ROUGH ONLINE NIGHT OUT AT BUNS & BUNS 5 NORTH HALL, WC2E 8RA

It's hard to miss the exciting new Buns & Buns restaurant, smack bang in the middle of the tourist heavy Covent Garden Market's North Hall. The space, which replaced Jamie Oliver's Union Jack project, is home to the newly opened eatery by Miami restaurateur Alex Zibi serving up his American themed 'gastro-fast' concept to the London masses with an internationally inspired menu including Bao buns, Pizza and Lobster rolls.

The café-style restaurant is relaxed and airy with a rustic industrial décor mirroring the ambience of its debut Miami base. There's a large bamboo steamer loaded with bao, alongside a dim sum trolley which weaves its way around the restaurant with your dishes. We can't forget the curved open-plan grandiose bar, adorned with an assortment of wines, rums, whiskeys and flowing drinks, where the bartenders shook up some serious cocktails.

We kicked off our session with a round of the bao buns stuffed with wild shiitake mushroom, a bourbon glaze pork belly bun from the cart and chili Thai prawn bao. These fluffy white buns were nothing short of tasty and extremely moreish - we couldn't get enough. For all the steamed bun boffins out there, this place is for you. Next up was the rotisserie chicken + pão de queijo. The intense smell heightened the flavour of the succulent, lightly marinated and tender meat that fell of the bone. The matchstick-like fries were unusual but crisp and worked well with the dishes. Gracing our table in a large ornate bowl was the Crispy breaded calamari salad, a fresh serving of Endives, radicchio, frisée with lime, ginger and miso dressing – a lighter deviation amidst the carb heavy frenzy! The winning dish had to go to the pao de queijo, or in layman's terms, warm doughy bread loaded with melted cheese which oozed out once torn apart – a heavy but oh so satisfying dish.

Desserts included bread and chocolate pudding with seasonal doughnuts and soft serve ice cream. Already filled to the brim, we topped off our gluttonous feast with a creamy, rich vanilla cheesecake – the perfect way to end one heck of an indulgent food session.

Buns & Buns = well made grub and a flavoursome nutritious menu. The food is affordable, service is effortlessly warm and the eclectic menu means there's a dish fit for all palates. If you're in the area be sure to make a pit stop in between your shopping to recharge on these carbs!