Archipelago (Fitzrovia)

• I don't think there is anything like this in London
• Aka the cricket salad but the current menu is still brazen enough
• The ambience tries to be eclectic to go with the restaurant theme
• I wouldn't be bothered with the decor when the food can keep you guessing
• The service was good and the waiters tried their best to explain us what we should expect from the dishes
• We ended the night with vodka which had a dead snake in it for many years (can't remember exactly
• Archipelago made my list when I was in the States and came across an article by GreatLittleplace
• Unfortunately it is also rather expensive
• I know that you are paying for the novelty
• T feel that the novelty was worth the price tag
• We were presented with a selection of canapes
• A bruschetta which I was very impressed with
• Zebra roulade with mango and raspberry chutney
• The spices it was cooked in and the chutney made it quite a tasty
• Though I thought it was probably the nicest vine wrapped dish I&rsquo
• The plum dipping sauce was what really made this dish
• In between we were offered a palate cleanser &ndash
• Stephen thought it was sneaky of them not to mention it
• Was an Asian inspired dish of kangaroo with bok choi and water chestnuts
• S choice of bison with cassava chips (the Pontiac Rodeo) was also quite similar to beef
• I actually thought his dish was really good
• Stephen thought the serving was paltry for the price and that the mushroom ketchup was bitter
• Each of these dishes were about £
• Even though there was some background music and we were sitting among other diners
• Rather than being annoyed they were spoiling the mood
• Even if your a bit squimish there are plenty of less 'exotic' options on the menu
• The service was wonderful warm
• They start the meal by filling a golden bowl with water &
• We started with some drinks
• My other half was very impressed with the beer &
• Quinoa salad was very flavoursome
• The dried fruit was lovely &
• The zebra jerky was not what I expected it was basically deep fried
• Mains I had a bison steak with Caesar salad &
• The salad was a great side creamy with a nice crunch throughout I assume it was nuts but it could have been bugs
• The blue potatoes were gorgeous but the pepper sauce that came with the steak was too overpowering
• He enjoyed the meat he was let down by the plantain crisps which being so thin became cold very quickly &
• The buttermilk jelly which was bland &
• He also had a 'live' salad leaves with edible flowers &
• We finished with a delicious chocolate soufflé
• Very rich so perfect to share but the curry is more of warming nutmeg spice then a vindaloo
• I have read on previous reviews that the portion sizes are tiny however we found they were huge &
• It's not the best food I've ever eaten but it's different &
• This may have something to do with all of the decorative pieces scattered around
• I would say it is a bit jumanji esque
• The tables are quite close together but it did not feel strange because the decorative pieces in between help maintain an element of personal space
• The wine and cocktail list is impressive
• Not complaining as they went down well with the sliders and dips
• We tried Kangaroo first and it was packed with flavour
• The restaurant was out of today
• It looked very similar to the kangaroo but was more subtle in flavour
• If you have ever tried slow cooked mutton than this is very similar
• All of the sliders were accompanied by 'garnishes' of the various garnishes I would recommend the cucumber pickle and black garlic mayonnaise
• After a short wait we were presented with the sharing platter
• A mixed leaf salad with various bugs on top
• I had never tried bugs before and found that really the gross factor is all in the mind
• The sauce they were fried in was chilli and garlic which gave the tasteless crisp morsels some flavour
• The croc patties were the same as what came in the slider
• Maybe my palate was just craving something familiar
• The alpaca meat was again like pulled pork in texture with a spicy mutton flavour
• Me the kangaroo skewers were the star of the show
• The marinade was divine and the skewers were cooked to perfection
• The sides were pretty standard and went well with the meat feast
• I'd definitely leave room for sweets as there were some interesting items on the menu
• The menu itself was nicely presented in the form of a 2nd hand book
• All in all Archipelago is a fantastic experience
• The restaurant inside is like a museum of African and Asian objects
• The staff is all very nice And up to the restaurant they explain everything on the menu and everything that is in the plate they are nice and professional
• When you visit instead of saying the name of the booking you have to say the ''password'' which is a nice idea
• The waiter was extremely helpful and keen to explain any questions we had about the menu
• I'm extremely glad I tried Archipelago (Fitzrovia) and would love to revisit to try more crazy dishes with meats from around the world
• Archipelago is a place you visit to feel adventurous
• Ve seen it all on Animal Planet before and the entire concept of man against the beast is very clear to you but it is also quite far fetched for us London dwelling
• Pythons and crickets are all eaten in other parts of the world
• Step into Archipelago and you are instantly whisked away to a foreign land
• The best part about a meal here is not just the fact that they offer exotic meat
• Every dish is crafted with such care and intuition that you are blown away by something quite unexpected
• Not only was the crocodile starter I had absolutely delicious but even the pickled samphire it came with had me quite literally licking my lips and surprised by the innovation in pairing the dish
• The restaurant looks like somewhere that might offer to give you a palm reading or figure out your life through tarot cards the place is filled to the brim with eclectic decor and original props
• Neither I nor E were particularly adventurous with our choices
• We started with a couple of their mini slider/hot dog selections
• I'm not sure what else was in there but it wasn't a particularly meaty slider
• His side dish of cream potatoes was good but nothing special
• I'm guessing that is the nature of bison meat
• The smoked chips were excellent the smoky flavour is very original and it went well with the steak
• I know Archipelago (Fitzrovia) is all about the novelty of exotic cooking and unusual dishes
• To us it was literally dry bits of chocolate with pieces of olive
• My dessert was marginally better
• The ice cream was almost powdery in texture
• The only thing that made it slightly better was the salted caramel sauce
• The experience wasn't all bad (our mains were pretty good
• The waiter and waitress serving us were so lovely)
• It's a completely subjective opinion and there are many who seem to love Archipelago so you might too Alexandra of Zomato and where2dowhat
• Just make sure you are ready to go on a culinary safari
• The starters its always a good idea kick off with the croc wraps
• The neighbourhood was not very reassuring at night because it was deserted
• I then decided I wanted to stick with what I know
• We were watching a demonstration that the waitress was giving to the table next to ours
• My original feedback for Archipelago was summed up in just one word
• The interior is atmospheric
• Crammed to the rafters with little curios and eccentricities
• I actually would have like some sort of subtle signage telling me what I was looking at but perhaps that&rsquo
• S been a long week and what I am after is a gentle meal to see me through the night and refresh me to face the rest of the week
• The parfait could use a stronger blue cheese flavour as this was far too mild
• I branched out a little with the zebra jerky and a portion large enough to count as a main came out to greet me
• Having no idea what zebra is supposed to taste like
• M detecting is really from the crispy batter but it&rsquo
• Is Lamb served with Dukkah and sweet potato
• The sweet potato cake is in some form of a rough mash and I think I&rsquo
• The lamb portion again was huge and I could not fight my way through all of it
• The massaman chicken served two ways was also pronounced a success
• I can't deny that I was left a little disillusioned as soon as we entered the place
• The seating area with our table seemed a little crammed to me
• What was unique about Archipelago for me is that every meal is like a makeover for the meat
• The blue cheese and chicken were sober choices but even those were an experience with the plating
• Archipelago is not a place you can just walk into if you are hungry its more than just food
• A big thanks to Zomato for a voucher to Archipelago (Fitzrovia) it came out of nowhere and was a lovely surprise
• As curry connoisseurs we like to think we are adventurous when it comes to food
• Upon arrival we were greeted and placed at our table by a friendly enough waitress
• We were presented with our first novelty menu of the evening &ndash
• M not sure is that important within a beer and at £
• It seemed to be more around trying to shock us with the &lsquo
• In truth the crocodile was a disappointment
• Moreish and served with what could only be described as a lovely dusting of biltong
• Buttermilk jelly and patecones) with sides of thai coconut rice and braised bok choi
• Both the kangaroo and alpaca were nice as component parts
• This brings us back round to our initial experience with the waitress &ndash
• Re never going to be a million miles apart in what can be done with the flavours or texture
• We were left thinking that perhaps it was a little style over substance
• Archipelago is worth a visit for something a little bit different or if you like the bells and whistles of eating over the eating itself
• As we left we were offered a voucher for lunch the next day
• This restaurant is very exotic and they serve zebra burgers
• The combination was tasty and quite good
• Archipelago (Fitzrovia) is really suitable for a romantic lunch or dinner
• The food menu is really varied and simply amazing
• The Zebra Steak is simply delicious
• The dishes on the menu are made to sound very exotic
• The presentation is deplorable
• It has some very innovative dishes and the decor complements this with its own quirk
• The interiors are marked with some African masks and carvings
• I also had rabbit and plantains with chocolate sauce which I found to be pretty average
• Their coffee was absolutely brilliant
• Archipelago (Fitzrovia) was quite a discovery
• The interiors are rather quirky giving it a fun vibe
• So its better to avoid gong with those who are vegetarian
• This is a small place with an interesting ambiance which comprises of dark walls
• All the dishes we ordered were served well and tasted great
• A password is given to enter the restaurant if you book in advance
• I think there is asking for card details before hand is absolutely not required
• They have a quirky and unique setting and it is conducive to all kinds of meetings
• The service was also helpful and friendly
• Followed by the Kangaroo and the meal was sumptuous and delicious
• The restaurant is done up beautifully and very exquisitely
• The ambiance is great in all aspects
• I must say they have a terribly exotic menu and it is not for the faint hearted
• The dishes we ordered as starers were outstanding and the zebra meat was delicious
• They had some good wines available which were quite well priced
• The staff here is great and very helpful with doubts
• Archipelago (Fitzrovia) was a joy to eat at
• The presentation of the dishes was amazing and very detailed
• On the day of the reservation until the very end was impeccable
• The staff ran through the dishes very effectively and I was very impressed by the training they were given by the management
• The atmosphere is always lively there and you may have to wait for a little while to get a table
• It was very average and there was nothing to it
• The service was also brilliant with very helpful and fun staff
• Our waitress was very amusing and kept us entertained
• The ambiance is comfortable and chic
• The food is delicious and The portions are adequate except for desserts that are tiny
• The service was quick and the staff is attentive
• We ordered a lot of food and everything was so perfectly cooked and freshly prepared
• My meal here was one that will always remain memorable
• The dishes were done up and presented beautifully
• With staff which was very attentive and efficient
• Archipelago (Fitzrovia) holds a special place for me as this was the location where my partner proposed
• I believe this is a must visit restaurant with a cool decor like that of a treasure map
• I would have preferred it with a bit of rice
• The love bug salad with worms and locusts tasted nice
• Archipelago (Fitzrovia) is very unique and entertaining
• All the dishes that i have tried here are pretty unusual and mouth watering delicious
• It is a very unusual restaurant with people who are looking for a different dining experience
• We went ahead with ordering the zebra
• The restaurant is unusual and we felt the same from the very beginning
• The starters were surprisingly good but the mains were disappointing
• One of the dishes arrived cold and the other was not spicy as promised
• The prices are also decent
• Ordering chicken breast or smoked salmon (which are also on the menu) would be a waste
• A great place for dinner with friends or with a date
• We went there for lunch and because I was a bit late my friend ordered some starters to surprise me
• Suddenly I lost my courage in trying all this wild creatures which were seating on my plate
• I had to try it and for my surprise everything was interesting and pretty tasty
• I was scared to be too gutsy and my friend ordered the lovebugs with some crunchy worms and some salad
• I've tried the bugs and the taste it was just crunchy
• The service was really good
• Atmosphere pretty unique to make everything real with palms and peacocks feathers and all sorts of statues all around the restaurant
• Only after I left I read about the meat that is ethically sourced
• I chose to go with the lunch sharing platter
• The crocodile was wonderful and had a kinda chicken with more intense flavour kind of vibe
• The belly pork was cooked perfectly and had lovely crispy skin that melted in my mouth
• I ate this with the Thai salad and mashed potato
• It is like lamb with a kick of spice to wake you up on a Monday afternoon
• I would happily eat this dish on its own and would continue until it was the last food I ate
• Archipelago is a wonderful restaurant
• Archipelago is perfect for you
• Where else in London are you going to try crickets
• T feel like a restaurant in London and the atmosphere is really laid back
• Every detail from the menu to the decor is so authentic
• T really matter what is tasted like as long as I gained the bragging rights
• We ordered sweet chilli zebra burger with black garlic mayonnaise and a sharing platter for two
• T a big fan of was the crocodile
• The dessert choices were presented in yet another unique menu
• Archipelago is definitely worth a visit
• The restaurant is not cheap but not overly expensive
• The facilities are clean and decorated in keeping with the main area of the restaurant
• The kangaroo main was delightfully tender and packed full of flavour
• Combined well with the spices and herbs selected by the chef
• My crocodile in vine leaves starter was pleasant enough
• If you want to play it safe this is not the place for you
• Put aside your doubts and go in with a gung ho attitude as if you were a foodie Scott approaching the Rosa Ice Shelf
• The salmons were served with slightly wilted seasoned spinach
• The food and drink menu were in a glass bottle and a mini treasure chest and the dessert menu was in a book
• The ambience is lovely and would be great for something unusual
• I never thought I was the squeamish type
• We shared a platter of sliders for starters and picked the kangaroo and crocodile sliders with a couple of Thai and polish pork hot dogs to ease us in
• The kangaroo meat is similar to lamb or mutton and the crocodile slider coated in breadcrumbs was tasty like a crispy chicken nugget
• Our main meal of duck confit salad with kimchi was little too dry for my personal taste
• The addition of kimchi was a pleasant kick to it
• The begat arisen paneer curry was delicious and rich
• Our side orders of creamed potato and smoked chips were good too the chips nothing special but the creamy Potato was just what we needed to remedy the cold day
• I really enjoyed my coffee sweetened with condensed milk with a strong coffee kick
• One of the best culinary experiences of my life
• Foor a different not an everyday day experience with the company
• The hodgepodge of trinkets adorning almost every inch of the wall or floor space was just distracting
• The crocodile was nothing like I expected
• In my mind crocodiles are dangerous beasts with a rough exterior so I imagined it to be chewy and tough
• The python on the other hand was actually chewy and horrid
• It was the consistency of rubber with the taste of cardboard
• S point of difference are the unusual meats on their menu but surely any restaurant&rsquo
• S first priority is to serve edible food at the very least
• Spicy jerked alpaca with a cornmeal slice and buttermilk jelly
• Zhug marinaded kangaroo skewers with candy beetroot and guindilla salad
• The alpaca was pleasantly slow cooked and flavoursome but unfortunately the cornmeal slice was stale and wreaking of grease
• My kangaroo was also rather enjoyable
• I felt like I was just eating beef when I was munching on kangaroo and the alpaca could have easily passed for a pulled pork at just under £
• My motto is to try anything once (though dog and whale are firmly on the veto list) but maybe I underestimated my bravery because I didn&rsquo
• I love my sweet treats but even my sweet tooth was beginning to ache by the end of it a little bit of acidity or freshness would have made such a difference
• Re here for a fun experience and a funny tidbit they can show off with at the next dinner party
• A fabulous quirky restaurant which is a hidden gem of London
• The upstairs had a real atmosphere but we were ushered downstairs to an empty floor
• The python was overwhelmingly salty
• The Saigon Seduction (massaman chicken two ways) was by far my favourite dish
• The winner is the cuisine
• To a dining room so cluttered with a hotchpotch of chintz and lit so dimly it&rsquo
• The initial experience is somewhat over the top and bizarre
• Delicious when dipped in the tangy carrot and ginger sauces with a dusting of the finely blitzed biltong
• Delivered wonderfully pink and served with baked potatoes pumped full of blue cheese and a small Caesar salad
• The damage was quite damaging &ndash
• The paraphernalia is distracting and unnecessary
• Especially when there is someone in the kitchen who clearly knows what they&rsquo
• Celebrating birthdays is always good fun
• What if you was served an eclectic menu consisting of mealworm
• She really provided us with the entertainment that encompassed the whole dining esoteric
• Apparently this restaurant was on a list I wrote of top 15 restaurants I want to visit but for some reason I cant remember it
• Clearly my list was well researched because this is one amazing hidden gem in London
• The service was polite &
• Spooky was the stuffed peacock stationed at the window at the entrance and weird were the larger than expected Buddha&rsquo
• T sure what I was to expect except watching strange creepy crawlies on my plate
• So perhaps as was the fashion at that time
• Crocodile in vine leaves was like spicy chicken and actually the queasiest thing on the plate was the plum chutney
• Python carpaccio was actually like chicken mortadella
• After a few bites all I could picture was a coiling green python
• Alpaca wrapped in a banana leaf was a well spiced rendang
• Interesting was the buttermilk jelly and chilli jam that accompanied it and delicious was the Mogo chips
• Ostrich served with twice cooked blue potato and the Asian ceasar salad is perhaps the advert for exotic meats that would actually attract enthusiasts to Archipelago (Fitzrovia)
• S like tender steak and went very well with the peppercorn butter
• Asian ceasar salad with the crunchy popaadums was too salty
• Overall this is a winning dish
• The ants and pupae served in soup spoons are gag inducing by sight and imagination but once you get over that and take a bite you realise they are crispy with a mild taste of nothing
• In the future world short of food the ones who can adapt to the protein packed bugs are the ones who will perhaps survive
• The glasses of wine were essential especially with the bugs
• A bit shaky and with us not getting the 25% lunch time discount without us reminding felt slightly close to being taken for a ride
• We did clarify that all of the produce is ethically farmed but I think now that I have crossed this off my bucket list
• Little restaurant with small tables

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