Columbia Restaurant at the DoubleTree, Dockland Riverside

Sometimes you just need to take a break from the kitchen and have a quality meal with a great view.  I’m not one for dressing up in something uncomfortable and paying over the odds for tiny morsels of food, so finding the Columbia Restaurant at the Dockland Riverside Hilton was the perfect location.  Stylish setting?  Check.  Amazing views?  Check.  Romantic yet relaxed atmosphere?  Check.  Great food?  Well there was only one way to find out!

Our window bay table set the relaxed, romantic tone for the evening and allowed us to enjoy the beautiful views over the city.  I would 100% recommend requesting the window seats if you are booking a table for two, it adds a really intimate feel.

The menu is concise and is based around classic dishes.  I started off with the open ravioli, a light pasta dish filled with chargrilled peppers, ricotta and parmesan cream.  This dish is light but creamy and I devoured every bite.  Harry went for the seared salmon with watercress and spinach puree served with onion rings.  The fish was flavourful, well seasoned and cooked beautifully while the onion rings were crisp with a touch of sweetness.

I can’t resist a steak so I went straight for the rib eye with peppercorn sauce which I paired with a side of butternut squash mash and skin-on chips too.  The steak was wonderfully tender and cooked rare to perfection, leaving the meat seriously juicy and flavourful.  The peppercorn sauce was a great accompaniment and although I am not usually a big fan of chips I couldn’t keep my hands away from these!  Crisp and seasoned to perfection these are seriously moreish!  The butternut squash mash was a let down however, the consistency was too thin for my liking and further more the added citrus flavours overpowered the dish.

Harry went for fish again with a cod, fennel and leak dish served with boiled potatoes and preserved lemons.  The sauce was light yet creamy and complemented the fish without being overpowering.  The cod was moist and delicate with a crisp skin that was vey moreish.

Finally it was time to round things up with dessert.  As we struggled to choose, myself and Harry decided to share, choosing the classic creme brulee and a raspberry sorbet.  The creme brulee was sweet and delicate with a perfect crisp top, the sour notes of the fruit added a refreshing touch.  The raspberry sorbet was refreshing, light and just sweet enough and was a perfect end to the meal.

We ended the night with a drink on the terrace watching the world go buy, it’s definitely a place I’d return to for date nights.  Book a table at the Columbia Restaurant through the Hilton website. site.

This meal was complementary in return for a review, all words and opinions are my own.