Bustronome London, Bustronome

Bustronome in London offers an extraordinary dining experience that seamlessly combines exquisite cuisine with the unique setting of a moving bus. The menu features an array of small plates, allowing diners to savor a range of flavors. Standout dishes include the fresh and vibrant Tuna Crudo, which bursts with flavor, and the Lobster Ravioli, delicately crafted and rich with taste. The Beef Wellington is a highlight, perfectly cooked and elegantly presented, while the Chocolate Fondant dessert promises a decadent finish to the meal. Service at Bustronome is impeccable, with attentive staff enhancing the enjoyable atmosphere. Although the foggy windows can make it challenging to view the stunning sights of London at night, the culinary delights and overall experience more than compensate for this minor drawback. Bustronome is a fun and memorable way to explore the city while indulging in fantastic food, making it a must-visit for both locals and tourists alike.

Outside the windows of the Bustronome, it was like a flowing mirror. The shadows of London’s streets stretched long in the twilight, and the Thames, like a quiet vein of the city, reflected the outlines of ancient stone bridges and the soft lights in the distance. The glow was not glaring, yet it flickered like a breath. The stillness inside the bus was punctuated by the soft clinking of knives and forks, while my thoughts wandered, crossing between noise and silence, slowly diving into memories. Neon lights flickered at Piccadilly Circus, taking me back to those unguarded moments — when I once walked into Regent’s Park on a foggy morning; when, on a rainy night in Soho, I hesitated, guided by the dim light of a streetlamp toward an alley; and when I stood beneath the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, gazing up at the grand arch, feeling as though a prayer deep within me was gently awakening. London has never been a city that can be captured; it is more like an ever-expanding dream. As the bus passed Charing Cross, I couldn’t help but recall nights spent buried in piles of books. The scent of old pages mingled with the chill of the night, and a line from one of those books struck me so vividly, as if it had been planted for this moment: “Every step that departs is the prelude to a return.” This city has never been loud in its bustle, yet it has always whispered softly. It peels away my thoughts layer by layer, returning each piece. Three hours stretched out with layers of shifting light and shadow, and I suddenly realized I was meeting the past version of myself. And as the bus lights dimmed and the doors opened, when my footsteps left, I was also bidding farewell to myself.

I really wanted to like this, but there were quite a few things that colored the experience. I will preface this review by saying that I have a fair bit of experience in the food business and when it comes to tastings and upscale food. So my review is honest, but probably harsher than most when it comes to the food front. I would stress that this is not a “tour” bus, I think it’s more accurate to call it a glass-roofed bus drive with food. When you first get on the bus there is a QR code to scan, which will show you the route that the bus will be taking, and a few landmarks you’ll pass by (that’s the entire “tour”). Of course you’ll need Wi-Fi and a lot of battery in order to follow along with that, so to all my fellow out of country travelers, be sure and stock up on that data plan since there were Wi-Fi problems on the bus! And if you don’t bring headphones along, you can’t hear whatever anecdotes that may have been provided for the landmark. You should also know that because it’s a bus that does not make stops, you have a very short amount of time to take any sort of photo or to look at any sort of landmark. So it would have been nice to have some sort of notice that we are coming upon something given there is no WiFi free option available. Especially if they decide to serve your food right at the moment Shakespeare’s globe comes into view… Now the food. The dishes were plated impeccably, so if you’re looking for a good viral food photo op, it’s perfect. The first course was good, but a little flat. It could have used a touch more seasoning or another flavor note. 6.5/10. The cod was the best part of the tasting, it was the only thing I would reorder (aside from the drinks) if this were a restaurant. It was in a very buttery and smooth umami sauce 8.5/10. The next course was filet, and I could really tell it wasn’t a good cut of meat. I prefer a medium rare filet, and this was cooked closer to rare. I’m not sure if it was due to the freezing/aging process, or how it was tenderized or maybe filler that was added, but the meat itself wasn’t great. They paired it with a cauliflower puree that was delicious and the veggies they had on it were cooked perfectly, it’s a shame they weren’t the star of the dish. 5/10. Dessert was a pate a choux and it was DENSE. The cream inside wasn’t bad, but a little too sweet. 3.5/10. I ordered the lemongrass tea and la vie en rose to drink, they were both spectacular. 9-9.5/10. Service was fine, they were nice enough but didn't cater enough to the customers themselves. I asked for a photo and my server took it so I wanted to leave a tip for taking my photo and asked for change when I gave my server £20. She never gave me change. And the other personal kicker? Because I figured I’d need some extra battery power, I brought a backup power pack. When I got off the bus I turned around and tried to wave them down and the bus didn’t stop. I called the company as soon as I could and they “couldn’t find it”, so there goes $58.97 as well. Hope they liked all my extra goodies 🙄.