A landmark of the High Street, Quod boasts an opulent facade, its name reminding me of my doom on the way to my Latin lectures. And so, when they extended an invitation to review the restaurant, I welcomed the chance to dispel its previous negative associations. On a gloomy November evening, its warm lighting was appealing, and through its glass doors and tall windows, an atmosphere of upmarket ease, simultaneously intimate and spacious, promised a luxurious dining experience. From the moment we were received into the restaurant’s ambient interior, it was clear that we were the youngest ones there by at least 20 years.
Quod offers its diners a range of European dishes, priding itself on the quality and freshness of its ingredients. The wine list was extensive, and rendered null and void the few pretensions at sommeliership I thought I’d picked up through college formals. I chose a red wine (at random) to pair with my starter. The menu was reassuringly seasonal, with dishes showcasing autumnal vegetables and fruits. We ordered the goat’s cheese and beetroot salad and the roasted red pepper soup, each of which showed thoughtful curation in their flavour profiles.
For our mains, we both chose the ricotta and squash ravioli, swimming in a rich sauce of sage butter, and topped with pine nuts. The pasta was undoubtedly fresh, and texturally perfect. It had just enough bite to counteract the soft filling, avoiding the all-too-common mistake of mushy squash. The dessert menu similarly did not disappoint. We ordered the vanilla cheesecake with roasted plums, and the chocolate pot with orange creme fraiche. The cheesecake had a brulée topping, providing the perfect contrast to the creamy texture. The pairing of chocolate and orange is classic for a reason, and the crunch from the hazelnut praline complemented it well. The cocktail menu covers all bases, from dessert cocktails like an espresso martini, to lighter, champagne-based drinks. We seized the opportunity to try such ostentatiously chic drinks, choosing a French 75 and a Manhattan – they came complete with citrus twists which would have made Tom Cruise proud.
The display of fresh oysters, the pristinely uniformed waiters, and the candlelit table setting imposed an atmosphere of haute cuisine that was, admittedly, rather undercut as we gossiped over our cocktails. When we propped up our phones to take a picture, two drinks down, I suspect that we were met with a few disapproving glances. I felt I couldn’t quite live up to the role of the refined gourmet which the setting seemed to demand. Quod is, by virtue of its elevated quality and even more elevated price point, an occasional restaurant. By that I mean I would only go if someone else is paying. But should the opportunity arise, I’d be more than happy to cosplay once again as a fine-dining connoisseur.
What we ate:
Roasted red pepper, tomato & basil Soup (£8.95), Soft goat’s cheese, beetroot, & walnuts (£10.95), Ricotta & squash ravioli with sage & pine nut butter (£18.95), Vanilla cheesecake with roasted plums (£10.95), Chocolate pot with orange crème fraiche (£10.50), Manhattan (£15.50), French 75 (£16.00), Red wine (£10.50 a glass).
