The Mediterranean has come to Belgravia, and in some style
When a restaurant’s co-founder is an interior stylist, you’d expect it to look good but Wildflowers really is a gorgeous space. Opened by Laura Hart (the stylist) and Aaron Potter (the chef, previously of Elystan Street), Wildflowers occupies a prime spot in Newson’s Yard, an old timber yard just off Pimlico Road that’s been tastefully restored to become a hub for high-end furniture shops, cabinet makers and the kind of interior accessories only the residents of Belgravia could hope to afford.
There’s a wine bar on the first floor, which has open sides out onto the covered Yard, lending it an indoor/outdoor kind of vibe. The main dining room is on the ground floor, with an open kitchen at the back, a deli counter doing pastries and sandwiches up front, and pared-back, elegant furnishings dotted throughout.
Eat This
Wildflowers offers a wonderfully simple menu inspired by the relaxed dining cultures of Spain, France and Italy – it’s Aaron’s take on the food of his holidays, made with British ingredients. Don’t expect any tapas plates or sharers, this is a starter, main and dessert set-up, though you will want to order a pan of the moules farcies, a vivid green and black combo of mussels baked with garlic and parsley butter, to kick things off.
The scallop crudo dotted with cubes of nashi pear, slivers of crunchy almonds and a scattering of fennel pollen, all bathed in olive oil is a lovely, light starter, and one that’s a great counterpoint to the deep oiliness and funk of the sardine bruschetta.
Seasonality is very much the name of the game here and the baked mushroom rice with grilled ceps is a real celebration of autumn. The thick sugar pit pork chop, surrounded by an almond cream and jammy quince, may be the best thing on the menu and is the perfect partner for the holiday potatoes, crispy fried spuds like you’d find in Spain.
The smooth fior di latte gelato, dressed with grape balsamic, lashings of olive oil and sea salt, is light but luxurious and the perfect way to end.
Drink This
If you want a pre-dinner tipple, you can head up to the wine bar for vermouths, amaros, cocktails like melon negronis and peschiole dirty martinis, and European wines from the keenly priced list, including Wildflowers’ own on tap. The staff in the dining room are handy with the recommendations so do ask – we were pointed in the direction of a lovely, fruit forward La Gerbaude Cotes du Rhone from Domaine Alary that went down a treat with dinner.
Why Go
Aaron and his team have got the balance just right at Wildflowers – the food is uncomplicated but beautiful, the ingredients are few but well chosen, the dishes are light but hearty, and it all just feels incredibly chic.
Key Information
Address | Newson’s Yard, 57 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE
For more information | wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk