Tucked into the heart of Soho, Firebird London offers a dazzling blend of Mediterranean flavours and open-fire cooking in a stylish and welcoming setting.
Opened in June 2022 by co-founders Anna Dolgushina and Madina Kazhimova, female-owned establishment, Firebird, has quickly earned its place as a culinary standout, praised for its innovative dishes and inviting atmosphere. The cosy 46-seat space blends sophistication with warmth, featuring minimalist interiors; bare walls, industrial style open kitchen, pretty fairy lights, and the choice of sitting by the bar or kitchen counter, or at one of the ten or so tables.
Firebird’s drinks menu is intriguing, offering a thoughtfully curated selection of natural and biodynamic wines, paired with inventive flame-inspired cocktails. Admittedly, I’ve been hesitant about natural wines in the past due to some less-than-stellar experiences. However, Firebird has completely changed my perspective. We begin with a glass of Franck Pascal’s Fluence Champagne, and I’m now a convert to natural wines. Its fresh, flinty character and refined elegance are truly delightful.
The menu showcases seasonal, produce-driven dishes with unexpected flavour pairings. On a recent lunch with a colleague, we are impressed with the small but interesting menu. We order a couple of sharing snacks; mushroom tartlet, and crab crostini, and they are delicious bites, designed to get us excited for what’s to come. For starters, we have tuna tartare with ponzu and cured egg yolk, and char-grilled halloumi, served with beetroot and an earthy olive tapenade. For mains, we have a generous, flaky tender piece of cod, which comes with cannellini beans. It’s flavoursome without being overpowering. A flavoursome onglet steak comes with Jerusalem artichoke puree, and radicchio, and I panic-order baked new potatoes, as I need carbs in my life (or at least my lunch), and I’m very glad I do as they are crispy and charred on the outside, and creamy on the inside. The whole meal encompasses comfort food with an elegant twist.
Although we’re full, the allure of a pistachio tiramisu is too much—we have to try it. It might just be the best tiramisu I’ve ever had, with the pistachio complementing the coffee perfectly. Its striking presentation would fit perfectly in a ‘Wicked’-themed menu!
We feel quietly pleased with ourselves for finding this unobtrusive gem of a Soho restaurant, as if we are somehow responsible for its very existence! It’s definitely somewhere to remember as the perfect respite from the madness of Oxford Street, particularly at this time of the year.
