Wright Bros Soho (Kingly Court): where they always get it right

So when I got an invite to wine and dine at this Kingly Court favourite, I hurriedly called fellow oyster fiend B because God knows we needed to find some pearls in our lives.

The restaurant has beautiful interiors. You walk in to see a bar counter (I always ask for a seat here when I go) and high tables which is perfect for with mates. Upstairs seems a bit more refined - but still relaxed - and a bit more appropriate for date nights and the like. Downstairs is a pretty semi-private dining area in a beautiful “oyster cage” where you can wine and dine whilst observing chefs at work.

My favourite oysters from Wright Bros are the Spéciales de Claire (£9 for 3). These are beautifully balanced oysters in terms of sweetness and umami flavour and the meat is firm so the lasting flavour is enjoyed more.

The Lindisfarne oysters (£9.50 for 3) are great, too. They taste rather clean and definitely not as salty as others. These are quite delicate but easy on the palate with a buttery and silky texture.

Oysters done, we were ready to try other offerings on the menu.

Our server recommended the soft-shell crab tempura (£14.50) and we were glad to have listened. The crab itself was meaty and sweet. I would’ve preferred a bit of heat from the jalapeño sauce it came with but as the batter was seasoned nicely enough, I didn’t really care much for the dipping sauce.

FULL DISCLOSURE: 15 minutes after we finished the starters, an apologetic server came over and admitted he forgot to put our orders in. To compensate, the manager sent us more oysters as an “Oopsie!”. To be honest, we didn’t even notice the wait as we were catching up so much but the honesty was a breath of fresh air, and the oysters were a welcome touch.

I’m usually a rock oyster type of girl, but the native flats were rather delicious. They’re bold in flavour: earthy and herby with a firm, meaty texture and they tasted absolutely fresh.

When our mains finally came, I licked my lips as the server laid my tools on the table. If it’s not obvious yet, I’m a shellfish, crabby kinda gal and I couldn’t wait to dig in.

I ordered the whole crab with black pepper sauce, basil leaves, almonds and yoghurt. This, my friends, is the Mt Vesuvius of all stacked shellfish for the small price of £22.

The black pepper sauce packed a good amount of heat which I personally liked, although I can understand how most people may find it a bit too spicy or too salty. However, it’s rather clever to have yoghurt in, as it gave the dish a much needed sweetness which makes it better balanced.

I’ve eaten loads of crab in my life and though I still think the best ones I’ve had are in Asia, this one’s definitely a contender for the best I’ve had in London.

B went for the whole Cornish lemon sole (£26.50). Served with some chilli and crabmeat butter, this is another winner. Whereas my crab was beautiful in bold flavours, this was beautiful in freshness and its simplicity.

For sides, a bowl of mixed greens with chilli, garlic & bamboo (£5.50) which was a proper texture party.

B, the fruity pud type, had the orange drizzle cake with sweet yoghurt sauce. I find the cake itself a bit dense, but the yoghurt sauce (which I normally don’t like by the way) was good.

Now I have a little something to say about their choccy fondant. First of all, the cake itself is fluffy.

And when you slice it open…

This is the point we #slowclap the meal off as it was another fantastic meal from Wright Brothers who really know how to get things right.

Other must try dishes:

In a city where lots of new things steal your attention and the latest trend may turn out to be a disappointment, it’s really nice to have some restaurants like Wright Brothers where you know you can always have a great meal and a great time.

My meal was complimentary but average spend pp is around £40

Have fun!