Regular readers will know that I have a bit of an issue with some vegetarian restaurants - in that most of them are not that 'contemporary'. Fabulous tasty food - yes, but decor (and sometimes service) that appeals to the omnivore masses? - no.
 |
| outside tibits - a little oasis in the City |
So when I was kindly asked if I would like to dine at tibits and write a review, I was very excited indeed!...
tibits is situated in a fabulous location - in a leafy little oasis just off the hustle and bustle of Regent Street. It's a haven of plant-based deliciousness.
With modern Swiss styling, yet a warm and welcoming vibe it did not disappoint. Ahhhh! Bliss!!!!
Even worth leaving my Devon oasis for...
 |
| fresh, funky & unusually contemporary - hurrah! |
It's bright, clean, tidy and set over 2 floors with plenty of eclectic seating and room
for special events if you need to hire a great space. When I was there
it was lovely to see such a mixed clientele and that even on a Monday
lunchtime it was buzzing.
The service was relaxed, friendly and
efficient.
 |
| a boat of vegan food you could just sail away on! |
The format is a help yourself buffet - with salads, soups, hot dishes, breads, desserts & fresh juice options - all set out in an eye catching boat-shaped island! I'm not usually a fan of the buffet scenario (yes, really!) but given that vegan choice is usually quite limited - to suddenly be presented with masses of it (80% of the 40 daily dishes) all clearly labelled as vegan, it was like being the proverbial 'kid in the sweet shop'!
Decisions decisions.....
Now you WILL want to try everything. And indeed I'd recommend that you do take small morsels of everything that takes your fancy! Why not?!
Here were just some of the day's dishes when I visited:
My 'starters plate:
My 'mains' plate:
There's just a teensy catch though...
You pay for your food by weight.
[no, not your weight - if that was the case I'd have been in serious financial trouble!] The weight of the food you've taken. I've never come across this before, and admit to some trepidation at having my food weighed! I'm unsure as to the business reasoning behind this, but given the tendency for many to overindulge at a buffet it does actually prevent you from taking too much, and consequently eating too much and possibly wasting too much?
And little samples of several different dishes does make for a varied, yummy meal experience. And tasty it was! I found plenty of variety, everything tasted different, all was well seasoned and flavourful. One more note though - go easy if you want to make it to pud! And you should. My combination of sticky toffee pudding, passion fruit 'cream' and fresh pineapple was inspired, if I say so myself.
Dessert:
Some other typical dishes on the menu:
 |
| Mulligatawny soup |
 |
| Oven roasted veggies - shallots, carrots, pears, figs |
 |
| Glazed chestnut, pupkin, sesame tofu avocado & dried bean salads |
 |
| black hummous with olive bread |
Pricing: My starter plate weighed in at approx £5.00, main at £8.50 and dessert at £4.50 - incredibly reasonable for London pricing and indeed for good food anywhere!
So what else can I say about tibits?
Well, to me, it's the ideal place for brunches, lunch dates, dinner dates, business
lunches, food on the go and casual 'I can't be bothered to cook tonight' dining .
Obviously if you're veggie or vegan it's a joy to just go and eat free from worry and the need for a magnifying glass to read small print. But I adored the fact that a non veggie/vegan would still love it too. tibits champions all that's great about meat-free, plant-based foods - the infinite colours, flavours, tastes and textures - all presented in a style for 2013.
THIS is what's needed. Something that omnivores can be tempted by, try and love. As a passionate vegan advocate, yes of course I'm looking for 'converts' - I make no secret of it - and tibits is now one of my secret (peaceful) 'weapons'. TYTYTY! Keep up the great work guys.
p.s. Please open a branch in Exeter!
Chantal x
Next up! I shall be reviewing the first tibits cook book! Stay tuned for my recreations of some of their favourite dishes at home.
Details:
Vision: tibits was founded and is run by three brothers - Reto, Christian and
Daniel Frei, together with business partners Rolf and Marielle Hiltl,
who run Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world, which is
located in Zurich.
tibits
tibits
12-14 Heddon Street
off Regent Street
London W1B 4DA
Phone +44 (0)207 758 4110
Fax +44 (0)207 734 0428
Opening Hours:
Monday to Wednesday9am – 10.30pm
Thursday to Saturday
9am – midnight
Sunday
11.30am – 10.30pm
Food served until 30 mins before closing.
Disclaimer: Whilst I was a guest of tibits on this day for lunch, my review, is, as always, entirely without bias and reflects my honest opinion.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for reading. Thank you for commenting.