Tucked away into a Fitzrovia side street, Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen now houses a fantastically British festival styled cuisine. For the last few years, the brainchild of former o2 Academy Marketing Director, Jules Heaton, Saucy Chip has aimed to offer a fresh, additive free approach to festival cuisine and has secured VIP pitchings at BST, Bestival and beyond.
Last week, Saucy Chip opened the door to its first ever permanent restaurant fixture, set inside the buzzing Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen.
Combining a varied cocktail menu of classics and creations; and a solid list of reasonably prices wines, both by the glass & by the bottle, this new installation merges Festival-style street food with casual gourmet dining elements and creative cocktails such as the Luxury Lynchburg – which supercharges the classic Lynchburg Lemonade topping it with Perrier Jouet NV Champagne – and the more classic, yet still imaginative Pear Martini – which shakes Grey Goose Le Poire Vodka with Amaretto, Maraschino Liqueur and Apple Juice, and is served strong in a cognac-rinsed glass.
With these elements playing out alongside each other, Saucy Chip makes for a fantastic experience and the food really speaks for itself.
I’m always a tad cautious when it comes to ordering a dish that comprises ‘truffle glaze’ but the Truffle Burger fully surpassed my expectations, served perfectly pink alongside “the best chips in London” and two dipping sauces (in my case, Jerk BBQ & a heated Peri-Peri Mayo).
On the other side of the table, my guest opted for something a little spicier. The Saucy Devil Burger combined a medium rare beef patty with chilli cheese, tomato, amazingly crisp baby gem lettuce, streaky treacle bacon, onion jam and fantastically spicy mayo & mustard, all packed neatly into a buttery brioche bun.
The ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Chips’ were to die for. The chunky beef gravy that covered layers of melted cheddar, Red Leicester and secret seasoning is created over a period of 24 hours and is hands-down “the best gravy outside of Manchester”, quite the accolade from my guest.
Although dessert was a decadent over-indulgence – the stuff great nights are made of. Layers of caramel brownie combined with rich red fruits, cookie dough, Oreo & Rolo crumb, pecan brittle and vanilla & chocolate ice cream were finished with frothy whipped cream and a single Twix finger, most definitely doing justice to its name: Death by Chocolate Brownie.
Finishing a memorable night with a classic Espresso Martini and a raspberry-led Summer Fizz Punch we looked across the bar as people began their mission of dancing the night away.
Thank you, Saucy Chip. We can’t wait to see you again.
Photography: Tom Russell
Saucy Chip
33-34 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JN
