The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen Aldgate: Review

Located just next to Aldgate station you’ll find The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen, a modern, open restaurant where you can get brunch, a huge variety of cocktails and dishes from around the world.

The restaurant opened on May 1, and with its popular Burger & Bevy offer where you can get a burger and a drink for just £15, it's no wonder why it’s a popular spot for anyone looking for a spot to eat out.

At The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen you can get brunch, a huge variety of cocktails and dishes from around the world. (Image: Emily Davison) I recently went there to try out the food and with a big variety of Italian dishes, British classics and unusual cocktails I was keen to get stuck in.

Browsing the cocktail menu I can say they definitely had quite a lot on offer, with a lot of their own takes on classics like the Martini and Margarita.

Beginning with cocktails, we started off the experience with the Stolen Kiss and Pineapple Picante cocktails, one a tarte blend of raspberry, gin and champagne, and the other a citrus mix of Cantinero Blanco tequila, pineapple and lime.

We started off the experience with the Stolen Kiss and Pineapple Picante cocktails, (Image: Emily Davison) We began with a selection of starter dishes consisting of mushroom arancini with pepper ketchup, along with creamy burrata served with cherry tomatoes and smoked olive oil. and a quinoa and avocado salad with a side of toasted ciabatta bread.

The range of food on offer was nicely varied, with a good selection of Italian dishes on offer, my personal favourite being the arancini which went well with the sauces.

Starters included a quinoa and avocado salad with a side of toasted ciabatta bread. (Image: Emily Davison) For mains we went with a trio of dishes, which included the pan-fried salmon with artichoke puree and sauce vierge, the roast chicken with spinach and truffle dashi sauce, and a side of grilled asparagus.

Each dish had a lot of flavour and the best way I can describe it is as the best upmarket “comfort food” with its rich sauces and textures.

For mains we went with a trio of dishes, which included the pan-fried salmon with artichoke puree and sauce vierge. (Image: Emily Davison) Finally for dessert we went with a sticky toffee pudding served with Armagnac ice cream, and an Earl Grey infused cheesecake.

Both were delicious, but for me the sticky toffee pudding really took the cake, it was indulgent and rich without being too heavy.

For dessert we went with a sticky toffee pudding served with Armagnac ice cream, and an Earl Grey infused cheesecake (Image: Emily Davison) Prices at the Cardinal start from £8 for a starter and £16 for a main, not the cheapest but definitely worth the price tag if you are looking for quality and good service.

Whether you fancy a lunch spot, a weekend brunch or somewhere to stop off for some food, I think The Cardinal is well worth a visit if you want a good meal out with friends or family.