Warming winter bites in Belgravia and Mayfair
As the cold draws in, we naturally gravitate towards good comforting, hearty fare. There is plenty to be found in Belgravia and Mayfair restaurants this winter – here are some of the best.
Boisdale of Belgravia
If you find yourself shivering in Eccleston Street, step out of the cold into this Scottish restaurant, private dining room and whisky bar renowned for its daily live jazz, blues and soul. The decor is in the style of a gentleman’s club crossed with a 1940s jazz bar, with dark wood, leather and tartan. The menu is equally classic, featuring Scottish staples such as Aberdeen Angus steaks and burgers, haggis and neeps, artichoke chips and horseradish, and pork and parsley sausages with mashed potato, melted onions and gravy. If all this isn’t enough to warm your cockles, try the Bloody Mary ketchup.
Nahm at the Halkin
If it’s chilli heat you’re after, this Michelin-starred Thai restaurant – the first in Europe – lives up to its reputation with an impressive choice of authentic, yet surprising, dishes for serious gourmands. For strong, warming flavours, look no further than the curry of rabbit and butternut squash, hot and sour soup, stir-fried beef with chilli dried prawns and aubergine, monkfish curry, and curry of pork and ginger with pickled garlic. Dishes can be ordered individually or as part of a traditional Thai meal.
La Poule au Pot
Locals’ favourite La Poule au Pot is the perfect place to cosy up with a date this winter. This intimate bistro on Ebury Street has changed little since the 1960s and, with its candlelit tables and worn wooden floors, oozes warmth. Enjoy a hearty array of simple, rustic French dishes, including French onion soup, cassoulet, rabbit in mustard, coq au vin, and its signature dish, chicken in a pot. House wine arrives by the carafe and you’re only charged for what you drink, so you’re sure to leave with rosy cheeks.
Scott’s
This classic Art Deco-inspired restaurant on Mount Street, near Grosvenor Square, has been drawing the A-list since the 1950s and 60s, and it’s not hard to see why. Its elegant oyster and champagne bar would suit those in search of a decadent treat, but for a more substantial meal, look no further. The menu comprises mainly fish and seafood, but autumn and winter sees a variety of seasonal game favourites, including pheasant bacon and mushroom pie, roasted grouse and loin of venison. Daily and weekly specials reflect the season’s best produce and in winter this means the rich flavours of root vegetables, chestnuts, wild rabbit and hare, Jerusalem artichokes and Alba truffles.
Zafferano
Inject some Mediterranean warmth into a cold winter’s evening at this Michelin-starred restaurant acclaimed for its wholesome Italian cuisine. Tuck into autumn vegetables and pearl spelt minestrone, chestnut tagliatelle with wild mushrooms, black pepper potato dumplings with robiola cheese and sage, or roast venison with parsnips and red wine sauce, while relaxing in the contemporary but rustic bare-brick dining room. Autumnal truffles make a seasonal addition to this Lowndes Street restaurant’s dedicated tasting menu.
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Boisdale of Belgravia, 15 Eccleston Street, London SW1W 9LX
020 7730 6922
www.boisdale.co.uk/belgravia
Nahm, Halkin Street, London SW1X 7DJ
020 7333 1235
www.halkin.como.bz/eat-and-drink/nahm
La Poule au Pot, 231 Ebury Street, London SW1W 8UT
020 7730 7763
www.pouleaupot.co.uk
Scott’s, 20 Mount Street, London W1K 2HE
020 7495 7309
www.scotts-restaurant.com
Zafferano, 15 Lowndes Street, London SW1X 9EY
020 7235 5800
http://atozrestaurants.com/zafferano