RESTAURANT REVIEW: ALFRESCO LUNCH AT CAFÉ BILTMORE, GROVESNOR SQUARE
We recently spent a sunny afternoon on the terrace at Café Biltmore. Located on Grovesnor Square, The Biltmore Mayfair, LXR Hotels & Resorts, features 250 opulent rooms and 57 curated suites with excellent views of London’s skyline. Café Biltmore is the hotel’s casual dining hot spot, boasting modern takes on world classics with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
As you walk through the opulent lobby at The Biltmore Mayfair, you are met with contemporary luxury elegance courtesy of Goddard Littlefair, who oversaw the hotel’s refurbishment ahead of its launch in September 2019. The ‘village’ of Mayfair and the Far East were noted as key sources of inspiration. Bespoke luxury furnishings, dramatic sculptural lighting fixtures and an eye-catching floral display are the first things you see when you arrive at the prestigious hotel. It is simultaneously warm and welcoming and truly lavish.
As you enter Café Biltmore’s bright and spacious terrace area, one of the first things you notice is the lack of traffic or construction noises you might expect to hear from Grosvenor Square. An abundance of foliage adorns the walls, creating a serene setting for business lunches, catch ups with friends or a romantic dinner. Glittering fairy lights add to the charm. Café Biltmore accommodates year-round indoor and outdoor dining, with friendly and attentive waiting staff and a resident Sommelier for all of your wine needs.
As it was officially the last week of British summertime, a cocktail and a mocktail were in order. James opted for Pride Celebration, featuring Bombay Sapphire, Champagne, pineapple and Morello cherries. I was enticed by the Garden of Eden - Coconut, Seedlip Garden 108, Apple, Lime, Tonic. The carefully curated cocktail menu does not disappoint.
We perused Jason Atherton’s À La Carte Menu, which feels both Mediterranean and Anglo-American, catering for all appetites and occasions. Sourdough bread and cultured butter arrived alongside my exquisite chilled tomato gazpacho with cucumber, black olive and basil - the perfect duo. James ordered the Cured Loch Duart salmon with ponzu dressing, finger lime, coriander and chilli and instantly started pining after our former life in Scotland.
Next to arrive was a picturesque summer garden salad with grilled courgettes, peaches, wild rocket and broad beans - an excellent precursor to the Late Summer Mount Street Garden Party we were due to attend. James, who had switched to Terras Gauda O Rosall, an aromatic Spanish white wine, indulged in a hearty grilled Cornish plaice with capers, lemon, parsley and citrus hollandaise. His usual favourites, tender stem broccoli and fries, joined the line-up. Between mouthfuls, we happily agreed that this meal was a true celebration of summer.
To finish, it had to be sorbet for me, whilst James dove into an incredibly enticing Valrhona chocolate moelleux with milk ice cream. I looked on, barely able to conceal my jealous rage. Café Biltmore’s decadent, hot moelleux triggers a heavenly eyes-shut experience as you break through the surface to release the chocolate liquid inside. It’s incredibly difficult to watch someone having this much fun without getting involved.
All in all, we had a fantastic dining experience at Café Biltmore. The menu has just changed for the autumn season so it’s safe to say we will be returning again very soon!
Café Biltmore, 44 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London W1K 2HP
020 7596 3200 | biltmore.restaurants@hilton.com
