Restaurant Review: London Stock, Mayfair

Searching for somewhere to eat in Mayfair? Martha Davies checks out London Stock, which recently relocated from Wandsworth.

Restaurant Review: London Stock, Mayfair

If you’re hungry and wandering the streets of Mayfair, chances are you’re looking for a glitzy place to dine. But if you’re not quite in the mood for fanfare, head to London Stock; billed as a relaxed fine dining concept, it serves up gorgeous food without any fuss. 

Boasting dark wooden surfaces and enormous dining chairs in shades of warm ochre, the restaurant’s interiors are simple and ultra-sleek. With a smattering of wine glasses on the shelves, menus hidden inside tall, stately cabinets, and the kitchen tucked away at the back, it’s almost as if you’ve stepped into someone’s (enviable) front room. By virtue of such minimalism, the London buzz melts away and the food takes centre stage.

There’s certainly plenty to enjoy: London Stock offers set lunch and dinner menus, a tasting menu and a pre-theatre option, plus a sprawling drinks list. We indulged in the four-course dinner menu, which brings together many highlights of the magnificent eight-course tasting menu. (Veganuary faithfuls, never fear: a vegetarian alternative is available). Ingredients are seasonal and local, but there’s an emphasis on European cooking techniques. Both the pre-theatre and set menus allow you to select between three dishes per course, so you’ll be spoilt for choice at every turn.

For our first starter, we opted for the beef tartare – perfectly finished with hints of miso and fig – as well as the cured sea bream ceviche, the delicate textures of which were counterbalanced by vibrant notes of cumquat. Our second starter consisted of a smoky squab pigeon dish alongside langoustine complete with grapes, caviar and a dash of champagne. As a three AA Rosette-winning restaurant, London Stock is rooted in a kind of understated elegance: expect refined, indulgent fare that speaks for itself. If you’re looking for the culinary equivalent of quiet luxury, this is the place for you.

Our main courses, it turned out, were the real show-stoppers. The lamb shoulder was wonderfully tender, served with black olives and kale for a Mediterranean twist, while the tomato risotto was divine. Crowned by a parmesan crisp flecked with edible flowers, it tasted as dreamy as it looked. The desserts were similarly exquisite, and chocolate-lovers will be delighted by both the orange and caramel brownie and the feather-light soufflé, which is infused with banana and rum.

THE FINAL WORD

No bells and whistles, just sophisticated, satisfying food. If you’re after a knockout fine-dining experience that feels substantially more affordable than others in the capital, you can’t go wrong here.

BOOK IT

6 Sackville Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 3DD. londonstockrestaurant.co.uk