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What: A “mess” of meringue pieces, whipped cream, and strawberries, this beloved summer dessert is named for Eton College, a distinguished public school for boys some 35 kilometers west of London, where it’s believed to have originated in the 1930s. Occasionally, chefs add a sauce to tie it all together, but there’s really just the three essential ingredients. It’s surprisingly satisfying for such a simple dish.

Where: Our Eton mess is from The Marquis Cornwallis (31 Marchmont St.), a seasonally focused neighborhood pub in Bloomsbury. 

When:Mon-Thurs, noon-11:30pm; Fri, noon-midnight; Sat, 10:30am-midnight; Sun, noon-10:30pm

Order: This layered Eton mess (£5.25), made with a sloe gin sauce, is for “adults only”—and adds a handful of red and black currants in the middle—but it otherwise sticks to the main formula. The sweet meringue pieces add crispy texture to the soft pile of whipped cream on top; mix it all up together for a true “mess” experience. We liked that it was sugarless cream here, as the end result wasn’t overly sweet.

Alternatively: You’ll see a lot of this around in warm months, at good pubs and British-leaning restaurants, such as Draft House (multiple locations including 206-208 Tower Bridge Rd., map) near Tower Bridge. You can also get Eton Mess at some bakeries, such as the terrific Konditor & Cook (multiple locations including 10 Stoney St., Borough Market, map) mini-chain.