Berners Tavern, Edition Hotel, London

The cavernous room of Berners Tavern is filled with two things. Art covers every wall and every table is filled with diners (ok there's one two top behind the greeters station that remains empty, perhaps kept for hotel emergencies?) 

Despite being very busy things move at a sensible clip, at the cost that service feels somewhat mechanical.

Carrot and buttermilk soup is delicious, served as a bowl of roasted carrot and thin crouton crisps into which the creamy soup is poured. Good. And in my case the only other choice was 'nothing' as I knew the main course of macaroni cheese with ox cheek is 'substantial'.

It's also very very hot. If you order it be prepared that whatever any companion orders you will finish last. In fact you might not even start before they finish, depending on asbestos levels in your mouth...

Is it the best macaroni cheese ever, as other reviewers have claimed. Dunno, I basically never order it. Is it a fun and fullsome dish that will probably send you away happy (and for a snooze?) Yes it is. 

I can tell you nothing about dessert except the ones I saw also looked hearty. The macaroni had me beat. 

Lunch was £50 inc. service and a half bottle of Cotes du Rhone for a reasonable £16.