Oak and Poppy serves appealing dishes on an all-day menu
IT’S a treacherous time to launch a restaurant – even in leafy Hampstead.
Thankfully, the team behind Oak and Poppy have bags of experience.
Mitch Tillman and his team run half a dozen revamped pub sites in London, all with their own distinct character.
A couple serve Thai dishes; another specialises in seafood. All share a tight grip on the nuts and bolts of running a successful hospitality business.
Oak and Poppy on Rosslyn Hill is their latest project, which their website describes as “an all-day dining concept nestled in the village’s historical architecture”.
The site was formerly Café Hampstead, which went bust. Before that, The Rosslyn Arms pub, with roots stretching back to around 1869.
The building has enjoyed a full refit, with two one-bedroom apartments due to open upstairs where you could stay.
The large dining room on the ground floor is beautifully lit and easy on the eye. The back half is under a large, retractable glass roof. A large, handcrafted tree – presumably inspired by the oak – stretches its branches across the middle of the space.
The emphasis here is on pastel colours and bright wood, with parquet flooring, flashes of pink and green and brass trimmings.
The all-day menu is cleverly designed and geographically skittish. There are appealing dishes from many cuisines: tacos, bao buns, Greek salad, babaganoush and tagliarini pasta.
The breakfast and brunch menu includes a quinoa porridge with coconut milk, peanut butter and maple syrup, a plate of hash browns with cheese and truffle and a posh bacon roll.
On the night I visited, Oak and Poppy was buzzing with a glossy local crowd. The acoustics work well, so there’s a good energy from the exciting hum of conversation and music turned down low.
The food I tried was very good. A superfood salad was fun to eat – a riot of texture and colour from quinoa, edamame, pomegranate, broccoli, carrot, mint and coriander, with a citrusy Asian dressing and a blast of pickled ginger. Fish tacos were pleasant – but would benefit from a bit more zing.
A terrific beefburger is presented as two mini sliders topped with cheddar, pickles and a kimchi mayo along with excellent fries.
A plant-based option is also available.
For drinks, you are well served with pints, wine, cocktails, a trio of artisan hot chocolates and house sodas such as pink grapefruit juice with basil syrup and a dash of spring water.
Top marks to the staff, who were well drilled and highly attentive. The manager Leo deserves special credit for his impeccable mastery of the room.
Prices are keen, too. Main courses hover between £15-£20; desserts are £7. This is a place you might pop into every week rather than just a special occasion.
This new opening feels well pitched for the area. One Google review describes it as a “chic local”, which feels about right.
Oak and Poppy
48 Rosslyn Hill, NW3
www.oakandpoppy.co.uk
020 3479 4888
info@oakandpoppy.co.uk
@oakandpoppyhampstead
