Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 16 and Version 15 of Baltic, SE1 8HA

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Restaurant very near Southwark Station, focusing on Central and Eastern European food.

Entrance is via the (reasonably large) bar area, which is stylishly cosy with dark wood plus cushions. The restaurant area is towards the back and is much airier and lighter, with white walls and a high skylighted ceiling. The place is step-free throughout, and there's a disabled loo too. There's a small amount of outside seating, though I don't know if you can have food served out there.

They frequently host various arty events, and art is also exhibited on the walls of both bar and restaurant; the exhibition in July 2008 was from the Change The Picture project run by the U-Turn Women's Centre.

Kake first visited on a Monday lunchtime in July 2008. Although I got there fairly late (around 2:30pm, just half an hour before lunch service ended) there were a couple of other parties still there finishing their meals. I asked for a table for one, and was seated in a little tucked away corner on a banquette. Pickles, beetroot-horseradish spread, and some decent butter arrived shortly after I was seated, and bread was also offered; I chose dark rye. Tap water was provided willingly, in a jug with ice cubes which was left on the table after pouring.

I started with chilled beetroot soup (£4.50); it was refreshing without being insubstantial, and a generous portion with plenty of crisp vegetables and fresh dill photo. I followed this with blinis with a selection of toppings — smoked salmon, salmon eggs, pickled herring, mushroom "caviar", and aubergine "caviar" photo. I had the smaller portion at £7, which was plenty for me after the soup; a larger portion is available at £11 if you prefer.

Service was friendly and became even friendlier as they saw how enthusiastic I was about the food. I asked for a menu so I could show Bob, and they happily brought me two copies and chatted about the various dishes, explaining that the menu changes often, with only staples such as barszcz (borscht), pierogi, and blinis remaining unchanged.

On a return visit in March 2010, Kake tried the set lunch menu (£14.50 for two courses). My starter of marinated aubergine and main of pork stew with dumplings were both pretty good, with a nice texture to the dumplings and a good tenderness to the meat. My companion's main of lamb meatballs was only about half the size of my own main, though, and would have benefited from a side dish — a rather odd mismatch. Happily, even though we had the set lunch rather than going a la carte, we were given the same complimentary bread, pickles, and spreads that I got last time, and there was no problem bringing us a jug of tap water.

Kake's verdict: I've been twice now, and would happily come back again, whether in company or on my own.

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Last visited by Kake and Richard, 10 March 2010.

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