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" The buzz Aqua Shard was one of the most talked about openings of July 2013, with the British restaurant installing itself in one of the most enviable locations in London \u2013 on the 31st floor of the Shard, our newly crowned tallest building. \u00A0The lowdown A meal with a view is nothing new in London (Heron Tower\u2019s Sushi Samba and Duck and Waffle, Paramount at Centre Point and now Jason Atherton\u2019s City Social at Tower 42) but the temptation to dine out on the view gimmick must be tempting \u2013 after all, you\u2019ll get willing punters up to the 31st floor whether the food is up to standard or not. This is certainly not the case with Aqua Shard, which almost a year after it opened is continuing to churn out happy customers (with incredible Instagram pictures to boast about). The menu is thoroughly British \u2013 with local produce and classic dishes \u2013 but with a twist, usually in the execution and presentation. Think new cuts of meat, deconstructed desserts and magical finishing touches (there were more than a few pieces of edible gold floating around our three-course feast). Oh, and portion sizes that won\u2019t leave you craving a sandwich after dinner. \u00A0Menu highlights To get things started, we\u2019d recommend trying the oxtail rillettes. The juicy, melt-in-the-mouth cut of meat is served with blue cheese and potato croquettes topped with avocado puree, caviar, and gravy \u2013 a heady and decadent concoction that satiated our appetite for a salty, rich entr\u00E9e, and looked nice to boot, served with edible gold and pansies. Ask for a glass of Veuve Cliquot to accompany it \u2013 there\u2019s nothing better than light bubbles with a greasy dish. Next, we\u2019d have to urge you to try the open crab ravioli. A deconstructed pasta dish, it features layers of pasta with generous helpings of crabmeat tucked away in each, topped with crab bisque. The manager confessed it was his favourite, and we can see why. If you\u2019ve room for dessert after all of this hearty fare (Aqua is not one for fashionable bite size portions) then we\u2019d suggest the egg custard \u2013 another deconstructed dish complete with what looks like a fried egg (but don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s just mango and coconut). \u00A0Perfect for Aqua Shard is the ultimate special occasion destination thanks to its panoramic views of London, its buzzy atmosphere and its confident menu (we mused about how many couples must have gotten engaged there). Book ahead for birthdays, anniversaries and parties \u2013 it\u2019ll be a talking point for weeks after. \u00A0Contact  Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RY 020 3011 1256 \u00A0 \u00A0 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/culture/going-out/news/a30323/aqua-shard-london-bridge/>