What happens when you put two Michelin-starred chefs together, one a confessed raver and the other a rock ‘n’ roll enthusiast? Island, the creative and unapologetically itself surf and turf restaurant in King's Cross that blossomed from Brad Carter (Carters of Moseley and One Star Doner Bar) and Tom Brown’s (Cornerstone, Pearly Queen, and Tom Brown at The Capital) time travelling together, and subsequently, bromance.
Famed for its innovative approach to seafood, Brown has that side of things covered, while Carter brings his knowledge and a nose-to-tail approach to the meats.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Island In King's Cross
Island at Mare Street Market's The Chandelier Room in King's Cross (pictured).
Need To Know:
- Address: The Chandelier Room, 1st Floor, Mare Street Market, 2 Lewis Cubitt Walk, N1C 4DY
- Area: King's Cross
- Cuisine: surf and turf
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: the lighting was incredibly intimate, and the pastel-coloured, dazzling lampshades made the ceiling resemble a bag of bejewelled Dolly Mixtures. We entered the restaurant in front of the open kitchen, where ginormous flames were ablaze, uncommonly large for a condensed cooking space, one that’s fire alarm would’ve immediately been set off if not for the bulky air vent at its core.
- Perfect for: the sharing-style menu suits groups of friends and colleagues, looking for a fun bite to eat.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £215 for two, excluding service charge
The scallop corndog (pictured left) and the grilled shawarma prawns (right).
Menu Highlights
- Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Scallop corndog (£15) - this was a clever take on the American snack. The scallop was smashed into the dish’s familiar oblong shape, deep fried and drizzled in a sauce made from its roe, and complete with a lobster-based ketchup, which added a fabulous depth for what was a small but mighty skewer.
- Steak tartare with prawn crackers (£14) - exactly what you’d expect from a steak tartare, but with the added layer of an oyster emulsion, which added a salty, yet refreshing lift to it, especially when shovelled into my mouth atop a sweet, crisp prawn cracker.
- Flat iron steak (£28) - oh so tender, this was a buttery cut that my knife and fork slid through, and the jus to accompany was full of umami depth.
- Raspberry trifle (£12) - this was a new addition to the menu on the day we visited, and it was such a fun one that I felt really sang to Brown and Carter’s playful approach to the restaurant.
- Grapefruit margarita (£15.50) - the grapefruit added a tart element to the classic drink, which was appreciated.
Our Overall Experience At Island, King's Cross
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I thought that Island was a fun restaurant that really leaned into the expertise of each chef’s craft, without taking itself too seriously, and it was evident that a lot of joy was had in creating the menu. I found the price points a little high, but for such quality ingredients and big names around the project, it seemed worth it, and the food we ordered was delicious.
