Located on Chelsea’s famous Kings Road, The World’s End Market is a restaurant with an innovative culinary concept that genuinely believes in healthy, fresh and flavoursome food.
Offering market-fresh produce for all day dining, customers are encouraged to choose from the fish and meat selections on display, much of the produce coming from the restaurant’s own butcher and fishmongers. Their meal is then either grilled or seared, enhancing the natural flavours and preserving the nutrients. Having much anticipated this new opening at the iconic building which formerly housed The World’s End pub (originally a tavern during the times of Charles II – from which the area gained its name), StyleNest dived in for their catch of the day..
As we arrived, we were greeted at the door where our jackets and coats were taken and we were lead through the dim-lit open-plan restaurant to our table near the window. The place was alive and buzzing with chatter and laughter, nearly every table was taken and people mingled over cocktails at the bar across the room. The restaurant had been decorated to resemble a 1930’s canteen with a slight “industrial chic” vibe with tall ceilings with large metallic lamps hanging down, tiled walls, chequered floors, bench seating along the walls with curtains halfway down the windows to allow plenty of natural daylight during the day but still keeping a bit of privacy for the diners. Reclaimed wooden crates had been re worked to create the woodwork on the walls and bar. As a nod to its market inspiration, adjacent to the open kitchen there is an impressive fresh fish display and a walk in meat fridge made entirely of glass, showcasing the fresh ingredients.
The fish menu boasted a large selection of fresh fish, from delicate dishes like oysters, scallops and ceviche to more substantial fish dishes such as whole lobster, whole plaice, whole rainbow trout, grilled tiger prawns and lemon sole (all priced around £20). The meat menu included British Sirloin Steak, Ribeye Steak, T-Bone Steak and Fillet – all 28 days matured – as well as lamb chops from Devon or chicken breast from Norfolk. There was even a burger menu (available Monday – Friday only) which includes a blue cheese burger, crayfish roll burger, and truffle burger with Halloumi cheese – to name just a few! All the main courses are served with French Fries and a house salad.
The carefully selected wine list balances well-loved Old World and New World choices with a couple of British offerings from the respected Chapel Down vineyard in Kent.
To start, we ordered the salmon tartar and a sea bass ceviche (all starters priced around £7), which were both deliciously light and fresh – the sea bass ceviche was my favourite!
To follow, we couldn’t refuse the 28 day aged fillet steak which was rich and juicy. We normally ask for a peppercorn or béarnaise sauce but their mushroom sauce compliments this steak quite beautifully – although it’s best enjoyed on its own.
Our guest opted for the recommended blue cheese burger which was described as one of the best burgers they’d ever had (and our guest is a burger connoisseur) with meat that melts in your mouth.
To finish it off, we shared the chocolate fondant – a warm and very rich chocolate sponge with a gooey melted chocolate centre, served with vanilla ice cream – heaven!