Having opened their first location in 1988, Mildreds are seasoned professionals when it comes to meat-free dining. They began as a vegetarian restaurant, and have since gone fully plant-based, earning them the title of London’s favourite vegan restaurant in 2023. They're all about sustainability (and great food, of course), employing a 'root to tip' philosophy to use as much of each ingredient as they can. In addition, their suppliers are carefully chosen - using local, organic produce as much as possible.
I had previously visited their Victoria site and was keen to return, so when I heard that they'd recently updated their menu, I chose to head to their Covent Garden and check it out.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Mildreds Covent Garden
This pretty pink restaurant can be found in Covent Garden.
Need To Know:
- Address: 79 St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4AA
- Area: Covent Garden
- Cuisine: international, vegan
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: this intimate venue is just round the corner from Leicester Square, and it was full of the buzzing energy that you'd expect from the area. It had a pretty, pale pink colour scheme and walls that were lined with colourful paintings, and we were given a corner seat to look out over the rest of the vibrant space. There was a very social vibe too, with couples and groups of friends sharing dishes all around us.
- Perfect For: flavour-packed plant-based dining, sharing meals.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For
Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: around £130 for two, including three courses and two drinks each.
The Mildreds Covent Garden menu is best shared.
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Turmeric carrot hummus (£7.50) - a spiced twist on the classic dip, this smooth and creamy hummus was an excellent start to the meal. It was topped with pomegranate seeds and za'tar oil, and went nicely with the soft pita (£3.90).
- Chipotle chick+n tinga tacos (£10.90) - though these were in the starter section of the Mildreds menu, this was a huge portion. The two sizeable soft tacos were filled with pieces of imitation chicken in a smoky chipotle coating, alongside lime sour cream, cahrred pineapple salsa and slaw. It had a sweetly spicy taste overall, and the texture of the meat was like the real thing.
- Shawarma kebab (£19.50) - this plate came fully loaded. The skewer of glazed mushrooms and greens was enormous, served on a bed of tahini cream, and on the side were small cubes of roasted potatoes, a pimento bean dip and a spiced lentil, pepper and aubergine salad. You certainly make a dent in your five a day with this dish, and it was full of bold Mediterranean flavours.
- Stout mince and onion pie (£19.90) - a warm, comforting main course, this flky pie was filled with a rich mince and onion blend, served with creamy mash, roasted carrots and a selection of greens, as well as plenty of delicious gravy.
- Pistachio cheesecake (£10.90) - one of the newer items on their menu, this dessert was nothing short of sensational. The vibrant green mousse was velvety and smooth - an impressive feat when using no dairy at all - and the kataifi chocolate base crumbled to the touch. It had a tart raspberry drizzle that complemented the sweetness nicely, topped with whipped cream. If you're goin to order one thing on the menu, make it this.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Lychee rose martini (£12) - this delicate concoction was made of gin, lychee, rose and citrus, with an elegant, floral taste to it.
- Jalapeno cucumber martini (£12.50) - a peppery blend of jalapeño-infused el tequileno blanco, cointreau, cucumber liqueur and citrus, this drink was the perfect mix of refreshing and spicy.
Our Overall Experience At Mildreds London
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was once again impressed by Mildreds, thanks to their varied menu of plant-based meals. We sampled a wide range of their new dishes and I'd honestly recommend them all - particularly the chicken tacos and pistachio cheesecake. As someone who isn't vegan, I could easily be converted by this menu. Their cocktail selection complements the food nicely, and the whole vibe of the restaurant lends itself to socialising - from the sharing plates to the friendly atmosphere.
