The erstwhile Turquoise Room has been given the once over and is now back as Verve Bar & Bistro. Turquoise Room’s garish hues have been replaced with something more suitably subtle, with white stucco walls and black trimmings forming a comforting contrast against the verdant surroundings. It was fairly unpopulated on a Sunday afternoon, which was surprising as this former British Army cinema is perfect for a leisurely weekend lunch. After soaking in the vibe of the place with the chirruping fauna, we ordered a relaxing pot of lemongrass tea and nibbled on some pretty addictive breadsticks. We ordered the fish cakes for our starters and loved them to bits, even if the three scrumptious breaded cutlets weren’t quite enough. They came paired with delightful, zesty salsa that was simply divine. Our mains on the other hand, were a case of hit‑and‑near‑miss. The prawn and arugula pasta was overcooked and way too oily, which was a shame as the prawns were succulent and fresh. The small (eight‑inch) Barzoni pizza meanwhile, was a spanking success; the mascapone combined splendidly with the mushrooms and bacon. In addition to our Guinness we were recommended to try the Appletini, an overly smooth yet deadly cocktail that features a whole green apple as its health‑redeeming ingredient. What we appreciated most was the service—the staff were knowledgeable, friendly without being too OTT and eager to go the extra mile. We’ll be back.
