Nothing quite beats the feeling of drinking a crisp cold glass of champagne under blasting heaters in a twinkling courtyard. Welcome to Mews of Mayfair, tucked down an unassuming alley way in the heart of Central London. With Spring finally now in the air, it’s the perfect place to while away a weeknight, after a hard day’s work in the city. There’s also a lovely new addition to the menu in the form of an exclusive Easter Afternoon Tea – perfect for the holidays.
Set in a converted mews house which actually dates right the way back to the 18th Century, the townhouse seamlessly incorporates a fine dining restaurant, private dining floor, brasserie and bar on the ground floor and a late night lounge in the basement. There’s even a pizzeria. Although not a new hangout, you will find a constant stream of London’s coolest crowd occupying this cobbled courtyard, creating an atmosphere which bubbles as much as the fizz that’s on most of the tables.
And so wrapped up, but wonderfully warm under those amazing heaters, my friend and I started with a glass of champagne whilst perusing Mews of Mayfair’s lovely menu. We decided the Colchester Oysters served with Shallot Vinegar and Lemon were the way to go – 2 each at £3 per oyster. I loved the presentation and they tasted just as good as they looked – beautifully fresh and juicy.
There’s a fabulous choice of main courses with produce from all over the country – Barnham Barn Norfolk Chicken Breast, Sussex Pork Belly and South Devon rump. Trying to keep the carb count low, the Hereford 10oz Ribeye (£29) sounded particularly appealing and usurprisingly, was way too big for me to finish! Prettiest dish of the evening went to my friend’s main dish – the Roast Seabass with Jerusalem Artichoke and Pomegranate (£22).
Mews of Mayfair definitely has an air of exclusivity about it – its location gives it that extra bit of privacy over other restaurants in Central London and because there’s literally everything you could ever want in one place, from signature serve cocktails, to the pizzeria to that gorgeous locally sourced choice of dishes, it’s a great evening hangout no matter what you’re looking for.
Executive chef Michael Lecouteur (formerly of Bird of Smithfield), oversees the food for every part of this slick operation. Handsome, tattooed and bearded (just as all chefs should be!), he has a passion for trying new out new ideas, whilst taking inspiration from everything around him. With the freedom to experiment, you’ll find new dishes on the menu all the time, or you might be treated to an unlisted special like the spectacular Baked Alaska filled with mountains of sweet foamy meringue which we were offered on the night we visited. We’ve also heard he’s toying with a new paleo menu right now – the ability to keep turning over new ideas is what keep Mews of Mayfair streets (or should we say cobbles) ahead.
(Exclusive Easter Afternoon Tea available 14-19th April, £32.50 per person or £45.00 with a glass of champagne)
