With a pub-like atmosphere in a trendy, upscale setting, The Ebury offers something for everyone in Belgravia.

The Venue
Part bar, part brasserie, part restaurant, The Ebury has been going strong since 2003, drawing in a strong crowd of people who live and work nearby. Downstairs is the bar and brasserie area, with a mix of high and low seats, long booths and small round tables. The decor is woody and dark, but there’s plenty of light courtesy of the large circular and brass globe lights overhead and the huge arched windows on the side. A carpeted staircase of carved wood leads up to the slightly posher dining room, which is decorated with red chandeliers, ornate gold mirrors and red flames painted along one wall.

The Atmosphere
Everyone seems to know each other at The Ebury and you get the sense that this is a really popular place for after-work drinks and food. Although practically everyone is in a suit, there’s a laid back atmosphere and you won’t feel like you’re the odd one out in a pair of dark jeans. The service is spot on, attentive and personable, and will even help you find you some space to sit if it’s a bit crowded. It is slightly too loud for an in-depth conversation over dinner though, so if you’re on a date you might want to head somewhere quieter beforehand.

The Food
A mix of British and French dishes, the menu is relatively pricey at about £8 for starters and £15 for mains, but in a neighbourhood rife with antique furniture stores and boutique clothing shops most locals won’t be surprised. Things start well with a sweetcorn soup (£6), pale yellow in colour with tiny drops of pesto oil. It’s smooth and creamy, with an uplifting sweet taste. The salad of soused octopus (£7.75) is refreshingly light as well, the octopus is nicely cooked (rings, tentacles and all) and the sliced piquillo peppers and vinegar dressing are sharp and tangy. Another starter of rabbit leg comes speared with a stick of fragrant rosemary and surrounded by a subtly flavoured, bright green avocado puree and a sprinkling of salad leaves. The rabbit meat is pressed, firm and savoury, although there are a few tiny shards of bone scattered throughout which means you’ll have to eat carefully instead of just digging in.

Mains include a slow cooked pork belly (£16.50) which comes with a surprising but welcome addition of half a roasted green apple on top of the meat. The strong, sweet flavour of the apple is a perfect accompaniment to the pork and works much better than just having a slug of the pureed fruit on the side. The meat is wonderfully tender and savoury and an addition of carrots and peas makes the dish even heartier and more satisfying. Ricotta and herb gnocchi (£12.50 as a main, £7 as a starter), however, is the only real disappointment. Although non-potato gnocchi is commonly made with ricotta, this version tastes too mild and bland, with no real texture. The accompanying mushroom sauce is too creamy as well and it seems as if the dish is crying out for some crusty bread or some acidic tomatoes to cut through all the milky flavours. Puddings (£6.50) finish off the evening on a high note, and the warm, dark chocolate fondant is a good choice as it’s paired with a silky pistachio ice cream and a meringue biscuit that melts in your mouth like candy floss.

The Drink
Like the food, The Ebury’s cocktails are on the expensive side as well, ranging from about £7 to about £10. The list is inventive though, and includes more than the usual amount of signature drinks. The Webber Martini (£8.60) is made with Potocki vodka, mint, sugar, orange flower water and Tabasco – despite the aforementioned spice it’s actually quite a light, zingy drink and is a pretty pale yellow colour with tiny flecks of mint floating on top. The Belgravia Batida (£8.60) is like a fruity milkshake, frothy and sugary but with a strong taste of cachaca.

The wine list is all encompassing, with plenty of options from several countries. There’s a large range of wines available by the glass (175ml and 250ml) and bottles start at about £15. The house white is refreshing and easy to drink, whilst the red is deep, dark and slightly tangy.

The Last Word
Often the danger in trying to please everyone is that the venue will be a jack of all trades but master of none. However, for the most part, The Ebury succeeds as far as food, drinks and atmosphere are concerned, making it a good option for the locals.

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