5:2 friendly: decadent dishes under 500 calories in London

At under 500 calories, some things do taste as good as skinny feels
Alex Clark14 February 2014

Beef roll noodles at The House of Ho

Vietnamese food, with its hearty broths and crunchy, zingy salads, is a natural choice for those watching their weight — and anyone with a sophisticated palate will love the scrumptious pho cuon cold rice noodle rolls at the House of Ho on Old Compton Street. These delicate little parcels come with a filling of wild mushroom, duck or filet mignon (pictured, £5.50); also on the ‘light and raw’ menu are a crab pomelo salad, a spicy salmon tartare and an intriguing duck ‘à la banana’ salad.

Proprietor Bobby Chinn, who’s half Chinese and half Egyptian, already has hotels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to his name and this intimate, dark space is likely to win him plaudits from Soho’s slimmers (best steer clear of the baby back ribs and molten chocolate cake).

The House of Ho, 55-59 Old Compton Street, W1 (houseofho.co.uk)

Red mullet at The Balcon

Way back in the 19th century, famed French chef Alexis Soyer invented lamb cutlets ‘Reform’ for a hungry latecomer to Pall Mall’s Reform Club; for this and other good reasons, the street has long been associated with clubrooms, cigar smoke and hearty fare. Until, that is, the arrival of The Balcon, with its chandeliers, champagne angels and sweeping staircase.

But what use to the calorie-conscious, you ask? Look no further than chef Vincent Menager’s ‘De-Light’ menu, which cuts out unnecessary fat and focuses on spices, strong flavours and healthy cooking methods such roasting, steaming and poaching. Sample the red mullet fillet, with tapenade, tomato and sweet pepper cream (£21). At only 260 calories, you may be able to fit in a spoonful of sorbet.

The Balcon, Sofitel St James, 8 Pall Mall, SW1 (thebalconlondon.com)

Prawn Ceviche at Peyote

Mayfair’s ladies who lunch really aren’t down with an oozing enchilada, so swish new Mexican, Peyote, had to offer something a little lighter on the sour-cream-and-guacamole front. Cue this excellent little tower of prawn ceviche (£10), trembling with flavours of seafood, citrus and coriander. If you feel you just can’t finish it, there’s an emphasis on sharing; if, on the other hand, you are ambushed by a moment of weakness, there’s a no-reservations Taco Bar.

Behind Peyote is restaurateur Arjun Waney, who also brought us Roka and Zuma — here he’s teamed up with brand consultant Tarun Mahrotri, hence the restaurant’s beautiful design. Just the right setting for a regime-friendly shot of tequila.

Peyote, 13 Cork Street, W1 (peyoterestaurant.com)

Beetroot Salad at Grain Store

Food writer Michael Pollan probably had it right when he formulated the following rule for a healthy diet: ‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.’ That ethos is certainly at the heart of celebrated French chef Bruno Loubet’s newest restaurant, Grain Store, which sits beside Central Saint Martins in the hip new development behind King’s Cross.

Vegetables are at the forefront here, with meat and fish given cameos — or no part at all, as in this enticing platter of smoked beetroot, pink grapefruit, gherkins and grated bottarga with mustard oil (£7). And to wash it down, top mixologist Tony Conigliaro has created a simpatico cocktail list that includes a green martini.

Grain Store, Granary Square, 1-3 Stable Street, N1 (grainstore.com)

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