Monday 25 May 2015

Parts and Labour Restaurant

Qbic Hotel
As a foodie I love the East End of London mainly for Brick Lane which does wonderful curries (Aladin and Sheba being two of my favourites). 

But as you know I am always open to trying out new restaurants, so when Parts and Labour a modern British restaurant asked if I would like to come and try their restaurant just a short walk away from buzzing Brick Lane, I thought I would give it a try. 

Exiting Aldgate East tube station the restaurant is a five minute walk, tucked away down a side street on the ground floor of the Qbic Hotel.

Entering the hotel you are instantly hit with a vibrant colourful space that is Scandinavian in design.
Parts and Labour restaurant
When first entering the venue, it appears to be a cross between a student union bar and Ikea, with an eclectic mix of suited and booted City workers and casual student types, that made us slightly dubious. However, after a friendly welcome, we began to relax.

The quirky design continues through to the restaurant, with some tables having bowler hats as the central lighting for the table.
Parts and Labour Restaurant
The evening we visited, the restaurant was hosting live music, something that they do once a month. Whilst we perused over the menu the Bloom Twins who were singing that night were busy getting ready for their set. 
Bloom Twins
Once started they were superb, with an electro pop style mixed with a blues element. They drew quite the crowd for a Wednesday evening and are well worth a listen if you get a chance.

For starters we opt for grilled flatbread, broad bean and asparagus hummus, pickled with spring onions (£6). 
Parts and labour restaurant
It's a generous portion and I love that the hummus is flavoured with seasonal vegetables and the addition of the asparagus was yummy. 

The other starters for the table were squid, chorizo, chickpea and coriander (£7.50).
Parts and Labour restaurant
The flavours from the chorizo and the texture of the squid were the perfect combination and this dish was incredibly flavoursome. 

The third and final starter for the table was pulled lamb shoulder croquettes accompanied with mint mayonnaise (£6).
Parts and Labour Restaurant
The croquettes were wonderfully filling but for me they were too rich and there were too many for a starter. 

The restaurant offers a good selection of mains from fish, meat and pasta dishes. 

My dining companion for mains continued the fish theme with seared sea trout, barbecued cucumber, wasabi crème fraiche (£14.50). This I was informed was again of excellent quality.

Parts and Labour restaurant
Now I normally steer clear of fishcakes within restaurants, mainly because they can be hit and miss. But I thought based on the quality of the starters that I would take a punt on the salmon fishcake, buttered spinach and lemon chive butter sauce (£11.50). 
Parts and Labour Restaurant
The fishcake was perfectly cooked with a good mix of salmon and potato, the chive butter and chilly spinach was a excellent combination. 

The third main was lemon and thyme spatchcock chicken (£11).
Parts and Labour restaurant
The chicken was perfectly cooked and had a perfect balance of lemon. The naughty serving of chips on the side was especially welcome. 
Parts and Labour Hotel
Based on the mains, as a table we were looking forward to Parts and Labours offerings for dessert. 

My personal choice was ease, lemon and elderflower posset, with basil shortbread (£6).
Parts and Labour restaurant
I love lemon desserts to finish off a meal, the tartness of the lemon and the addition of the basil shortbread was a great choice. 

Other choices on the table gooseberry millefeuille and Pistachios (£6).
Parts and Labour restaurant
I am reliably informed that this was delicious and I love the fact that the dish uses gooseberries such an underrated fruit.

The last dessert for the table was milk chocolate, salted caramel tart with vanilla mascarpone (£6.50).
Parts and Labour Restaurant
Now general hotel food normally disappoints me as a foodie; but I have to say the quality of the food in Parts and Labour surprised meThe menu is inventive, the food served is delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed the live music.

The hotel and restaurant is perfectly located for visiting Petticoat Lane market and Whitechapel Gallery.

Parts & Labour on Urbanspoon

www.partsandlabour.london

Qbic London City Hotel
42 Adler Street,
London 
E1 1EE

Thank you very much to Parts and Labour for a wonderful meal. Our meal was complimentary for the purposes of a review, but this is an honest and fair reflection of the restaurant and our meal.  

 photo foodieforce_32.jpg

26 comments:

  1. I've just been watching the Bloom Sisters youtube channel, they have lovely voices :)

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    1. They were superb live, they do interesting mixes with blues and current music. I loved them Lucy x

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  2. I'm glad you also enjoyed your meal there, we really liked it there, I'm so pleased it's only a short walk from me.

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    1. It was a really pleasant surprise when we first walked it is difficult to even know there is a restaurant in there but the quality of the food was very good. Your lucky to have it on your doorstep Lucy x

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  3. I've read some really positive reviews about this place on other blogs! I love the look of the squid, it's a great combo with the chorizo.
    Lots of love,
    Angie

    SilverSpoon London

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    1. It just goes to show that first impressions can be deceiving. The place when we first went in was empty and within half an hour full. The food was lovely and very reasonable too Lucy x

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  4. great environment for the place and all the food looks so delicious!!

    Have a great week!
    Animated Confessions

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    1. It does surprisingly wonderful food for a hotel. Hope you had a nice weekend Lucy x

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  5. Wow such interesting meals, they look delicious! I love your description of it looking like a cross between Ikea and a student union bar, so funny!

    Ash | Liakada

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    1. First impressions it did look like that but the restaurant and food was a pleasant surprise Lucy x

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  6. It looks fab! I'm serving an elderflower and lemon posset at my pop up this weekend :) Also I've put a couple of July dates in for pop ups so really hope you can make one! Full details here http://grubclub.com/a-little-lusciousness

    Rosie xx

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    1. Ooh that sounds lovely I will have to look at your dates in June Lucy x

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  7. This place looks really interesting and sounds like another to add to my list! Love that they had the band there too :)

    Style Sunrise ☀

    :)
    x

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    1. It is surprising because from the outside I'm not sure you would go in but looks can be deceptive. If you go you have to visit when they have live music Lucy x

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  8. I love the bowler hat lights, and your lemon posset dessert looks very tasty

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

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    1. The lighting is very original. The lemon posset was the perfect balance of creamy and tartness Lucy x

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  9. Love the quirky aspect of the restaurant. Have to say, I'm partial to a good croquette, and if it's slightly too big that means it's good for sharing, which is just what a want for a starter. Loving the gooseberry too - bring back the gooseberry!

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    1. Very true you will never hear me complain about too much food. The gooseberry dessert was divine Lucy x

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  10. Everything looks delicious, I love the sound of the houmous you had as a starter. I really like lemon desserts too! xx

    Toasty

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    1. It was a great alternative to the normal houmous really tasty Lucy x

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  11. Student union meets Ikea sounds like they got it just right haha as does asparagus and broad bean hummus, yum!! I am definitely making this! xxx
    Lucy @ La Lingua; Food, Sunshine, Italy

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    1. The combination worked well as it had those from near by university's and those who had finished work in the city really enjoyed the live music Lucy x

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  12. Ahhh Lucy, all these photos make me hungry. It is lunch time and I would prefer a lunch like this one hehehe. Good atmosphere! I would definitely want to visit them when they will play live music. Brilliant post! Thank you love. Liuba x

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    1. The music was great the twins are very talented and the food was wonderful Lucy x

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  13. I love restaurants with live music! The menu looks super interesting and the decor is so cool too x

    Josie’s Journal

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    1. The music was great, the hotel was very modern which I liked I am sure there will be a few people that this is not too there taste Lucy x

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