Terminal Fare
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On the drive to Heathrow, I passed three billboards featuring Gordon Ramsay. Two for Gordon's Gin and one for his new cookbook. Then passing through security I saw it right in front of me: Plane Food. Why tempt fate?
The restaurant is on a plane in the middle of T5, with open space to the sides and above. This design theme is carried out successfully in the rest of the terminal, which feels airy and expansive. And now that 'T5 Is Working', it's a pretty fabulous place.
I was seated at one of the boomerang-shaped banquettes along the entrance, which are perfect for those who like to place their hand luggage on seats around them. With at least five feet of space per person, there's also enough room to let your baby kick around and even change a diaper or two.
I opted for a starter and main from the regular menu, as opposed to the Speedy and Picnic Menus. The goats cheese tart with red peppers was tasty, placed on a perfectly flaky pastry flat. My squash risotto with crumbled Amaretto cookies and parmesan was also very good. It was certainly a few steps up from the normal terminal fare - and at £20, twice the price.
As much as anything, Plane Food was a peaceful place to kill 90 minutes before the flight. And I wasn't the only one doing it - the man in front of me had a leisurely bottle of wine, and the person to my left was engrossed in a book.
Restaurants in big draw venues often don't try very hard, but the service was acceptable and it was clear the management took their jobs seriously. But would I go again if it wasn't at T5? If it was in another terminal, definitely.
And since Gordon is almost everywhere else, who knows what the future holds.
I was seated at one of the boomerang-shaped banquettes along the entrance, which are perfect for those who like to place their hand luggage on seats around them. With at least five feet of space per person, there's also enough room to let your baby kick around and even change a diaper or two.
I opted for a starter and main from the regular menu, as opposed to the Speedy and Picnic Menus. The goats cheese tart with red peppers was tasty, placed on a perfectly flaky pastry flat. My squash risotto with crumbled Amaretto cookies and parmesan was also very good. It was certainly a few steps up from the normal terminal fare - and at £20, twice the price.
As much as anything, Plane Food was a peaceful place to kill 90 minutes before the flight. And I wasn't the only one doing it - the man in front of me had a leisurely bottle of wine, and the person to my left was engrossed in a book.
Restaurants in big draw venues often don't try very hard, but the service was acceptable and it was clear the management took their jobs seriously. But would I go again if it wasn't at T5? If it was in another terminal, definitely.
And since Gordon is almost everywhere else, who knows what the future holds.
Here Is The Writer : Sarah Western Balzer
Sarah Western Balzer is the managing director of HITC Life and is always on the lookout for reader-writers, so if you'd like to be one, make yourself known (sarah.western@hereisthecity.com). Sarah moved to London six years ago from New York but is originally from Florida, and still suntans like it's 1989. She is so grateful to the banker who introduced her to Here Is The City that she married him, and they live in Wapping with their son.
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