Gastro Pub Perfection at The Only Running Footman, Berkeley Square

If you’ve been following this blog recently you’ve noticed I’ve been on a winning streak hitting a string of terrific restaurants around town. I’m happy to add one more to the list – the evocatively titled gastro pub, The Only Running Footman, as another great example of London dining at its best.

I don’t think I have a single complaint about my Friday evening dinner at this upscale pub just off Berkeley Square. Sure the first floor dining room was a bit snug, but it was comfortable enough and more than suitably ‘dressed’ for a night of fine dining. Besides, getting to eavesdrop on a few Mayfair conversations proved half the fun of going out in such of fancy schmancy part of town. As you might imagine, most of the folks dining here probably could have been scooting up to any number of celebrated places to eat.

Nosy elbow rubbing aside, all other aspects of my experience more than made up for eating in close proximity to the other patrons. Indeed, service was flawless, friendly and fast. Wine
A crisp and rather dry German QbA Riesling was wonderful. And most importantly the food was delicious.

I loved my English Hereford snails in garlic butter with Bourguignon jus starter (£9.50 as a starter, £13.95 as a main) and couldn’t get enough of my main course mound of crispy squid, coriander and spring onions with chilli and lime aioli (£8.75 as a starter, £15.75 as a main). A side of steamed curly kale (£3.95) was a delicious accompaniment, and a scoop of coconut sorbet (£1.95 per scoop) ended a lovely meal on a refreshing note.

Minus paying four quid for my small (if tasty) bowl of kale, I felt prices were reasonable given the portion size, presentation, and quality of the food and that the menu was perhaps especially nicely priced considering the postcode. The Footman does a Sunday roast as well as a pie of the day and a nice looking assortment of sandwiches and salads. There’s a very cosy and particularly pubby bar downstairs that looked well worth visiting an elbow bend or two. I’d be happy to return, and I’m more than confident to recommend this pub to any of my foodie friends.

A strong contender for the most unusual pub name in London, The Only Running Footman is located at 5 Charles Street, W1J 5DF. Find out more and make a reservation for upstairs dining at therunningfootmanmayfair.com.