Dining at Butlers Restaurant in The Chesterfield Mayfair
Stylish Mayfair is tucked between Hyde Park and Soho, but it wasn’t always a place of glitz and glamour. Back in the 17th century, it was all open fields, and where the annual May fair was held, which gave it its name. The fair got a bit too noisy for the residents’ liking, so it was packed off elsewhere, and the area was spruced up with grand Georgian houses and elegant squares. Fast forward a few centuries, and there’s a mix of embassies, posh hotels and Michelin-starred eateries.
We’re heading for one of those hotels – The Chesterfield Mayfair, which is part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. It’s a charming old-school gem that’s brimming with classic British elegance with its sparkling marble lobby, rich wood panelling, plush carpets underfoot, and, we’re soon to discover, impeccable service. The doorman welcomes us with a smile (love a smiling doorman), and we step inside into what feels like a different and more gracious era. It’s time for lunch at Butlers Restaurant.
Butlers pride themselves on showcasing seasonal British ingredients and it’s a delight to read a menu that’s full of the best British produce. There’s the renowned smoked salmon by H Forman & Son, London’s oldest smokery, roasted Orkney scallops, Devonshire chicken, Isle of Wight tomatoes, Hereford aged steaks and Cornish lamb rump. But it’s the Dover sole that catches our eye – and our waiter tells us it’s the finest in London. Who can resist that?
Our sole arrives drenched in glorious, golden butter – we asked for it meunière style, naturally, and it’s filleted right at our table with the kind of confidence that says, don’t worry, we’ve done this a hundred times. What’s left is a beautifully generous portion of soft, delicate fish that melts in the mouth. A real treat, perfectly suited to the luxury of our surroundings.
We complete our feast with the fluffiest of raspberry souffles and a selection of zesty, fruity sorbets. Lunch at Butlers provides an escape to a cosy haven in what is such a busy part of the city. It’s where discreet elegance meets first-rate British cuisine. And don’t forget – the best Dover sole in London. Seriously.
If you fancy making a night of it, the Chesterfield Hotel has 94 deluxe guest rooms and 14 luxurious suites. There’s also a charming bar, Sem’s, on the ground floor and a newly-opened rooftop bar (this month) called Stanley’s.
Words by Sandy Cadiz-Smith
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