Berners Tavern | Gilded Fitzrovia Restaurant From Jason Atherton
Just as the phrase “Location, location, location” neatly sums up the ingredients of a good property, the following sums up the requisite parts of a great restaurant –
“Chandelier. Atmosphere. Michelin-starred executive chef serving a vast menu of modern European brasserie cooking”.
Coincidentally, Berners Tavern at The London Edition Hotel fits that description to a tee.
First, a little context. The London Edition comes from the man who is credited with co-creating the first ’boutique hotel’, Ian Schrager – which explains the hotel’s nonchalant blend of turn-of-the-century architecture with striking, uber-modern artwork. He is also, appositely, the man who co-founded Studio 54 – which explains Berners Tavern.
Impressively grand from the moment you enter, Berners Tavern is like something out of an Edwardian film: a baroque ballroom with deep moulded ceilings, thick gold framed art covering every inch of its truffle-hued walls, and a gilded chandelier centrepiece the size of an upturned tree.
To your right as you enter, there’s the bar area, with tables and chairs dotted around the nucleus of a huge, imposing, backlit bar stacked with all manner of unique and classic spirits, which the ‘tenders will happily whip into a pre-dinner whistle-wetter, like the Precious Jewels (with rye whisky, sencha green tea, Champagne cordial and elderflower). It is, quite simply, glorious-looking.
Equally well decorated is the kitchen – or rather, who’s in it. This is one of renowned chef Jason Atherton’s many restaurants across the UK (and, in fact, the world), which includes the Michelin-starred City Social. Berners Tavern takes all the cumulative knowledge from his previous culinary ventures, and exponentially amplifies it.
The theme is anything a) Modern European, and b) delicious – and, being an all day affair, you can stop by for breakfast, Sunday roasts, speedy lunches, afternoon tea or a leisurely dinner. Variously, they offer dishes like roasted sweet potato, halloumi, and poached eggs on Borough Market sourdough; chargrilled octopus, smoked cod’s roe, treviso and chicory salad with Grenobloise sauce; BBQ Dingley Dell pork chops with roasted hispi cabbage and chimichurri dressing; and of course expertly-crafted versions of classic dishes like mac and cheese. And to accompany all this? An extensive list of over 70 wines, and a visit from the tableside Champagne trolley.
But yeah. Michelin star-level mac and cheese.
NOTE: Berners Tavern is open daily, 7am-midnight. You can reserve a table, or find out more, right HERE.
Berners Tavern | The London Edition Hotel, 10 Berners Street, W1T 3LF
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