Andrew Edmunds - Romantic London restaurant - huddle-up and get close

Snowfall in London calls for romance and Andrew Edmunds, a Soho-based institution hits the high notes for intimate bohemian charm with the right degree of buzz.  Occupying two floors of a small Georgian townhouse, the effusive service and character-filled interior are combined with an inexpensive, limited European-based food menu and an extensive and reasonably price winelist to create a go-to place for when you want a simple supper with the one you love.

Go for the terteloni!

Can you smell the heady aroma of the truffle oil?

I am a sucker for a good carpaccio and therefore couldn't go past the marinated Black Angus beef with wild mushrooms, shaved pecorino & truffle oil (£9.00). On  a freezing night, this hit all the right notes: warmed mushrooms combined with the heady aroma of truffle and delicate tasting beef. Our warm aubergine, puy lentil, pinenut & pomegranate molasses salad (£4.75) was full of earthy goodness and had the right balance of sweet and sour.

A well balanced puy.

The main menu was matched perfectly to the snow falling outside: think hearty classics such as Gloucester Old Spot pork & chorizo stew with peppers & chickpeas (£15.00) or hind of venison steak with mash & braised shallots (£18.50). Whilst these dishes might be calling your name if you visit, we settled on fishier themes. The whole lemon sole with parsley & lemon butter (£18.00) was delicious and perfectly seasoned. Our seared tuna steak with roast daikon, sesame & soy spinach with sweet chilli sauce (£15.00), was the most generous serving of tuna we have ever seen this side of the international dateline. The only let-down was the sweet chilli sauce - something a little more adventurous and homemade would have been better. A big call-out goes to the special of the day: monkfish & lobster torteloni with brown crab & rocket sauce (£20). Our generous serving of homemade pasta perfectly combined our love of carbs and seafood.

The delicate and perfectly seasoned sole.

That is one hunk of perfectly cooked tuna.

Whilst there were many pudding options, we couldn't go past the warmly recommended sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream (apparently it is the second best in London). Whilst generous in size, I didn't feel it had the punch offered by former sticky toffees we have jumped head-long into, and therefore not worth a gold medal. Good, but not great.

Snow = sticky toffee

Andrew Edmunds isn't for you if you want trendy or cutting edge. Go when you want a place with an intimate atmosphere and inexpensive dishes, friendly and attentive service.  Take someone you love (I did).