What: A chic neighbourhood-style restaurant focused on serving ‘wholesome fare’ from a seasonally changing menu.
Who: Jemima Jones and Lucy Carr-Ellison, who founded upmarket catering company Tart London in 2012 and count Vogue, Louis Vuitton and Stella McCartney among their clients. The pair have also been food columnists for the Evening Standard’s weekly ES Magazine since 2016, and wrote a recipe book together called A Love of Eating, which was published last year.
The food: Wild by Tart’s food has no specific cultural designation, but does feature notable elements of both Mediterranean and British cooking. Smaller dishes include grilled London halloumi with honey, lime, chilli and coriander (£5.50); trout crudo with green tiger’s milk, mezcal, avocado salsa and crisped corn (£10.50); and linguine with clams, nduja and cider (£9.50). Larger dishes feature slow-roasted smoky lamb shoulder served on a bed of creamy polenta and topped with a roasted tomatillo and chilli salsa (£22); Sticky octopus with preserved lemon, yoghurt and pickled saffron chilli (£14.50); and marinated quail with coal roasted baba ganoush, shaved fennel, herbs and toasted cumin seeds (£17). Desserts, meanwhile, include bay leaf crème brûlée with orange-steeped blackberries (£7.50); cannoli mille-feuille with praline mousse, chocolate cremeaux and hazelnut (£9); and a miso caramel cookie skillet with milk ice cream to share (£10).
The vibe: The restaurant retains the building’s original distinctive arched roof structure, with a high glass panelled ceiling and skylights that date back to the 19th century. Despite being housed in a former power station and coal store, it’s a warm and convivial space, with much of the wall and ceiling area covered in greenery. As well as counter seating overlooking the open kitchen, the restaurant also features communal tables, a lounge area, and a private dining room on a mezzanine that overlooks the hustle and bustle of the restaurant.
And another thing: In total, Wild by Tart covers a 9,000sq ft space that, as well as the restaurant, also contains a bar, deli, retail offering, events space and photography studio.
3-4 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, London SW1W 9AZ