The Parakeet, formerly the Oxford Tavern, has been wowing Londoners with its seasonal British menu.
The gastropub is located in a landmark Victorian building in Kentish Town, which was opened at the beginning of 2023.
It is the latest project from Steve Ball and Riz Shaik of The Columbo Group, who run several music and nightlife venues across London and Manchester including Camden's Jazz Café and The Blues Kitchen.
Its success is due to the inspiration of head chef Ben Allen, and sous chef is Ed Jennings, both of whom worked at London fine dining restaurant Brat. The response from food critics has been overwhelmingly positive with a review in The Times calling the food “beyond outstanding.”
The Parakeet features a menu of modern European and British dishes that are cooked over fire using a custom grill. The emphasis is on seasonality with the menu split between snacks and small and large sharing plates. Regenerative agriculture is at the heart of the restaurant offer and it works with Flourish farm in Cambridge.
Those eating can enjoy the stunning restaurant area which has an open kitchen and large stained-glass window.
Snacks include smoked mutton sausage, grilled prawns and brown butter and spider crab croquettes. For those looking for something more substantial they can enjoy a range of dishes such as skate, guanciale and shrimp, duck, salsify and figs and beef rump and cauliflower. A traditional roast is available on Sundays.
While the focus is very much on the dining offer The Parakeet has not forgotten it is a pub. There is a large bar area that is open for drinkers and it still considers itself a local’s pub.
Its private room hosts up to 30 people dining and up to 80 for drinks and canapes. The room has ceiling windows that floor the room with natural light.
