Right in the heart of Mayfair’s Shepherd Market, Hatchetts is a spot with plenty of history. Originally Hatchett’s Hotel and White Horse Cellar, it was a popular pit-stop for travellers, and in the 60s and 70s the cellar bar hosted the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Now it’s a two-floor eatery, with marble and wood panelling upstairs at the bar, which was very lively on our visit, and distressed floors and original cellar features in the downstairs restaurant.
The same vibe is reflected in the food. Head Chef Andrew Evans has created a modern menu that showcases quality ingredients and classic cooking. Whilst they do offer a small plates selection up at the bar, it’s big proper dishes all the way downstairs. The Kentish courgette flower, ricotta and peach was the pick of the starters – chargrilled peach is fast becoming the new cauliflower and we’re not complaining.
Mains are divided up into sections ‘from the grill’, ‘from the sea’ and ‘from the land’, with a good spread of options in each. We enjoyed the beautifully tender Shorthorn ribeye with buttery, oniony Lyonnaise potatoes and slow braised Tudge’s pork belly with crispy crackling, choucroute and apples – seriously rich and seriously flavoursome. And the same no-nonsense approach extends to the desserts too…Pimms jelly with mint and cucumber sorbet and creamy panna cotta with stewed figs might not be revolutionary but they sure do taste good.
With a solid cocktail list and a cracking value set lunch menu too, it looks like Hatchetts has got more years in it yet.
5 White Horse Street, London, W1J 7LQ
www.hatchetts.london