"At Simpson's in the Strand, Jeremy King's new restaurant in a mammoth West End grand dame, silver trolleys have been at the forefront of proceedings since the 1840s. The team faithfully restored the once-gleaming silver trolleys, left behind when the restaurant closed in 2020, which are now a key part of dinner service. Roast rib of Devonshire beef is carved tableside, and there are plans to increase what King calls 'trolley work' soon."
"Simpson's was once the world's premier chess club. 'The trolley was brought to the table while they were playing,' he explains. 'It meant that they could carry on playing chess as it was finger food.' Trolley work originated in France around the same time that Simpson's started whizzing its own carts around the Grand Divan. In formal French restaurants, rolling carts were convenient for transporting food across large houses or dining rooms, and the potential for a bit of drama was soon realised."
London's restaurant scene is experiencing a revival of trolley service, a nostalgic dining trend that blends theatrical presentation with historical authenticity. Simpson's in the Strand, reopened under Jeremy King's direction, has restored its original silver trolleys used since the 1840s for tableside carving of roast beef. The trolley service tradition originated in France and was adopted at Simpson's to accommodate chess players who could continue their games while eating finger food served from the carts. This retro-tinged approach represents a broader shift toward slower-paced, nostalgic dining experiences that appeal to contemporary Londoners seeking alternatives to fleeting social media-driven food trends.
#restaurant-trolley-service #nostalgic-dining-trends #simpsons-in-the-strand #tableside-service #london-restaurants
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