We went to Daquise for lunch, half way through our visit to the wonderful Great Mughals exhibition at the V&A. It is one of those places that one assumes will always be there because it feels as if it has always been there, at least since 1947 when it was opened by Mr. Dakowski and his wife Louise. It has been poshed up a bit since I used to go there for lunch in the 1980s, but my veal meatballs looked unexpectedly familiar.
Now, of course, it’s at risk of redevelopment. The Rogers Stirk Harbour scheme which has been rumbling through planning approval forever is going ahead, so all that remains of the attractively seedy underground station and its surroundings, the remainder bookshop and no doubt Daquise, will be eradicated.
But it should really have a preservation order as a monument to the role of the Poles in post-war British culture when retired Polish generals could be spotted in Daquise playing chess.
https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/restaurant-review-daquise-b1187019.html
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
Oh, now that’s sad. I used to go to Daquise regularly after Prom concerts with my friend, the music critic Paul Driver when I lived in London in the late ’70s. We’d invariably drink bison grass vodka, difficult to find here in the USA: delicious!
I must try some – next time. Charles
I sincerely hope Daquise does survive (even if unlikely). I used to have lunch there with my father during late 80s whilst studying at Imperial. I shall definitely go back soon before it’s too late, and to the bookshop. Victoria