July Newsletter

Fellow Foodie

I can‘t believe we are nearly in August. 2024 is rushing by, and I’m guessing some of you might be reading this as you lie by the pool. If so, order something cool to drink, sit back, relax and find out what’s been going on in Mayfair.

In this month's edition, find out about my brunch in one of the most exquisite dining rooms I have ever eaten in, how I may have had maybe one cocktail too many in one of the trendiest bars/restaurants in London (trendy and me in the same sentence, really, dear reader), and how last Friday I was swimming in seafood enjoying a fish version of an afternoon tea.

So let's dive in; let’s start with three reviews, all of them quite different, but thats one of the things I  love about going to restaurants: each one has its own identity and invariably different cuisine and atmosphere.

First, we went burger tasting at Hard Rock Hyde Park. The Hark Rock group runs a competition within its global network of restaurants, where each restaurant creates its own special burger. These are then judged and whittled down to the best five finalists. We were invited to taste some of the five best burgers. See how we got on.

Read Review Here

Next, I tasted the new brunch menu at Masala Zone Piccadilly. Along with a fabulous brunch, I got to experience the stunning decor of the restaurant, which in the past was the old criterion restaurant. I put some photos in the review. What they have done with the building is incredible. The owners at MW Eat have an eye for great design.

Read Review here

Finally, last Friday, it was all about seafood and Afternoon Sea at the Mayfair Chippy, a three-tiered platter of seafood loveliness that exceeded our expectations. An afternoon to remember 

Read Review here

With the sun out, I decided to take to the streets of Mayfair and research the best wine bars in the area. Mayfair is full of bars, but I wanted to seek out the best old-school wine bars for this article. I must admit I found some hidden gems. Best Wine bars in Mayfair

Talking of bars, I was invited to the opening of PIRANA London, it is part restaurant/bar/nightclub. By day and early evening, the restaurant serves Nikkei cuisine (Peruvian/Japanese fusion), and then the evening DJs up the pace, spinning tracks and dancing until 1 am.  I want to use the word trendy to describe it, but doing so makes me sound (quite correctly) untrendy. However, I think you know what I mean. I thoroughly enjoy myself and a certain Palomita cocktail; it's a new one for me, so the kind people of PIRANA agreed that we could feature it on our website. Also, you can view some nice pics of PIRANA.

I added one new recipe: Prawns in a white bean stew. I unashamedly borrowed it from the great Italian chef Georgio Locatelli’s book Made In Italy. I've simplified it to make it quick to prepare without sacrificing flavour. As it is not my creation, I think it is a lovely dish, and I would recommend trying it.

Latest News

A great offer to kick off with. To mark ‘Afternoon Tea Week’ (12-18 August), Corinthia London is showcasing their elegant ‘Classic Afternoon Tea’ for just £55 per person from 1-31 August 2024 (Monday-Thursday 2 pm-6 pm). Presented in the glamorous Crystal Moon Lounge in the heart of the hotel, the tea service is overseen by Executive Pastry Chef Yago Doamo. 

We mentioned Jason Atherton closing Pollen Street Social. Well, he has announced that once he closes, he will re-open as a grill restaurant named Mary’s after a former American diner who frequented the bar and ordered steak and martini.

Talking of closing, last month, I went to a bin-end evening at the White Horse (part of the Hedonism Group), a wine-led pub. They are closing for a couple of months for a refurb and refresh. I will report back once it reopens.

If you are looking for a special dining experience, something intimate and romantic, Caviar Kaspia could be for you. The former private member's bar is now rebranding as a restaurant and bar with private dining. I sat down to chat with the general manager, David Vareille. He shared his vision for the restaurant in a beautiful four-storey townhouse on Chesterfield Street.

Along with David, there is a new team in the kitchen and front of the house, and from what I saw, this could be the perfect place for a special celebration meal or drink. While it will not be the cheapest dining experience, David promised it will be memorable. Caviar Kaspia re-opens with its new menu on 27th August.

Here is some hotel news: We now have a Mandarin Oriental in Mayfair, in Hanover Square. The hotel hosts several new restaurants (Japanese and Korean), cocktail bars and even a rooftop bar. 

If you have seriously deep pockets or have won the lottery since we last spoke, you might be interested in a new service offered by the recently opened hotel  The Emory. The new hotel is part of the Maybourne Hotel collection (Includes Claridges and The Connaught) the hotel has teamed up with Flexjet to offer a helicopter taxi service to pick you up from your private jet to Battersea Heliport, where you can get the number 170 bus outside that goes to the hotel, ok I made the last bit up I believe they lay on a chauffeur from the heliport to take you to the hotel. 

If anybody from Flexjet or the Maybourne group reads this, I’m happy to be a guinea pig and test the new service. I can pretend I have a private jet.

So thats about for this month, I kick off August with a bang with lunch at Novikov’s Italian restaurant tomorrow. I’m not leaving these shores throughout August, so I’m sure I will have plenty to report when we next speak.

Thanks as always for taking the time to read, and have a lovely August wherever you are. 

Speak soon,

Martin, Mayfair Foodie

[email protected]

www.mayfairfoodie.com

Instagram @themayfairfoodie.com