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A Night Out in London: National Portrait Gallery
By Amira Hashish, Evening Standard 01.10.09
Room with a view: The National Portrait Gallery restaurant
Plenty on show: there is lots to see at the Gallery
Look here too
The National Portrait Gallery provides a quirky alternative to the traditional Thursday or Friday night out. Open until 9pm, there is ample time to browse the exhibitions. In January there will be the added appeal of special talks from artists on Thursdays and live music on Fridays.
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2008 showcases the work of the most talented emerging young photographers, photography students and gifted amateurs alongside that of established professionals.
Also on show is Annie Leibovitz's A Photographer's Life, which has had much critical acclaim and Zaha Hadid's Portait in Changing Colours - the first work by Michael Craig-Martin, one of the key figures in British contemporary art, to be commissioned by the Gallery.
After absorbing the culture, relax in the roof-top restaurant and bar. This is one of London's hidden gems. Overlooking Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament it is worth booking a window seat for the best view.
The pre theatre menu is available between 5.30pm and 6.30 pm with a choice of salmon or pork for main course. At £15.50 for two courses or £18.50 for three it is reasonably priced but for a better selection go for the A La Carte option.
From this menu the Wild Mushroom Tart, Truffle Oil, Red Chard and Baby Spinach (£8.50) is delicious and full of flavour. The Confit of Gressingham Duck Leg drizzled with Devilled Plum Sauce (£10.50) is another popular starter.
For main course meat eaters will enjoy the Roasted Guinea Fowl, Braised Green Lentils, Chestnut Mushrooms & Bacon (£17.50). A vegetarian alternative is the Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto (£14). This may not be the most adventurous choice but as long as you aren't averse to getting full rather quickly this is an appetising dish.
If you still have enough room left, the Coffee Cheescake, Baileys Ice Cream & Orange Brandy Snap (£6.50) is a hard dessert to resist. More refreshing though is the ice cream & sorbet selection (£5).
It is little wonder that the food at The Portrait Restaurant is impressive. It is run by Searcys and has Swedish born Katarina Todosijevic as head chef. Katarina has worked for several prestigious Searcys outlets including Waterstones Piccadilly, 1802, the bar & dinning rooms at the Docklands museum and the Conran Group.
The friendly and helpful service is an added appeal; creating a welcoming atmosphere. With the dark winter nights, this room with a magnificent view is a cosy spot in which to dine and unwind. And a final walk through the gallery brings the evening to a splendid end.
For more information visit www.npg.org.uk
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