The area
around Berkley Square in Mayfair London has several quality restaurants. The
newly opened Sexy Fish with its Pan Asian, carbohydrate lite food for the swish
set and the ladies who lunch, Benaras for the rich homesick Indians who have
offices and homes in Mayfair and Novikov for the Russians are just a few
examples. Two out of the Holy Triumvirate of restaurants that every Desi visits, – Nobu and Hakkasan – are also
at Berkley square while the third, Royal China, is not.
In a quiet
lane off Berkley Square are three excellent restaurants. The extraordinary
Steak & Pie place Guinea Grill, the 2 stars in Michelin Kaiseki restaurant
– Umu; and the utterly delightful Bellamy’s. Bellamy’s was where we were to
dine.
A bit of
history. For what it’s worth, the Tattler magazine in 2014 designated Bellamy’s
as being “The Most Civilised Restaurant”. Now is that not charming and
something you would want in restaurant? And there is more. Some 10 years ago,
to celebrate the 80th birthday of her closest friend Lady Prudence
Penn, Queen Elizabeth attended a private dinner at Bellamy’s. What is all the
more enchanting is that in May 2016, to celebrate Lady Penn’s 90th
birthday, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne and others from the Royal
family had a private dinner at Bellamy’s. This is unusual as the Queen does not
dine in restaurants.
The
restaurant itself is helmed by alumni from Annabel’s – the legendary London
nightclub. The food is partly French, partly English with a strong emphasis on
fish. The menu has several old style, old fashioned dishes and in the bar at
lunch you can order sandwiches. In addition there is a very good fixed meal
changing every week at a very economical £ 21.50 for two courses.
As we
walked in we saw an older lot of patrons, all decently dressed with men wearing
jackets. Of course there were only whites in the restaurant, and, of course, we
were the only browns, no blacks and no yellows, no Hispanics, no ragheads. A glass of Rose
Champagne for HRH the Queen of Kutch and a Gin & Tonic for me while we
scanned the menu.
The menu
was an absolute delight. So many wonderful dishes – Artichoke Salad, Avocado Vinaigrette,
Brown Shrimp Croquettes, Prawn & Avocado Cocktail and so much more. This
was just starters. We chose three – the Fish Fingers, Smoked Eel Mousse and Sashimi
of Yellow fin Tuna. The more cynical of you may question ordering Sashimi in an
Anglo French restaurant. Not to worry folks, remember Sashimi involves no
cooking – simply sourcing and slicing fish and serving it with store bought
Wasabi and Soy. The Sashimi was pronounced as amazing by HRH the Queen of
Kutch. I ate a piece too – brilliant. The Smoked Eel Mousse was top class.
Smooth creamy & smoky served with thin Melba Toast points. Just what I
wanted. The Fish Fingers were very good too. As the cliché goes, well begun is
half done.
Smoked Eel Mousse
Fish Fingers
Sashimi of Yellow Fin Tuna
Choosing
the main course was a difficult task. So much to choose from. To me a test of a
good restaurant is where you have a short menu and find that you have so much
that leaps out at you. This was an instance of that phenomenon. Dover Sole with
steamed Potato, Scallops with Vegetables, Lamb Noisettes, Steak Tartare and so
much more. Finally HRH the Queen settled on Roast Cod with a Black Olive Crust
while I ordered a Salt Beef Pot au Feu. Both dishes were knockouts. Extremely
tasty, light with no heavy saucing, no spices just deep flavours. Excellent
food. Plates cleaned.
Roast Cod with Black Olive
Salt Beef Pot au Feu
A side of Green Beans
Desserts
were old fashioned too – we had a Tunisian Orange and Almond cake, moist and
not overly sweet with a lot of Orange flavour, and a Salted Caramel Ice Cream.
This was washed down with a Brandy for HRH the Queen and a Calvados for me.
This was a
very good meal. No fireworks and no fancy service, just simple straight forward
old style cooking. This would be a neighbourhood restaurant where you could eat
once a week and always have a good meal. Friendly wait staff, thoroughly
competent. This is a place we will happily return several times.
Another
wonderful evening.
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