Peruvian And Italian Afternoon Tea At Monmouth Kitchen, London

Peruvian And Italian Afternoon Tea At Monmouth Kitchen, London
Puja
Puja 
Published
| 11 min read

Let me invite you into a journey and experience that will fill you with an abundance of happiness, joy and soul. Monmouth Kitchen, based at 20 Mercer Street (restaurant entrance on Monmouth Street), London, WC2H 9HD is a place that when you visit once, it simply won’t be enough and you will certainly find yourself being a regular there. Serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, it can cater to you at any time of the day.

I would recommend that you choose to have afternoon tea, which is a Peruvian and Italian take on the very well-known British afternoon tea (something which is not easy to do successfully, yet Monmouth Kitchen does it effortlessly). The combination of Peruvian and Italian results in an exemplar of fusion cuisine that surprisingly works very well for afternoon tea and has influences from not only these countries but from Asia and West Africa too due to the history of how both Peruvian and Italian cuisines developed.

A warm welcome into a chic and relaxing haven 

peruvian and italian afternoon tea at monmouth kitchen, london | a warm welcome into a chic and relaxing haven 

As you walk through the entrance, you will be warmly greeted by the host, who will sincerely explain that it is a pleasure for you to visit and will ask whether you would like to leave your coats and scarves in the cloak room. You will then be whisked from the entrance, past the bar area and into the restaurant. It is hard to resist not visiting this spacious and sophisticated temple of relaxation.

On your way to the restaurant, you will see the very chic bar area, which is so well lit that it gives you an introduction that you are in for an afternoon of cool relaxation. The bar staff, waiters and waitresses are undeniably the most knowledgeable you will meet; they are not only professional but so very charismatic and I can guarantee that at the end of your first (note, I say first), afternoon tea experience at Monmouth Kitchen, you will easily remember the names of so many of the individuals that work there. 

The staff act with pride, integrity and warmth and will make you feel like a valued customer; they take the time to talk to you and answer each and every one of your questions. They have strong emotional intelligence and are subtle when approaching you and really get a feel about what and how your experience can be enhanced with them at Monmouth Kitchen.

A beautiful space with absolutely stunning and refreshing decor

peruvian and italian afternoon tea at monmouth kitchen, london | a beautiful space with absolutely stunning and refreshing decor

The bar and the restaurant are styled in Scandinavian minimalism; the setting and décor are absolutely stunning. The white walls, cement floors and white marble surfaces give the interiors a really light feel. With different types of seating, the high tables are particularly wonderful for those that want a view of the beautiful restaurant and the passers-by of London (that will be peering through the glass window to see what is happening at Monmouth Kitchen).

As you take your seat, you will very easily realise that “unique”, “functional”, “beautiful” and “spectacular” are definitely the best adjectives to describe one’s first impression of Monmouth Kitchen. The low-level and dim lighting focuses on the table, the company and the main act: the dining experience. This results in a really beautiful space that is modern, contemporary and has a refined yet laid-back atmosphere to it.

You must pay homage to "Our Bellini"

peruvian and italian afternoon tea at monmouth kitchen, london | you must pay homage to "our bellini"

After you’re seated, you will be provided with the afternoon tea menu, which includes the recommended cocktails, champagne and sparkling wine that are available for you to order. Now, traditionally, British afternoon tea would not include such drinks; however, as Monmouth Kitchen is offering you a Peruvian and Italian version, these drinks are a must, especially the cocktails.

From the cocktails list, you can either have the “Piscoviation”, which includes barsol acholado pisco, crème de violette, maraschino liqueur and lemon with a rose water mist or “Bitter Blush Spritz”, which consists of Solerno blood orange liqueur, Cocchi americano rosa, raspberries, pink grapefruit, thyme and soda or finally; “Our Bellini”, which is a combination of white peach and rhubarb cordial with prosecco. The price for any of the cocktails listed is only 9 GBP (11 USD).

If you would prefer a non-alcoholic cocktail, then simply ask the waiter who will very kindly provide you with the bar menu that includes two beautifully sharp yet sweet non-alcoholic cocktails for 6.50 GBP (8 USD). The first is the “Mercer Street Cooler”, which is made of pineapple, lemon and grapefruit sherbet, mint and ginger ale and the second is the “Lemon Verbena and Grape Breeze”, which consists of red grapes, lemon verbena syrup, apple, lemon and soda.

With afternoon tea usually being enjoyed for celebrations, you could also push the boat out and order champagne for which a glass of 150 mL ranges from 14 GBP (18 USD) to 18 GBP (23 USD). From my view, the Peruvian and Italian take on afternoon tea from the onset hits the right spots with the drinks on offer. Sit back and enjoy your drink in the stylish, contemporary and chic environment that is Monmouth Kitchen, which exudes class and playfulness at the same time.

Unlimited hot loose leaf tea to sip for a whole afternoon

peruvian and italian afternoon tea at monmouth kitchen, london | unlimited hot loose leaf tea to sip for a whole afternoon

Any take on the classic British afternoon tea cannot remove the inclusion of tea and you will be pleased to know that Monmouth Kitchen will certainly provide you with a number of teas to choose from. The loose leaf tea selection includes English breakfast, jasmine, earl grey, fresh mint and lemon, green sencha and rosehip and hibiscus. 

Only the best afternoon tea establishments provide an unlimited amount of hot tea and Monmouth Kitchen is no exception to this; the splendid staff will provide you with as much tea as to your heart’s content and on each occasion that you order a different type of tea, they will provide you with a new saucer and tea cup so that none of your tea flavors are unnecessarily fused. 

I would have to recommend that you have the fresh mint and lemon tea, which is a caffeine-free tea with a strong aroma and flavor. It’s a delightful herb tea that cleanses your body, cools your mind and rehydrates your body within minutes; the perfect outcome to result in a leisurely afternoon tea experience at Monmouth Kitchen. A contrasting and also recommended tea would be the rosehip and hibiscus tea, which is naturally sour and perfectly delectable as an accompaniment to the Peruvian and Italian themed afternoon tea.

South American aromatic coffee and fruity chocolate to drink  

south american aromatic coffee and fruity chocolate to drink  

If you have a preference for coffee over tea, then Monmouth Kitchen will cater to your desire too and offers such hot drinks on an unlimited basis. It uses Colombia Andino, which is a full-bodied café crème with aromatic flavors and fits in perfectly with the Peruvian element of afternoon tea as it brings in that South American feel even through its drinks. With it being widely believed that coffee was first introduced to Colombia in 1723, sampling the Colombia Andino is a must and a real treat.

Alternatively, if you have more of a sweet tooth then the Peruvian hot chocolate called “Rococo Chocolate” will give you a tingling and warm feeling inside. Rococo is cocoa that is grown in the Andean foothills of north central Peru and it has a gentle fruit taste of fig, cherry and apricot with a hint of honey. If you order this delightful drink, you will find that when it arrives at the table, it will be in a generously filled cup and will have a creamy finish to it.

An innovative menu with perfectly executed items

an innovative menu with perfectly executed items

Once you have selected your first round of drinks, whether hot and/or cold and have had a few moments to indulge and sip, your eyes will be widened when you see the three tier stand with Peruvian and Italian items that arrive at your table. You will note that the servers are gleaming with joy as they place the three tier stand on your marble table, as they truly are passionate and confident that you will devour each mouthful and rightly so.

Peruvian and Italian afternoon tea works brilliantly because the small plates and tapas style fits in with the amount and type of food offered during an afternoon tea experience, albeit with a twist of more flavors. The staff are knowledgeable and are able to advise and even modify elements of the afternoon tea to suit your dietary requirements, which they do excellently.

Having enjoyed conventional British afternoon tea and afternoon tea with a twist (such as that of a different cuisine), I can confidently declare myself as an afternoon tea expert who would not lie to you about the quality of the best afternoon tea experiences in London. The reason that I would not lie is because like you, I understand the value of money and have had to work hard for the special treats that I give to myself, my family and friends and I can tell you with complete and utter confidence that if you’re looking for an unconventional afternoon tea in London, Monmouth Kitchen will give you the best version.

Each tier on the stand reflects perfectly executed items from the innovative afternoon tea menu offered by Monmouth Kitchen. As each tier was so delicious, I will be walking you through them individually in the following paragraphs. However, let’s stop for a moment and really look at how beautiful the three tier stand, the white marble table and the very chic ambience of the busy and popular Monmouth Kitchen, appears in the photograph. It is definitely aesthetically pleasing and picture friendly; the waiters will offer to take a photograph of you and your delightful three tier stand too so that you can capture the special moment.

Filling Italian bruschetta and flavoursome Peruvian tacos 

filling italian bruschetta and flavoursome peruvian tacos 

The on-point and high energy server will explain to you each item on the three tier stand and will ask if you have any questions as he/she is happy to depart their knowledge to you so as to enhance your Peruvian and Italian afternoon tea experience. In all honesty, however, you are unlikely to have any questions about the delectable dishes in such close proximity as quite clearly, the plates are screaming that you start enjoying them immediately.

British afternoon tea includes finely cut sandwiches as the bottom tier of a three tier stand and staying true to tradition, Monmouth Kitchen certainly offers some flavors on bread. It provides an Italian equivalent, which is a trio of bruschetta that consists of an eggplant parmigiana, cherry tomato, spinach and soft cheese. In addition, it includes some tantamount terrific tapas and incorporates its Peruvian twist to the tier. The tacos provided are salmon and jalapeno unless you are a vegetarian, in which case you will receive vegetarian tacos. 

You will find that the bruschetta is generously topped and you will feel an instant hit of flavors; I particularly enjoyed the smokiness of the eggplant with the melted mozzarella. The tacos were miniature yet were packed with so much sharp and spicy flavor that it was hard to resist them. The entire dish had real character and quality and captured how beautiful food can visually look due to its contrasting ingredients and colors. The distinctive flavors simultaneously complemented each other whilst the contrasting textures made the bruschetta and the tacos stand out.

Moist perfect amaretto and sicilian lemon scones

moist perfect amaretto and sicilian lemon scones

British afternoon tea includes scones on the middle tier of the three-tier stand and again, staying true to tradition, Monmouth Kitchen provides you with amaretto scones and Sicilian lemon scones accompanied by an orange and nectarine preserve with vanilla mascarpone. The friendly staff will kindly point out which scone is which because from their exterior, it is not immediately evident that you are fortunate to have two specific flavors to enjoy.

The freshly baked perfect scones are soft and moist in the middle and the different taste between the amaretto and Sicilian lemon is distinctive. You will relish every bite of the scone and there will not be a crumb left to devour. The accompaniment of the orange and nectarine preserve has a real tanginess and I particularly enjoyed it on the amaretto scone. Added onto the Sicilian lemon scone, it gives it a real citrusy taste and can be thoroughly enjoyed with one of the sweeter cocktails. The combination of flavors in the scones and the preserves adds to providing a Peruvian and Italian twist and you will get that comfort food feeling with a modern take on it when you try it.

Light, lovely, oozy, crumbly and perfectly sweetened items

light, lovely, oozy, crumbly and perfectly sweetened items

British afternoon tea includes desserts on the top tier of the three tier stand and again, Monmouth Kitchen delivers by providing you with an exceptional Italian and Peruvian take on this tier. The tier includes a flourless chocolate and orange cake, a fresh fruit tartlet, churros with Peruvian chocolate sauce and a white peach and oregano panna cotta. As you start to embrace each little item on this tier, the gliding and flawless staff will give you a twinkling smile because they know that this tier is simply heavenly.

The flourless chocolate and orange cake is light, lovely and oozy in every way. The fresh fruit tartlet is flavorsome and sweet with a pastry that crumbles in your mouth — so the best. The churros and Peruvian chocolate sauce is delicious and adds by creating a new chewy texture to the top tier. The white peach and oregano panna cotta was so refreshing and perfectly sweetened; it had to be my favourite and would be the item that I would recommend you eat last.

Staff with soul offering amazing experience

staff with soul offering amazing experience

Monmouth Kitchen is such a delightful establishment and by the time you finish eating the scrumptious items on all three tiers, you will be planning your return trip. You will feel that you have such good fortune to eat such wonderful dishes and have the decadent experience that Monmouth Kitchen offers. It is the type of eatery that everyone is now raving about and the glowing reviews online are forthcoming in abundance and especially at such a fast rate. After you have finished your afternoon tea experience, you won’t be pushed and rushed out but rather will be given some time to truly enjoy the cool ambience including relaxing in the chic bar area. 

You will find that the service is welcoming, attentive and demonstrates true intuitive dedication to perfection. It is rare to find somewhere where you can feel so at home and comfortable yet also feel special; Monmouth Kitchen, however, offers this opportunity. I have re-iterated the exceptional service throughout this review and I do so because I know that when you visit Monmouth Kitchen, you will experience it from the beginning and until the end when you receive your jackets and scarves from the cloakroom. Monmouth Kitchen is a five-star experience with perfect service in a fabulous and unpretentious environment; it is the place to go on any afternoon for tea.

An unusual combination that works without a doubt

It is not just enough to have breakfast, lunch and dinner; you need to have afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is a British tradition and the city in which you must have it is London. However, London being one of the most multicultural cities in the world means that you should not only try the traditional British afternoon tea, but also a modern and unusual take on it and this you must try at Monmouth Kitchen. You will be blown away by the newly created yet wonderfully smooth Monmouth Kitchen and its Peruvian and Italian take on British afternoon tea. 

Whilst to some it may appear an unusual combination, the combination certainly does work. Having experienced different takes on the traditional British afternoon tea in various establishments, the reason that it works so successfully at Monmouth Kitchen is because it incorporates the key fundamental components as in what should be included in the three tiers; however, it adds a unique twist by adding in more flavors and treats for your consumption. For 23 GBP (29 USD) per person, it is absolutely worth it and I would highly advise you book in advance as it will soon have a very long waiting list.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Puja Modha has trained as a lawyer, worked as a compliance officer and is an experienced travel journalist that enjoys writing about her experiences across the world. She was born in England, her...Read more

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