestnut bits are lovely. I won’t normally go for soup, but it is no disappointment.

Steak tartare is really full of flavor, (to quote the waiter, the second section is “heavier in terms of flavor not necessarily portion”. It’s probably the most heavily seasoned tartar I’ve had— red pasta flavor of tomato, basil, pine nuts— imagine stirring meat with pizza sauce. It may be doing a little injustice to the quality of the beef, but tastes interesting and exciting. The sourdough strips are fried to a beautiful golden color, and the amount of oil must be horrific. I would totally enjoy some simple toasted sourdough with equal if not more satisfaction…🤔 Perhaps next time I’ll try requesting that.

Dessert why not. It’s hard not to have someone to share, but I am determined to try the recommended tarte tartin. Swapped vanilla ice cream to pistachio;) The ice cream is not too sweet. Though not prominent in pistachio flavor, it contains crushed grains of nuts. The thin apple slices is presented in a unique swirl. Deep bittersweet proper caramel flavor. The sandy sable Breton might be too sweet to on it’s one or with the topping, but it goes well with the pistachio ice cream in my opinion. (Didn’t finish the glazed fruit for the sake of my blood sugar. Wish there are takeaway boxes. 😅) I could have settle with a pistachio ice cream affogato but a visit is always more fun with staff’s favorites, especially the first time.

Tomorrow I will work out hard…

The view is tranquil. The space may augment sounds and voices, so I’d agree it’s not a usual quiet place if you want something very intimate. Service is sincere, warm, and attentive.

Will come back to try more dishes with or without sharin...

I had a pleasure to be invited to see a new upscale wine place in Central London that has been recently opened by a dynamic duo: David Farber, a wine expert and a founder of Connaught Cellars, and Idris Elba, an actor, producer and musician.

Porte Noire is so much more than just a wine bar and boutique. It is a stylish wine destination with an outdoor seating area and one of the largest fine wine tasting rooms in London, with an extensive portfolio ranging from some of the rarest bottles to a more accesible yet interesting wines, including some wine on tap and premium cocktails.

The innovative thinking of the founders let them create a truly magical, trendy and cozy ambience for the guests. Their passion is shining through every little detail - from the beautifully appointed fine wine cellar and sophisticated interior design to custom designed wine glass coasters, ice buckets and their own Porte Noire champagne brand, a Grand cru Blanc de Blancs, and Porte Noire Rose.

The venue is located inside the stunning building in one of the largest and most successful recent developments in London - at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, just opposite Regent's Canal.

By the way, pets are always welcome here, and David's dog, Cooper, the cutest and the hardest working dog in London, who has become famous since Connaught Cellars were founded, welcomes the guests with a big smile. He looks a bit tired in my pictures, it was late in the evening, and he was working all day, but his cuteness and a kind heart add a loving touch to the place. You will feel at home here and overwhelmed with warmth and comfort right away.

Porte Noire also has a quick delivery service for extra convenience. I'm wishing this place lots of success in growing...