Review: Rooftop ‘igloo’ dining at Six Brasserie, Cambridge
A new private dining experience has opened on a rooftop in Cambridge and even on a cold and blustery evening it is fabulous.
A friend and I booked because we liked the idea of dining inside one of the new heated, clear, domes at Six Brasserie on the roof of the Varsity Hotel. This was mainly because we wanted total privacy for a long, gossipy catch-up without any chance of being overheard. And it was perfect for that, but with the backdrop of Cambridge by night, surrounded by twinkling fairy lights and with our own choice of music, we were, unexpectedly, completely charmed too.
On arrival at Six Brasserie on Thompsons Lane, we were led up the stairs onto the roof where three perfectly clear perspex igloos were set up, illuminated by electric candles and with tables laid for dinner. Ours had just two chairs, although we could see the others were accommodating groups and could seat up to eight people inside.
The rooftop offers stunning 360 degree views across the Cambridge skyline and is usually closed during the winter. But with the addition of the new igloos it’s possible to still enjoy the long-distance views while being protected from the elements. A few places now offer these dining domes, but the rooftop location overlooking the historic sights of Cambridge makes this extra special.
On the early February night that we visited it was pretty chilly, so our waiter Valter swiftly unzipped our spacious igloo and led us inside where we were happy to find it was heated and had a bluetooth speaker that we could connect to our phones and, if we could agree on a playlist, listen to our favourite tunes. We were told that the previous night one group had been playing party tunes while another was listening to classical music - and no one could hear anything outside the domes.
We decided to ask for recommendations from the wine menu and were suggested a light and velvety Italian red, Cantina Diomede Canace Nero di Troia, whose hints of spice and liquorice even my non-red fan friend loved.
For starters, we both went for the pan seared scallops, which arrived large and juicy, each set on a bed of either pea mint puree, creme fraiche or herb and garlic butter.
For my main I chose the lobster roll and was faithfully promised this was the only place to try one in Cambridge. It came in a lightly toasted brioche bun and was sweet and delicious, accompanied by garlic butter and fries on the side. It felt pretty decadent literally pouring melted garlic butter from a jug, but this did seem an excellent way to enjoy the lobster.
My friend ordered the herb crusted cod in a mussel broth, which she mopped up with bread and declared perfect. She also had a side of broccoli with chilli and garlic. I shared it as a nod to healthy eating and found it lightly zingy.
Already pretty full, neither of us wanted the evening to end and so we both ordered dessert. Mine was an extremely rich and creamy chocolate and coconut tart, which I savoured in slow bites and my friend had the baked vanilla cheesecake with fruit compote.
The staff, including Bromic and Rob, were all chatty and friendly, regularly unzipping the dome to check whether we needed anything or to top up our drinks. We both looked longingly at the cocktails menu but decided we probably couldn’t drink more that night. This means we have to come back, if only to try out the “Toblerone”.
The experience of sitting out beneath the stars in our own totally secluded private dining space lifted an enjoyable evening with good food into something really memorable. We weren’t celebrating, but I decided that if I did have a special occasion to mark, I would definitely return. And for anyone considering dining out on Valentine's Day, it would be an ideal spot for a romantic evening.
