Elystan Street

I’d been recommended this place and, without realising it, I’d actually visited many years ago when Tom Atkins was running it—so it was a pleasant surprise to return. Having eaten at Phil Howard’s The Square, I was curious to try this restaurant as well. Overall, the service was friendly and on-point, especially from Charlie. The ambience was very good—busy for a Saturday evening in early December, with a couple of birthday groups of six to eight guests adding to the atmosphere/noise. The food was good: nothing groundbreaking, but tasty and nicely presented, as you’d expect. However, at £314 for two people, it was definitely on the pricey side. The pre-dinner cocktails were £16 each, which felt fairly standard, but £47 for three 175ml glasses of wine was steep. In hindsight, ordering a bottle would have been better value. The £40 service charge was not optional. So definitely Michelin star prices. So, rather than a regular spot for us, this feels more like a place for special occasions. We’d return to try the Sunday roast at £60 for three courses.