The Happenstance, St Paul’s

The Happenstance  is another restaurant from renowned London based bar group Drake & Morgan situated in Ludgate Hill, St Paul’s.  Following on from The Refinary in Southwark and The Anthology in the City, this new venue has another trick up its sleeve: stand-up comedy. Every Saturday evening until Christmas, diners can enjoy a three-course meal and a comedy show for the rather reasonable price of £40.

Walking in we couldn’t help but be amazed. The industrial décor, exposed brick, metal pipes and wooden floors are breathtaking. The informal setting of the dining room is also a great touch. An open plan kitchen allows diners to bask in awe as the chefs demonstrate their skills. A mix of plush chairs, banquette tables and intimate booths make a style of dining for everyone.

The menu was slightly overwhelming but in a good way! Steak, tapas-style sharing boards and veggie foods. A lot to choose from but definitely something everyone can enjoy. Food is served on chopping boards, mismatched china and cocktails in jam jars; vintage and quirky. Whilst others may find it annoying, it’s a breath of fresh air to dine greatly without the attachment of uber boujie surroundings. Candlelight and low ceilings definitely set the mood for a couple to dine out and have a romantic yet effortless evening.

We started with the minestrone soup with crispy ciabatta bread. Rich, warm and full of flavour, definitely a winter warmer (I could eat this all year round!) For our main we had chicken with mushrooms, potatoes and spinach served with a tarragon jus. There was a lot to go through but it boasted depth, richness and complexity. We ended with an apple and blackberry crumble with vanilla ice cream. Amazing combination of flavours but the crumble was overcooked. Fear of cracking a tooth lead me not to finish this dish.

My only disappointment was the Malaysian vegetable curry; while the chicken and the minestrone soup was portioned perfectly this dish had me feeling a little unfulfilled. Great flavours and spices but just a little too small. My other peeve was the service, once seated and given a menu we waited 20 mins before being served and that was only after speaking to the manager. Having different waiters and waitresses around left us confused as to who had been assigned to our table. However once the food came, all was forgotten.

After having our bellies filled our evening of stand-up comedy followed. It was bit slow to start but once it began, there was not a dry eye in the crowd. From crude to down right shocking, the comedians really gave the night an extra bang. Each comedian had a 20-minute set then we had a 10-minute interval; this gave us the right amount of stage presence.

To cut a long story short, the unpretentious, sophisticated restaurant is a definite YES! Amazing food and a barrel of laughs. What other way is there to spend your Saturday night? Either with a group of friends or a partner, this is definitely recommended and bound to jazz up your Saturday nights. Thumbs up.

The Happenstance
No 1 Ludgate Hill
St Paul’s
EC4M 7AA

Tel: 0845 468 0104