Mews of Mayfair London Review

It's a Tuesday night in Mews of Mayfair and people are talking business. All around, expensively besuited men, heads together, talking exclusively in the kind of language that we're currently bemused to hear coming out of teenagers in Junior Apprentice.

At first glance, me and my guest appear out of place. For starters, we've come straight from work, dressed in the unofficial 'journo' uniform of whatever the hell we want (and whatever the hell is clean). Also, we know nothing of this business world.

For us 'the bottom line' is what happens when you sit in a picnic bench in shorts, and 'thinking outside the box' means, well, sod all. Lastly, unlike the other patrons, we have boobs.

However, despite appearances, we too are talking business. Show business. 'Do you know that Simon Cowell eats here,' I say. 'Sting too, and Dannii Minogue no less, held a baby shower here just last month.'

Now, whether my conjuring of this unholy trinity has sent you scrambling for the phone to book a table, or made your eyes roll so violently that you got a good view of your temporal lobe, it should tell you one thing: important businessmen plus albeit annoying celebs equals one hell of ritzy joint.

One theory as to why Mews of Mayfair attracts this sort of diner is the illusion of privacy. Housed in an enchanting spot off New Bond Street, behind Handel House, through a labyrinth of cobbled lanes, arriving at Mews evokes a feeling of ner-ner-nener-ner, I know something you don't know.

In fact that sense of superiority tastes as good as anything on the menu. Which says a lot as the food was first-rate, particularly my guest's grandiose pan-fried foie gras and my rich and earthy goat's cheese and beetroot starter.

What will stay in my mind though, is the ebullient, ostentatious service. Our wine, an easy drinking 2007 pinot noir, was decanted at the waiter's insistence, into a glass container that looked like something half-way between a glass saxophone and the world's most expensive bong. With a two-foot pouring spout, the waiter had to reverse well away from the table just to top us up. It added a sense of flourish and jeopardy to the evening. (I'm clumsy; the decor is very white, the wine was red...)

It also caught the attention of the other diners, at this point in the evening the business crowd had cleared out and been replaced by more fun, off-duty folk, though still well-dressed.

Also, when I ordered their large and flamboyant tiger prawns on a bed of vinegary samphire, every time I placed a piece of shell-food shrapnel on the thoughtfully provided spare plate, it was whipped away and replaced with a clean one. The waiter began to look like the latest plate juggling act on Britain's Got Talent (another reason that Simon Cowell is a fan?)

I'm being silly but they do make you feel special at Mews, and yes it's fairly expensive with mains alone pushing £20 each but the quality and service mean you don't wonder where your money is going.

One last thing; though I was sent to review the restaurant, that is just one floor of the Mews experience. Downstairs is a buzzy bar that looked sophisticated yet really fun, but what really captured my heart was the chef's private dining room.

I'd heard good things about this space and wangled my way up for a peek just after the crunchy, custardy creme brulee I'd ordered for dessert. Wow. In the eaves of the building is a breathtakingly beautiful room with walls papered in antique maps, a twinkling chandelier and open vaulted beams above a long, elegantly dressed table.

I was spellbound and left vowing that there was nothing that I wouldn't do to eat there one day. Nothing. Hell, I'd even attend Dannii Minogue's baby shower. Kate Williams (08 06 2010)

Mews of Mayfair London Description

Mews of Mayfair is located within an historic cobbled courtyard in the heart of London's Mayfair, two traditional Mews buildings have been beautifully converted into a stylish four-storeyed venue.

The Chef's Dining Room is a vaulted room completely covered with oversized antique maps of the British Empire conveying a sense of decadence and debauchery. With a view of the kitchen and a seasonal British menu influenced by modern culture, guests can dine in exclusive and intimate surroundings.

Beautifully embossed leather seating sits alongside silk embroidered wallpaper & antique crystal wall lights to create a timeless ambience. In the Restaurant. Dinner is a grand affair, serving prime British produce transformed by history and a new modern culture.

Double doors open into an opulent bar, where an 18th century chandelier hangs in the centre with a collection of antique picture frames showcasing the bottles behind the bar. Guests can sit back and relax into deep-buttoned leather sofas or Queen Anne chairs where a selection of cocktails, afternoon teas and light dishes will be available throughout the day from 11am to 11pm.

Customer Reviews for Mews of Mayfair

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Mews of Mayfair.

“I love sitting outside in the summer. It's really lively like being on holiday, but cheaper!!”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
kim, south London (3 months ago)

+ Add your review

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: British
• (Independent/Freehouse)

Map & Nearby Venues

London Home / Mews of Mayfair (Nearby Venues)

Special Offers

All Special Offers

News

• All-Girl DJ Extravaganza
• Pop-Up Supper Club
• Free Brick Lane Music Festival
• Celebrity Chefs Announce Finalists

Competition

• WIN a Jaguar E-Type & dinner for 2

Fluid London Blog

London Partners