Eat & Drink
Originally published on Thursday, 11th June 2009
Gallery Mess
Art, a terrace in the sun and a knickerbockerglory. If this sums up your idea of a perfect way to spend at least some of the weekend then head to the new Saatchi Gallery Mess, the cafe/bar that's just opened at the King's Road modern art insitution.
The place is as tastefully and ecclesiastically designed as you'd imagine, with high vaulted ceilings and sandy brickwork, and the cafe part also provides a hanging space for some of the Saatchi Online artists.
Food is courtesy of more-than-just-a-posh-catering-company Rhubarb and includes things like a Great British Breakfast made with mindfully sourced ingredients from prime producers, such as Peter Gott’s black pudding from Cumbria and Ramsay of Carluke bacon from Scotland, as well as prawn cocktail with "Bloody Mary” crème fraiche and cos lettuce. But the nicest surprise is that pretty much everything on the menu is under a tenner (with a glass of wine starting at £4), meaning you won't feel like you're forking out for a Gavin Turk buying lunch.
So check out a few abstract Americans (the current show, and possibly a few of the tourists), tuck into an organic burger and lean back feeling smugly well-fed and cultured.
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-11.30pm
Place: Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, SW3 4SQ
Cost: £20
Web: saatchi-gallery.co.uk
Book: 020 730 8135
