Galvin at the Athenaeum is a restaurant that will surpass all expectations. It’s a truly special gem that you won’t be able to forget…
Galvin at the Athenaeum is a restaurant for the Hotel nestled on the ground floor and is run by Michelin-starred London chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin. As we wander down Piccadilly in the sunshine, we easily spot the trademark building – it’s corner facade decorated in luscious greenery and the name of the Hotel in a decadent gold-tone. The entrance is luxurious yet welcoming, in elegant dark shades that exude understated class with a contemporary edge. We are led to our table in the restaurant – a beautiful space in shades of cream with light wooden accents, vases packed with vivacious sunflowers and chandelier-style lighting adorning the ceiling. The air smells like freshly cooked bread and there are either standard tables or booths to sit in. We opt for a booth and are greeted with an ice cold glass of champagne – a lovely reprieve from the warmth outside and the idea accompaniment to sip while we peruse the menu.
The menu has something for everyone without having a long list of choices. The dishes are carefully created and chosen and you can see the thought behind the flavours and the pairings in each offering. For starters I opt for the beech-smoked chicken salad and it surpasses all my expectations. The chicken is soft and melt in your mouth, smoked so it adds the right amount of flavour without being overpowering. Its accompanying mango and coriander dressing is a delicious accompaniment. My partner’s crisp cornish sardines with tartare sauce are simple, yet again, cooked and presented faultlessly.
Our plates are briskly carried away and we recline against the comfortable booth, taking in the surroundings yet again. You’d never know it was a Hotel restaurant – there’s no-one trawling through with a suitcase looking for the check-in desk, nor guests milling about waiting to speak to the concierge. It feels private, exclusive, exciting. It’s not overly fussy – there are no table cloths nor over the top glitz, and you feel special yet comfortable. It’s a balance that’s hard to find – exceptional treatment without being overbearing, yet they hit the nail right on the head.
Mains arrive in a waft of delicious scents and it takes little persuading for me to tuck into my charcoal-grilled beef rib eye. It’s soft, it’s perfectly cooked and I proudly announce it the best rib eye I’ve experienced in a long time. Duck fat Parmentier potatoes and heritage carrot and watercress accompany the beef, and again are flavoursome and fresh. You can taste the precision that has gone into each aspect of the course. My partner’s Presa Iberico Pork goes down similarly and he is torn between wanting me to try it and experience the tastes for myself and missing out on a morsel for himself. He relents and I try it – and am in agreement of just how delicious it tastes. This is accompanied by Polenta, Romesco Sauce & Salsa Verde. Again, combinations that are precise, divine and tantalise the taste buds with every bite.
At Galvin at the Athenaeum be sure to save room for dessert. They are classic choices, such as an Apple Tart Tatin, a selection of homemade ice creams and sorbets and a selection of British cheeses. But with the magic of the chefs here, as with every course, they take something and truly mould it to their own, surpassing all expectation and filling it with flavours you didn’t think possible. The evening ends with a coffee in the bar, a beautiful spot to wind down before heading out into the crisp evening air. With small nooks, plush sofas and leather chairs, it’s a wonderfully intimate and beautiful setting to round off your experience.
Galvin at the Athenaeum is something special. It’s a restaurant you will leave wondering just when you can return. It offers fine dining, an unforgettable atmosphere and an evening you will never forget.
Galvin at the Athenaeum
116 Piccadilly
Mayfair
London
W1J 7BJ
