A board to kick things off - this has beer bread (£2) which was astonishingly good, tuna prosciutto with spring onion and creme fraiche (£7) and pork rillette £4).
What can you tell us about Hicce?
It's the latest restaurant to open at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross which is now boasting a very impressive line-up. This sees ex-Murano head chef Pip Lacey, together with business partner Gordy McIntyre, opening her first solo restaurant.
Where is it?
To find Coal Drops Yard, start from King's Cross Station, walk up to Granary Square and it's the huge development off to the left (there are lots of signs, so it's easy to track down). As for Hicce, it's on the second floor of the Wolf and Badger store - or you can also get into it from its own entrance on the first floor of Coal Drops Yard.
A board to kick things off - this has beer bread (£2) which was astonishingly good, tuna prosciutto with spring onion and creme fraiche (£7) and pork rillette £4).
Where could we go for a drink first?
In the immediate area, there are three good options right now. Either opt for margaritas at Casa/Plaza Pastor, wine at The Drop or negronis at Vermuteria. That said, Hicce does have a separate bar section and we think that'll be a great space to hang out too. The cocktails here are well worth a look - although we missed out on the one we really wanted - the Hicce (£12) with Ketel one citron, sake, elderflowertonic syrup and yuzu puree. A return visit for that one, then.
Where should we sit?
If you're opting for a table, definitely try to grab one by the window, which is good for people watching in Coal Drops Yard. And there's also a great counter if you fancy watching the chefs in action.
And what about the food?
There are three key sections to the dinner menu - plus desserts. The first is the one to concentrate on immediately - taking in bread, charcuterie, seafood, cheese and jars. Most of that can be grouped together on a board for, giving you a pretty first-class buffet to kick things off with. You can see our board above and we'll reiterate here - that beer bread was bloody brilliant. We badly need to know how to make that.
Once you've ordered the board, you can get down to working through the menu - which is split into sticks and (for dinner only) a small/sharing plates section. Here's what we worked through:
Chicken thigh, spicy shiso, crispy chicken skin (£10) - a nice kick from the shiso but this was probably the only dish we thought was a little overpriced.
Wild red prawns, hicce butter (£13) - messy and delicious, a dish to get stuck into.
Squid, apple and green chilli (£12) - great squid with the apple and chilli giving alternative hits of heat and refreshment.
Lamb neck, mojo, tomatoes (£11) - wonderful tasting tomatoes and croutons elevating this dish.
Spiced bacon, hispi, reblochon (£12) - at this point it was pouring from the heavens outside which made this winter warmer dish seem even more comforting.
What's it like for vegetarians or vegans?
There's a good showing on the menu. As well as a specific vegetable section for the mains - another dish was "beetroot, black garlic, grape (£7)" there are also jars of pickles, including "beetroot, mooli (£3)" and "parsley root, cavolo nero (£3)" and the cheese section (for non-vegans, of course). And we had...
Brussel sprouts, hazelnuts, kohl rabi (£6) - god we LOVE brussel spouts and this was our first go this season of the little beauties.
Miso potatoes (£4) - you'll be wanting a spoon for the sauce then.
And dessert?
It's definitely worth holding back a little space for dessert - particularly for the creme caramel below...
Muscavado, creme caramel (£6) - wonderful depth of flavour and perfect texture. Not to be missed.
Pecan, chilli and chocolate tart, ricotta ice cream (£6)
What about drinks?
As there's a prominent bar space - there's a good focus on the drinks too. The wine list is almost entirely vegan and a significant portion of it is organic too. There's a lot available by the glass/carafe - including an entire section devoted to the "font" where a strong selection of wines on tap are on offer. Prices start at £23.50 on the bottle side (at the time of writing, a 2017 Cataratto ‘unfiltered’,Ciello) or £19.50 for a 500ml carafe from the font. They have their own beer on tap too - Hicce by Hackney.
Overall thoughts?
With the best view over Coal Drops Yard, Hicce is a super addition to the white hot food scene here. We wanted to eat our way through pretty much everything on the menu - and it would be a very easy choice to pop in here for lunch and put together a platter of their amazing breads, charcuterie and pickles if we worked in the area. We'll be back to that bar too.
More about hicce X Wolf & Badger
Where is it? Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4AB
To book: email reservations@hicce.co.uk
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @hiccelondon
Hot Dinners dined as guests of the restaurant. Prices correct at time of publication.
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