First of all, my girlfriend loved this place. So there, problem solved and thumbs up for the Palm. Actually, I loved it too. Food was great. Drinks were well made. Service was solid. The setting was especially comfortable. No complaints (at all – a rarity for me!) … with thumbs as up as my stubbly little hands will allow. Add to these commendable qualities a special offer that also makes this cosy Belgravia restaurant a real bargain to visit and you’ve got the makings of a rave review.
So yeah, I really enjoyed my visit to Palm London and found its newly launched PrimeTime discount menu of cocktails and “Prime Bites” to be an excellent way to get a taste of what makes this neighbourhood favourite so special.
The PrimeTime special runs (at the bar only) from 5pm until closing every day of the week, when the price you pay is determined by the clock. Before 5pm all items on the PrimeTime food and drink menu are their usual listed price, but from 5pm prices are as follows: £5 (until 6pm), £6 (until 7pm), £7 (until 8pm), £8 (until 9pm), £9 (until closing). And get this: on Mondays the bar extends its offer into the Palm’s front dining room and “stops the clock” at 5pm so all PrimeTime items are a mere £5 all night long.
What’s especially cool about the PrimeTime menu is that the food is really tasty. I thought the prime steak sliders (regular price £11.90) with Cheddar, pickle and pesto mayonnaise were amazing. I was still blathering about how delicious they were on my way back home. So called “dirty shrimp” (panko fried shrimp tossed in Creole spices with slaw and remoulade, regular priced £12.90) satisfied heartily as well. Crispy calamari fritti tossed with preserved lemon and marinated peppers (regular price £11.90) was also a delight. Portions were ample (particularly considering I was there on Monday and everything was £5 a go) and dishes were served up quick.
Drinks impressed too. All cocktails from the PrimeTime are regularly priced at £10. There’s close to 20 of them. It’s a nice list of classic and signature mixes as well. I loved sipping the Classic Charmer Manhattan (Bulleit Bourbon and Martini Rosso) and thought the Rum Reserve Rita (Appleton Estate Rum, Grand Marnier liqueur, lime and lemon juice) was a winner too.
Palm London is one in a group of around 30 American owned restaurants started back in New York during the 1920s. The London location is the only Palm outside the States. The feel is very American in the best of ways. Expect friendly and attentive service and a lively casual vibe. If you’re up for more than bites at the bar, the dinner menu features Italian American standards, USDA prime beef steak, Nova Scotia lobster, New York style cheesecake and more.
Beyond the yummy and reasonably priced bar snacks and cocktails, I think what Kemey and I liked most about Palm was the ambience. We were made to feel very welcome by the staff. The booth we nestled into was a roomy nook. The wall o’ caricatures of regulars (including Sean Connery?!) was a hoot of a backdrop. Everything aspect of our visit was accommodatingly pleasant. I totally recommend this place to anybody looking for a no fuss dining experience around Knightsbridge or Belgravia.
See you there on a Monday night (even though I live clear on the other side of town)? It’s pretty likely we’ll be heading back there soon!
Palm London is located at 1-3 Pont Street, SW1X 9EJ. Find out more at thepalm.com/london.
Photo courtesy of the restaurant
