28°-50° Fetter Lane review: Leave it to the sommeliers
Leave your wine knowledge at the door and you will be rewarded with some very welcome surprises
Just off Fleet Street, down a flight of stairs and behind a heavy green curtain lies a spacious basement bar and kitchen where wine is very much the star.
28°-50° Fetter Lane is what you might expect from a wine bar - bottles everywhere, exposed brick, a lot of wood and booths in cosy corners; slightly conventional, perhaps, but it works. Such is the laidback ambience that you could easily spend all evening there, happily mining the sommelier for wine suggestions until they – politely – ask you to leave at closing time.
The bar describes its fare as "modern European", which could encompass a great deal, but luckily head chef Julien Baris keeps matters simple, with some alluring options alongside bar snacks and charcuterie boards. However, its customers are mostly there for the wine and with 28°-50° Fetter Lane's selection, it's hard to blame them.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The extensive but not overwhelming wine list takes guests on a journey around the world, from widely known wine-producing regions to sweet wines from Hungary and rums from Martinique and Guatemala. The house Henriot champagne is golden, crisp and delicious and at £48, worth every penny. There is also the added allure of their Coravin selection - wine that can be poured without pulling the cork, so you can try some exclusive vintages without buying the whole bottle.
The friendly and attentive staff know what they are talking about and will give educated recommendations, so forget what you think you know - and think you like - about wine and leave yourself in their capable hands. Indeed, the sommelier's knowledge shone from the first sip, with the frankly excellent pairing of a crisp Riesling with goose and mustard terrine, complementing the rich dish and cutting through the flavours perfectly.
Our straightforward-sounding crab salad had a red chilli-kick while the sea bream with bok choy and Asian broth was deliciously light with expertly balanced flavours. Throughout the menu, the flavours selected from outside the European staples are used respectfully and thoughtfully.
If Asian touches aren't your thing, then opt for the Aberdeen Angus steaks - especially with triple cooked chips on the side. My duck confit with red cabbage, quince and duck sauce came with wedges of apple, which worked well, but I couldn't help wishing it had a pile of creamy mash instead.
Desserts mix traditional favourites with interesting additions. The chocolate fondant with guava sorbet was as good as I'd hoped. Amplified by a delightful port, which I never would have chosen myself, it became the highlight of the night.
28°-50° Fetter Lane, 140 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1BT; 2850.co.uk/fetter
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Mulled white wine: a 'quirky' Christmas hit?
The Week Recommends Retailers are hoping to tempt shoppers with a 'lighter' version of the classic festive tipple
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Why a Michelin star can spell danger for restaurants
In the Spotlight Winning chefs face heightened financial pressures, changing customer demands and professional limitations
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
8 award-winning restaurants to visit this fall
The Week Recommends It's the season for dropping magazine restaurant and chef awards
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
A foodie guide to Seattle
The Week Recommends From bustling markets to burger joints, these are the best spots in the city
By Neil Davey Published
-
A foodie guide to St Andrews
The Week Recommends The Scottish seaside town has it all, from cheese toastie shacks to Michelin-starred restaurants
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
The Count of Monte Cristo review: 'indecently spectacular' adaptation
The Week Recommends Dumas's classic 19th-century novel is once again given new life in this 'fast-moving' film
By The Week UK Published
-
Death of England: Closing Time review – 'bold, brash reflection on racism'
The Week Recommends The final part of this trilogy deftly explores rising political tensions across the country
By The Week UK Published
-
Sing Sing review: prison drama bursts with 'charm, energy and optimism'
The Week Recommends Colman Domingo plays a real-life prisoner in a performance likely to be an Oscars shoo-in
By The Week UK Published