Against all odds, caviar is back on the menu. It never really went away, of course, but was previously confined to the Ritzes and Savoys of the city. Now, despite a Brexit-induced strain on importing, unsustainable farming practices and a cost of living crisis, we’re seeing the rare roe in more and more dishes across London. Could it mark a return to the hyper-capitalist lifestyle of the 80s (for those who can afford it)? Can we expect to see American Psycho types in our local flashing gold cards and bumping caviar? Maybe a few kilos fell off the back of a truck and were found by a lucky restaurateur who’s now running an underground caviar market that’s keeping the flashy, fishy delicacy in circulation.
However it happened, we seem to be heading towards an unlikely caviar renaissance. It wasn’t too long ago that new openings would stress their focus on ‘unfussy’ food; more recently, the word ‘opulent’ is back in play. Now the UK’s first permanent caviar boutique has landed in South Kensington and the aptly named Hot Dogs and Caviar is open inside roller disco Flippers (feat. fully loaded fries with “copious amounts of caviar”). Fish eggs are not everyone’s cup of tea, and they certainly aren’t in all of our budgets, but if you think nothing beats a bit of beluga, here are the dishes you’ll wanna get on your radar.
Umai Caviar
This new caviar brand (a spin-off from N25 Caviar, which supplies the best restaurants in the world) is all about making caviar fun and accessible with its two distinct styles; the creamier and more traditional Heritage variety, and the larger, nuttier Modern variety. Add it to fried chicken, crisps, waffles, ice cream, whatever you like really because now it’s an everyday luxury.
Miró
One of Mayfair’s OTT ‘clubstaurants’, Miró has its own extravagant take on classic fish & chips. Layers of crisp potato are topped with fatty tuna chūtoro, Oscietra caviar and pickled wasabi. Toto, we’re not in the chippy anymore.
Saltie Girl
Caviar is in pretty much everything at the London outpost of Boston seafood spot Saltie Girl – even the drinks. There’s gnocchi with caviar, crème fraîche & spring onion; a caviar & grilled cheese; a shellfish tower that reads like the 12 Days of Christmas (12 oysters, 4 clams, 4 head-on prawns, 4 crab claws, lobster cocktail, tuna tartare, caviar & sea urchin); and the Saltie, a signature cocktail of gin or vodka garnished with gordal olive, pickled onion & caviar.
Common Decency
Common Decency, the drinking den below the NoMad London has quite a few selling points, like its extravagant interiors and its world-class cocktail list, and also among them is the menu of killer bar snacks, created by the hotel’s executive chef Ashley Abodeely. The caviar-topped rosti with bonito cream is a particular highlight.
Alex Dilling at Hotel Café
You can’t move for caviar at Alex Dilling’s Hotel Café Royal restaurant. The menu of modern takes on traditional French cuisine features the likes of laminated brioche with smoked sturgeon rillettes & aged Kaluga Caviar; Fine de Claire oyster tartar with bavarois, aged Kaluga caviar, pickled shallot & smoked creme fraiche; and Dilling’s signature take on clam chowder, made with Dorset clams, confit potato, crème fraîche, razor clams, cockles, Sarawak pepper and caviar.
Restaurant St. Barts
One of our favourite new openings of 2022, Restaurant St. Barts’ 15-course menu features hit after hit. Though the offering changes regularly, you can expect Exmoor caviar (produced at the sustainable farm by the same name) to make an appearance, as it does on these Welsh wagyu bellinis.
Beaufort Bar at The Savoy
The epitome of bougie, The Savoy Hotel’s Beaufort Bar has adopted the trend of ‘bumping’ caviar which became all the rage back in the summer. Similarly to the salt before a tequila shot, the caviar is placed on your hand before you lick it off. Some say this is an elevated way to taste caviar, others that it’s absolutely not – each to their own.