Bentleys has been a London landmark since 1916, with old school charm and fantastic cuisine from head chef Richard Corrigan.

The Venue
Hidden in a side street off Piccadilly, the Victorian building houses three levels of sophisticated dining and drinking. On the ground floor, the champagne and oyster bar offers drinks and informal dining in an elegant setting, including red leather bar chairs, a pianist, marble-topped bar and pictures of fish adorning the walls. Below ground are rooms for private dining, and upstairs is the formal Grill Room. Settling down to a white clothed table feels like you have stepped back into an era where dining was a real event. Floral wallpaper and wood floors imbibes the room with early twentieth century allure.

The Atmosphere
Formal but not overly so. The bar is buzzing with people having pre-dinner or post-work drinks, and the restaurant is a mixture of groups and couples. The clientele are mostly well-heeled, suited and booted types, which is to be expected as Bentley’s is quite an exclusive eating destination, but not so exclusive that you would feel out of place.

The Food
Although there is meat on the menu, the main attraction here is the seafood. From oysters to scallops, from haddock to lobster, it’s all here, it’s all fresh and it’s all spectacular. The waiting staff are more than happy to recommend dishes and explain anything, for example the difference between the types of oyster that they offer. A starter of selected oysters comes with an explanation as to the origin of each of the types, enticingly on ice and served with traditional accompaniments. They taste fresh and salty, just as oysters ought to be. Smoked salmon sourced from Scotland is thickly sliced and delicious with crispy watercress.

Main courses are just as good as expected. A dover sole meuniere is perfectly cooked and beautifully prepared so that the fish falls easily off the bone. Smoked haddock is flaky and flavourful, topped with a perfect poached egg and served atop crushed potatoes and sauteed greens. Side orders are equally pleasing, including purple sprouting broccoli topped with a creamy hollandaise and buttery new potatoes that taste like they’ve been dug up that day. Fabulous desserts top it all off, including a fruit pie packed with apples, blackberries, raspberries and more, baked fresh to order, and a creamy, rich chocolate mousse with raspberries and blueberries.

The Drink
The bar serves a huge selection of drinks, including a cocktail list that boasts old favourites like Cosmopolitans, and original concoctions like The Bentley, with calvados and champagne. All drinks come with a bowl of tasty homemade crisps. In the restaurant, the wine list is extensive and impressive. The sommelier will happily aid in your selection, and if you desire will choose an appropriate glass of wine to match each of your courses.

The Last Word
Quite simply, Bentleys is classy, magnificent and totally worth every penny.

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