Plants of Roselyn – affectionately known as simply “Roselyn” by the team – sits on Tooley Street, a stone’s throw from London Bridge and around the corner from its sister restaurant Kin + Deum. This buzzy restaurant is ideal for an after-work dinner when you want to feel revived and rejuvenated. With charming service, this is the kind of place where servers go the extra mile – though given its popularity, that service can be a little slow at times.
The décor is clean, fresh and simple. A smart exterior leads sees a natural palette with casual wooden tables and chairs. This is their ethos in a nutshell; allowing the food to be the star of the show. By eschewing grandeur they make everybody feel welcome – a smart decision, judging by the steady stream of takeaway orders, passing commuters and cyclists stopping by. Though this makes for a noisy acoustic!
To start, we went for the Smoked Sweetcorn Cakes (£8.50) and Sunny Summer Rolls (£8). Everything arrives looking colourful and beautiful and we eagerly tuck in. It’s clear that everything has been prepared to order: the sweetcorn cakes have that burst and pop from the freshest of corn. Served alongside their house apple jam, it was both sweet and spicy, crunchy and sumptuous.
The summer rolls were just as billed: freshly rolled, these delicate rice papers encased stripy beetroot, vibrant blue vermicelli noodles and tofu. With a coconut peanut dip alongside, they’re incredibly moreish. Off to a great start.
For mains, we shared the Peanut Satay Tofu (£14.50) and Ayurvedic Massaman Curry (£14.30). The Massaman Curry was definitely the highlight. The red curry sauce is thick and unctuous with notes of ginger, cinnamon, lemongrass, cumin and coriander. The rich umami flavour still delights your tastebuds, complemented by a dash of chilli from their homemade condiments. The pillowy bites of tofu, with crispy corners, had a very satisfying bite – with very generous portions.
Whilst the Peanut Tofu had a good mix of veggies – satueed tofu, mushrooms, broccoli, peppers, onions and carrots – paired alongside the Massaman Curry it lacked the same burst of flavour. Perhaps a touch underseasoned.
It is impossible to resist the allure of their glorious Butterfly Pea Sticky Rice (£4) – a Thai classic for many generations and it’s easy to see why. The rice has just enough firmness to hold together and envelops the sauce of both dishes irresistibly well.
Plants of Roselyn is a solid choice for an after-work full of flavour and satisfaction.
Plants of Roselyn, 102 Tooley St, London SE1 2TH
Website: https://plantsofroselyn.com/
Rating: ****
Yumtini 