Restaurant review: The Melusine at St. Katharine Docks

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Published on Sunday, 27 September 2020 11:36

Last Updated on 01 October 2020

Monica Costa

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Even during pandemic times, in London it is still possible to enjoy a meal in a beautiful surrounding at St. Katharine Docks. Central London’s only marina has recently hosted a unique on-the-water dining experience, pop-up restaurant Avalon. This was an exclusive temporary dining space adjacent to the main restaurant The Melusine, and it was my first meal out in Central London since the pandemic started. The Melusine provided myself and my guest with an abundance of fresh seafood from its Greek menu, which included scallops, octopus, taramosalata and various salads.

Avalon was set up for six weeks by the team behind hugely popular neighbourhood seafood restaurant The Melusine,  to promote the well rooted anchor of the St Katharine Docks community, which offers fresh and sustainably sourced seafood from across the British Isles.

I enjoyed the meal which consisted of lots of small Mezze plates to share. Mezze are the equivalent of tapas in the Greek tradition. We tried almost all the Mezze on the menu and a few glasses of wine so our bill was quite high in the end. The most expensive wine glass costs £14.  The meal was fun and the waiters very efficient and kind.

There’s a lovely legend linked to the name chosen for this pop up restaurant. Avalon is the mythical island that female water spirit Melusine was taken to by her mother from the sacred river Thames, the lifeblood of London, and is symbolic of the rich history of St. Katharine Docks. The Docks was once the floating centre of luxury goods from across the world including china, hops, marble, silk, perfume, shells and spices, and has seen many transformations from mediaeval hospital to leading global Victorian warehouses to ruins from the Blitz to become the lively waterside community of today.

In addition to Avalon by The Melusine, Londoners and visitors to St. Katharine Docks have a wealth of top restaurants and independent cafes open to visit and take advantage of outdoor dining in this waterside haven. With a range of dining options to suit all palettes, these include Emilia’s Pasta, Bravas Tapas, The Melusine and artisan coffee shop White Mulberries. Most of the Docks’ wonderful assortment of eateries are participating in the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme Monday-Wednesday and many have exclusive special dining offers.

Visitors are invited to make the most of the outdoor facilities and sit back, relax and enjoy delicious alfresco dining at Central London’s only marina. There’s no better way to enjoy a romantic evening along the river with a coffee, drinks, lunch or dinner at some of St. Katharine Docks’ independent eateries.

St. Katharine Docks is easily accessible via DLR or Circle and Hammersmith & City lines at Tower Gateway and Tower Hill underground stations and is also easy to reach via walking and cycle routes, with TfL docking and bike racks onsite.

For more information please go to www.skdocks.co.uk/whats-on and follow all the latest news from St. Katharine Docks on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stkats – Twitter: @stkats and Instagram: @stkatsdocks