Housed in the new London Edition hotel in Fitzrovia, Berners Tavern is a grand and majestic setting with opulent chandeliers, antique framed paintings covering the entire walls and a wonderfully ornate ceiling. The vast dining room is sophisticated and regal whilst still being stylish and metropolitan. It’s huge, glitzy and fabulous dahling; all lit to a golden glow to make even the customers seem photoshopped.
The crowd is mostly be-suited after-work types, celebs, foodies and Oxford Street shoppers.
The glamorous setting is met with equally luxurious dishes. Faultless in preparation, execution, presentation and taste. The menu is vast and varied. For starters the scallop ceviche served with a little ball of lime ice is simple and delicious; fancy without showing off. The mains are exquisite, the highlight for me was the Romney Marsh lamb chops served with a hunk of sweetly chargrilled hispi cabbage, silky aubergine purée and apricot-spiked couscous. The desserts are simply stunning too, the spiced ice cream is divine, and who can resist a warm, cinnamon-dusted doughnut, filled with molten chocolate and served with almond ice-cream?
Presented with a certain amount of ceremony, you feel like you could well be an extra for a period drama. The service is top class; friendly, polite and knowledgeable without being intrusive nor laid-back.
There is also a huge, lively lobby bar offering sumptuous cocktails, wines, spirits and beers to suit everyone’s tastes. After dinner make sure to take yourself to the nightclub for a fun-filled night you won’t forget.
After years of service in the Gordon Ramsay infantry, restaurateur Jason Atherton now has three newly opened restaurants in the West End – the other two being Social Eating House in Soho and Little Social in Mayfair. This new venture is pure razzle-dazzle – one of the most stunning venues in town. Some have even called it ‘The defining restaurant of the decade’. Hats off to him. Let us know what you think.
| 10 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NP | Transport: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road tubes |
| Telephone: +44 020 7908 7979 | Opening Hours: Bar: 11:00-23:00 daily. Restaurant: Breakfast served 7-10.30, lunch served 12:00-14:30, afternoon tea served 14:30-18:00, dinner served 18:00-22:30, lighter supper menu served 22:30-midnight daily. |
| Price per head: Main courses £15-£26. Dinner for two with drinks and service: around £140. | Website |
