This festive season, we were invited to explore two of Boxcar’s distinctive establishments, starting with the lively Boxcar Bar & Grill on New Quebec Street, followed by a visit to their newest addition, Boxcar Bread & Wine, just a short stroll across Edgware Road in Connaught Village.

Having visited The Grazing Goat, the neighbouring pub, many years ago, I hadn’t returned to this area since. It’s become clear that London is full of hidden gems, and New Quebec Street is one of them. A charming, tranquil lane lined with independent shops, cafés, and restaurants, it feels like a peaceful escape despite being so central, with Marble Arch, Marylebone, Hyde Park, and Winter Wonderland just moments away. If you’re heading to the madness of Oxford Street, this street is the perfect place to unwind.

Even before entering, the façade exudes Christmas cheer with a hand-painted white wintery street scene, splashes of red and green on the windows, dangling holly, snowflakes, baubles, and a painted wreath on the main door. Dark, warm natural tones adorn the dining room with banquette seating, rich brown velour throw cushions around the perimeter, and comfortable leather-seated chairs.

There is a long bar to the right of the room with some counter seating—perfect if you’d like to pop in for a solo quick bite. Towards the back is another area with tones a few shades brighter: light wood panelling on the walls, mounted shelves, and planter boxes for greenery, creating a cosy greenhouse atmosphere. The dining area downstairs works well for larger groups, seating approximately 10–20 people.

Boxcar is known for its British produce and meaty menu, ranging from a 32-day dry-aged beef burger to a 750g Côte de Boeuf, and everything in between. We began with their toasted brown loaf, whipped confit garlic and chive butter. The small round loaf, semi-cut into quarters, was freshly baked, and the butter was light, with the garlic and chives not too strong—perfect if you’re on a date night. My dining partner, who is vegetarian, had an easy choice with the Boxcar superfood salad of spinach, baby chard, sweet potato, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. The salad was well dressed and exceptionally tasty and flavoursome.

The citrus-cured salmon, house pickles, horseradish, and dill arrived looking very pretty on the plate. The curing of the salmon was slightly saltier than I like, but the house pickles were perfect—light, refreshing, and all served with just the right amount of horseradish. Prices for the starters range from £9 to £16 for the delicious-sounding pan-roasted scallops & chorizo, butter beans, and cavolo nero—a perfect winter dish.

For mains, the plant-based option of grilled heritage beets & pumpkin, herb salsa & toasted cashews had perfectly charred vegetables that brought out their full rich flavours. The herb salsa was a good counter-flavour to round out the dish.

With the excesses of the season to date, I didn’t have the fortitude to dine on a steak for lunch, but a table of five hungry men next to us were very enthusiastically tucking into theirs, which were perfectly cooked, and they appeared very satisfied at the end of their meal. Much of Boxcar’s menu is cooked over a charcoal grill, which is ideal for a steak. The grilled stone bass, caramelised salsify, and celeriac fish was beautifully cooked with a crisp skin and tender flakiness. I very much appreciated the vegetable accompaniment to this dish, being the winter vegetables I crave at this time of year. Embracing the winter season further, we ordered the red cabbage with chestnuts as a side as well as truffle parmesan fries… because… truffle!

The dessert of sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and ice cream was a delight. We’re certain our neighbouring diner ordered the same after we left, as he leaned over with interest and asked how it was. We only had good things to say. In the spirit of seasonal giving, the croissant bread & butter pudding with tonka bean ice cream sees £1 from each dessert sold until 22nd December donated to Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.

The wine list is mostly filled with French wines, with a larger selection of reds than whites, complementing their meaty menu. Overall, the pricing is reasonable here considering the central London location. Service is friendly and effortless, and as the room got busier over the time we were lunching, everything buzzed along at a smooth pace. As we departed, the restaurant was near packed, showing it to already be a much-loved neighbourhood dining option.

We continued our mini food safari and headed for a flying visit to Boxcar Bread & Wine, which sits on an ample corner plot in Connaught Village. Light filled by day and once evening service begins (February 2025) diners will be able to enjoy the earthy colour tones, warm timber finishes that create the cozy interiors. cosy interiors. The room is divided by the bar, with a display counter for all their perfectly formed pastries. The wine-filled shelves run along the wall with the occasional elf on the shelf; the other side is a relaxed yet refined dining area.

For a December treat, they are serving a seasonal cocktail of the spiced “Chai-Ball” with whisky, chai spice, and lemon, which goes perfectly with their selection of pastries. Boxcar Bread & Wine is open all day, going from brunch to afternoon stops for coffee, tea, and pastries.

All locations are serving their signature house-made mulled wine (a blend of Beneventano rosso, spiced syrup, and winter aromatics), infusing each location with the smell of Christmas. Do pop in to experience Boxcar’s hospitality.

Location: Boxcar Bread & Wine, 30-31 Kendal St, St George's Fields, London W2 2AW; Boxcar Bar & Grill, 23 New Quebec St, London W1H 7SD. Instagram: @boxcarlondon ; @boxcar_barandgrill.

Review by Natascha Milsom