Bustronome Restaurant Review: Sightseeing and Fine Dining in London – On a Bus!

If you had told me when I first started blogging that I’d be dining on a bus in London, I’d never have believed you. But here I am, on a bus, with the most magnificent views of London, eating delicious food in a fine dining atmosphere on the upstairs of a purposely built double-decker bus. This is why I love London.

Bustronome, a play on words between Bus and Gastronomy was first-born in Paris and has now just arrived on the streets of London. Forget the red hop-on-hop-off bus, because this is how you need to see London, filled with good wine and delicious food – all whilst passing some of London’s most famous landmarks.

Run by the team behind Gazette (best steak tartare in London), the kitchen on this bus is looked after by chef Pascal Even. After receiving our booking email, we all promptly arrived to the bus at 7:30pm on the Victoria Embankment. We showed our tickets, boarded the bus and a glass of chilled Champagne greeted us while we got to know our fellow diners. If you’re wondering what’s downstairs on this bus, there’s a real and rather professional kitchen, posh lavatories and of course – one very friendly driver.

As we took off the waiters explained to us what would happen and how it would work, offering either a four-course lunch or six course dinner tasting menu, both coming with some fantastic wine pairings and bottled water whilst enjoying those views from the glass roof above our heads. Each diner is presented with a map of London and an electronic pen. Simply dab the pen on a landmark from your map and place to your ear, this little thing will then tell you the complete history of the landmark you’re passing. It’s rather clever!

Shortly later some canapés arrived and they were the perfect way to start. Delicious bites of aubergine caviar on crisp bruschetta slices.

I think my favourite dish from our six course tasting menu was actually one of the most simplest. A rich and thick mushroom soup topped with decadent truffle cream. The soup had such a great consistency to it, a good kick of garlic and a nice earthiness which went great with our first wine of many.

Next out, alongside our delicious Sauvignon Blanc this time was a scallops carpaccio with spinach shoot vinaigrette, fennel and pomegranate salad. The scallops were so fresh, very soft and cut through like butter. While the punchy vinaigrette sauce added even more freshness to the dish. The perfect Summer plate of food.

One dish which I really enjoyed, but needed some slight tweaking was the lemon sole fish & chips – revisited. The fish was actually very well cooked, but for me the batter a little weak and needed to be more crispy, though I felt they still did well considering this was all cooked on a bus. The chips again also had a lovely flavour, but they could have done with just a few more minutes cooking for that lovely fluffy centre to reveal itself.

While I did absolutely love that mushroom soup, I think the meat course really stole the show and we fell completely in love with it. Perfectly cooked roast lamb fillet with a mint jus, buttery parsnip purée and beurre noisette. Textures, flavours and precision of cooking – this dish had it all and as the sun started to set, the bus illuminated inside and made everything just a little more magical.

A small cheese course of Stilton with apricots and port reduction had diners confused in terms of presentation, but one mouthful and it was evident how much we all liked it with a burst of silence. The creamy blue cheese was subtle and not intense, whilst the sweet apricots paired beautifully with our luscious dessert wine.

Close to finishing our gastronomic journey, dessert arrived and it was a fantastic end to one great eye-opening evening. Apple confit, hazelnut crumble and Granny Smith sorbet. Essentially a deconstructed tarte tatin. I loved it and my partner was evening hoping for extras of mine – though of course I cleared my plate clean.

We had such a lovely time onboard Bustronome and while I think it’s a fantastic tourist attraction, it’s also great for romantic lunches and dinners or even private parties. Hiring the entire bus would be such an experience. Would we go back? Certainly. It’s a great experience and who knows – maybe we’ll be taking the Number 22 bus in 10 years time with a glass of Champagne and pot of caviar onboard? We should be so lucky!

NB: Our meal was complimentary. All views are as always, my own. My views are not influenced by anyone other than my own palate and slightly poor eyesight.