Alimentum
our comments
Located a short walk from the station, itself just forty-five minutes from Kings Cross, Alimentum is housed in a brand new building. All around is undergoing development so while the area looks a bit tatty now, in a few years it should be very desirable. The interior is clearly looking forward to that day, with classy décor that gets the right balance between modern and formal and for once I can’t see any of those ubiquitous high backed brown leather chairs. The black and red colours scheme, the low voltage lights, the cool and compact bar area all work seamlessly to create a high-end restaurant with a bit of a Hoxton feel innit. Andrew Sinclair the chef, not the novelist who was an Oxford man anyway doncha know, has got the food here just right with a menu that really has you doing the ‘I’ll have the xxx, no the xx, oh well maybe the xx after all” thing. This is good; far better to be spoilt for choice than settling for less. His presentation on the plate is unfussy but has all the little swirls, dots and commas of purees and reduced juices that really please the eye. Wines come by the bottle and glass, and also by the carafe of 25cl, although I regard that as a large glass myself. A raviolo tightly packed with oxtail pretty much set out Alimentum’s stall. This is unpretentious meat that foodies know is one of the best, here it sat on solid supports of sautéed mushrooms, bone marrow and oxtail jus. The sort of thing you might find at Arbutus, or the Westerly, and the mark of a kitchen that is focussed on flavour. A deceptively simple salad of red chicory and watercress, chestnuts, apple and Beenleigh Blue mixed crunch with velvet in an assured way, the bitter chicory swaggeringly mixing it up with the sweet apple and the tangy cheese. Braised pork belly, parsnip, shallot, spiced pork sauce was again a dish that only a confident and assured restaurant can pull off. The belly was almost certainly cooked sous-vide so it arrived perfectly formed and shreddy tender. The shallot, the banana type, was large and a bit OTT for me but everything else was spot on. The parsnips, which came in their own mini-marmite, were honey glazed and without a touch of woodiness and perfect for the job, as was shredded cabbage almost raw which is the best way to cook cabbage as far as I’m concerned. Beef bourguignon was a single piece of very tender beef on a bed of creamy mash and perfectly cooked green beans, mixed together with flavour-packed baby onions and woodland smoky pancetta. Once again, substance was all while fine style the icing on the cake. Talking of cake apple tart tatin was okay, not quite as gooey as I normally like it but the cinnamon ice cream was a smooth touch of class. Mocha Panacotta, chocolate biscotti and rum was a ’bit too chocolaty’ the eater said, but otherwise pretty and perfect to finish. For an almost brand new restaurant Alimentum has the style and panache of somewhere much more established. The lunch set menu is a steal at the price and overall deserves to be the success it’s aiming at.Nick Harman - July 2007
your comments review this restaurant
I acknowledge the meal was delicious but beware the portions for the overall price leave a lot to be desired and that is fact, having eaten there on the 15th January 2010 , the service cannot be faulted but Nouvelle Quisine has it place and to be fair is enjoyable but where does it say that this is operation in this place.
Ethical considerations aside when going out with friends or relations for a meal after working all day one expects a meal that is at least substantial and no not fish and chips?
I enjoyed the ambiance and service but ease back on the over attentiveness, I left feeling slightly hungry and that is not good since it forces one to snack.
The service charge at 12.5 % is rather high and it should state that this is an option not an inclusive charge as I would sooner make my own mind up as to what I leave as a tip??
Enjoy the food but beware it is small portions all round
Comment on this reader review
John A West
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Sunday, January 17, 2010
As a frequent traveller, I have reason to eat in many "fine" dining establishments throughout the year and really very few ever prompt me to write reviews. Alimentum is an expectation to that. It is an exception because it was such a truly memorable experience.
Memorable from the the moment I walked through the door and took in the delightfully tasteful, modern, yet welcoming ambiance and decor of the place. A pretty modern shell of a building has been internally transformed into a chic, impressive and still somehow understated surround.
The welcome from the staff was extremely professional, polite and attentive whilst not being overly forced. This set the scene for the service throughout the remainder of my stay.
Onto the fare - well, I can honestly say that I have to trawl my memory banks to recall a better prepared and thought through culinary experience.
I had had a salmon and crab starter which was sublime in both taste and texture and my partner had breast and tongue of lamb with anchovy which looked amazing and apparently tasted even better.
For mains I enjoyed a most exquisitely prepared sirloin and my partner the fillet and belly of pork. Both looked sensational on the plate the taste explosion was bordering on the surreal.
The many oohs and aahs that accompanied our meal made me somewhat self conscious in the end but such was the level of enjoyment they were truly difficulty to suppress.
My wife thought that the chocolate bavarois she enjoyed for her dessert was the crowning glory and my cheese board was diverse, interesting and full of fantastic flavours.
I don't pretend to be anything of a wine expert personally but the wine list was certainly broad and the sommelier recommended a wonderfully cheeky little number that complemented perfectly.
All in all, we left feeling incredibly lucky to have found such a rare combination of elegance, modernity, style and truly exceptional food in this restaurant. 10/10
Comment on this reader review
Numbnut
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
We went to Alimentum for a pre-Valentine's dinner, and I am glad that we did. The decor is sumptuous and modern, and there is a definite feel of space in the foyer. The tables are a little close together at the back of the restaurant but it did not detract from the overall experience.
We started the evening with cocktails, which were certainly tasty if a little pricey. We then moved into the restaurant and had a lovely meal; my main of venison neck was particularly good.
My only criticism of the experience was that the waiting staff were a little overbearing, something which both my partner and I have a real bugbear about. Each time a took a couple of mouthfuls of wine, a waiter whizzed in to fill my glass (from a bottle which was residing on our table); while I am all for attentive waiting this was unreasonable and I very nearly asked him to leave us alone.
I will definitely eat at Alimentum again as not only was the food fantastic, all of it is ethically sourced. Even the fois gras is humanely produced. With some shuffling of tables and a word in the waiting staff's ear this could easily be the best restaurant in Cambridge.
Comment on this reader review
Anon, Cambridge
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 16, 2009
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