A Meal at Scott's

Situated in swanky Mayfair, 164 year old Scott’s has played host to the likes of Simon Cowell, Bill Clinton, Cheryl Cole and Tom Cruise, so I was expecting big things.

The restaurant’s exquisite exterior is well-suited to the rest of the businesses that make up the road’s selection of shops, cafes and eateries. Although it appears quite corporate, it is complete with sparklingly clean doors, cheery doorman and an alfresco dining area with outside heating for the typical weather conditions of the capital.

The kitchen & oyster bar

The impressive marble floor foyer has a gorgeous statue on one side and a complementary cloakroom on the other. It almost has a feel of a classy hotel as you are greeted by courteous staff waiting to seat you. It is recommended that you book at least a couple of weeks in advance due to the popularity of Scott’s but the waiters are incredibly accommodating throughout the experience.

When my boyfriend and I arrived, we were a little early and were offered the option of enjoying a drink or two at the bar or being seated immediately, but as my stomach was rumbling profusely, we decided to sit down to eat straight away.

I was delighted with how comfortable the seats were and how quaint the atmosphere was. It also managed to be busy without being noisy or hectic, perhaps due to the great design of the main room with its various sections and beautifully-decorated pillars.

The kitchen and wonderfully arranged oyster bar are situated in the centre of the room for all customers to see and witness the experience of their food being prepared. They are right next to the bar so there is a collective feel.

Smoked eel served with rosemary potatoes & crispy bacon

Almost as soon as I sat down, I was offered a glass of water while I perused the menu- and not just tap water; I was asked to choose between tap, still, sparkling or bottled still water, with or without ice and with or without a slice of lemon. After deciding on still water with ice and slice, my boyfriend and I asked our waiter to recommend a couple of wines that complemented the food we wanted to order. 

As Scott’s is renowned for its seafood, we were both planning to have fish-based dishes and the waiter was only too happy to recommend a few wines, even giving us a sample of each to help us decide. We opted for a crisp white (£42) that was exquisite and placed on ice for the entirety of our meal. Staff were courteous enough to refill our glasses whenever they spotted them to be empty, as well as our water.

I ordered girolle mushroom, pea and Gorgonzola risotto (£14.75) which was lovely and creamy and exactly what a starter should be- satisfying without being too filling. My boyfriend chose smoked eel served with horseradish potatoes and crispy bacon (£14.25) and although it is an usual dish, all the flavours complemented each other really well and both dishes were impeccably presented.

Lobster

We both selected lobster for our main course (both £42)- I chose grilled lobster served with veg and lightly seasoned fries and an exquisite garlic butter. My boyfriend chose lobster thermidor, which involves taking the lobster meat from the shell and serving it with a beautiful brandy and egg yolk sauce- a posh omelette! He chose mashed potato as a side which was served in a tiny pan which was a delightful touch to such a sophisticated meal. The portions were hearty and just like the starters, presented breathtakingly on the plate.

We were so full from out first two courses that we didn't have space for a third, but the dessert menu looked just as fantastic as the others.

The best thing about Scott’s is how well-cooked, promptly served and delightfully arranged the food is as well as how the entire experience is high-class without being pretentious with snobbish staff and minuscule portions. The ambience was outstanding and staff were attentive and obliging. Highly recommended- you may just have to penny-pinch before you go!

5/5