Chris A.
Yelp
So I came to London with almost everyone I talked to saying that London had terrible food, cut and dry. It was bizarre. I was determined to prove them wrong. So I fired up my algorithm, ranked every restaurant in London in a top 100 list, and started picking and choosing. My first dinner of my trip ended me up here, at Archipelago.
The vibe of Archipelago from head to toe is exploring exotic cultures and cuisines, big game hunting, and adventure. It's interesting. Reminds me of Sean Connery from A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I got in, got seated at one of the very eclectic table and chair combination, and started browsing this overwhelming menu.
A lot of the things on the menu, I didn't know what they were. I ordered and ate them, and I still don't know what they were. So, cards on the table, you definitely need a sense of adventure when you come here. It's exhilarating, honestly.
We started off with sharing an app, the Serengeti Strut (crispy zebra "jerky", smoked onions, pickled garlic, carrot & ginger fluid gel and biltong soil).
The zebra was crispy, but not quite jerky-like. Indescribable in flavor, but I liked it. It was a little smokey. A good pop from the garlic slices, and some nice earthiness from the gels. A solid app. There was also that soil on the plate that was like pork floss, if you've ever had that. Bizarre texture, but definitely added to the adventurousness.
For my main, I ordered the Hot Marsupial (zhug marinated kangaroo skewers, candy beetroot & guindilla salad and red onion farofa). I also ordered two sides, because I'm a hungry guy, the Thai rice (sticky coconut milk rice) and a potato salad I can no longer find on the menu.
This is the second time I've had kangaroo, and it's official, I love kangaroo. It's so soft, like a filet, but it also has some good flavoring in it, almost like a tamer wild boar. So, so good. The salad was pretty meh, but it was pretty. And the sides were needed. The rice had a nice sweetness and I just love carbs. Solid main.
I also got to try the Oudtshoom Patram (ostrich tenderloin steak, peppercorn sphere, twice baked blue potato with cheese & bacon, Asian Caesar salad).
This was excellent. My first time having ostrich, and it was amazing. It was a little spicy, almost like pepperoni or salami, but much deeper. Don't know how to describe it, because it's it's own thing. It was the best thing I ate this night, though, so if you're coming here, you have to have this. I mean it.
I also had a nice dessert that I can't find online, but it was a curry spiced ice cream with a dark chocolate cake. And man, it was very good. Never through of curry and ice cream together, but know I do. Lovely lovely.
Overall, this was a wild ride. I have no complaints, and you should come here if you wanna get a little wild.