Mayfair has been one of my true loves for the longest time. It’s filled with the fine-dining restaurants, bars that sure know how to shake up a good espresso martini, and let’s not forget the best shopping experiences known to man. A short stone’s throw away, you have my forbidden weakness, Selfridges and the luxurious delicacies found on the designer strip of New Bond Street.
With the winter chill in the air and a busy week ahead, I was in need of some downtime with one of my old friends, Helena. Naturally, we found ourselves in familiar territory on the hunt for some warmth, hearty food, and a few concoctions to defrost our cockles.
Stepping into Chucs Mayfair, you are immersed in a cosy, nautical-themed restaurant with a twist. Screaming luxurious, without the pretentiousness, seating a number of guests around their snug, elegant 6-table restaurant. You will find the locals Mayfair crowd dining with their loved ones, or those out on a girls night out with the entire Chanel store draping off their bodies. But, they all come for the reason we did — the fantastic food, attentive service and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.
Starting our night with an Italian
Italian’s will never let you drink without a snack nearby. They think of everything, don’t they? That’s why I love Italy! We were brought over a selection of nibbles: olives, salted dried corn kernels and delicious, creamy cheese with walnuts scattered on top. Perfect!
Helena and I caught up extensively as we scanned the menu. The best part about Chucs is they have large variety on their menu despite the size of the restaurant. That’s my kind of place to dine. Although, with so many choices that sounded right up our street, it was hard to narrow it down to the chosen few.
With carbs, carbs, carbs on our mind, we delved straight in with our order, including a hand-picked bottle of Italian white wine by the in-house sommelier.
Chucs have a range of antipasti dishes available which work great as starters. However, they also serve their home-made pasta in smaller portions as starters too. We took advantage of being able to try more of the home-made pasta dishes, pushing us further into a carb coma than originally anticipated. We ordered an Italian classic — creamy burrata with mushrooms and black truffle and a small plate of bigoli
If you thought we would go for something different for our mains, think again. We went for a double carb load of pasta, and we weren’t even slightly embarrassed. If you eat the pasta at Chucs, you will understand why three plates of pasta between two people
We ordered the maccheroni alla bolognese made with beef mince, in a rich tomato and herb sauce, and a tangy Amalfi lemon tagliatelle. Both absolutely heavenly dishes, especially as the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and full of flavour too. The portion sizes are generous, which makes them perfect for sharing with your fellow dining partner.
As we wrapped our meal after an evening of divine food and a fantastic selection of drinks, we were brought over the dessert menu. Now, Helena and I always say “we will just look, thanks” and before you know it, we both have our eye on something sweet and creamy. It happens every time.
Our choice of a guilty pleasure on this occasion was the famous Chucs triple layer tiramisu with a last minute addition of cherry crème brûlée. With every spoonful, it reassured me why Chucs is Mayfair’s hidden gem. And I’m hoping it remains that way, so I can always be guaranteed
I think it honestly pays off to be a “Mayfair boy” because I get to experience such great restaurants within short proximity from where I live, which means I can quickly roll myself home, after a filling yet delectable meal.
From the food to the service, from the decor to the location, Chucs is an absolute 10 out of 10 for me. It’s so rare that I ever rate a restaurant as a full 10, but it absolutely deserves it. I simply can’t wait to spend more time having quality meals at Chucs, with friends and family.
Until next time…
