RestaurantsLondonChelseaSW3

survey result

Summary

£103
£££££
3
Good
2
Average
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Phil Howard – “in a former life, the chef at The Square, where he held two Michelin stars” – continues to deliver “sophisticated, precise and light” ‘flexitarian’ cuisine at his “quietly situated” Chelsea HQ, where he has been ensconced for the last six years now. It’s rather “grown up” in style – “the atmosphere is very much of understated wellbeing” and the room “spacious”. As at some other establishments, though, the pressures of the era dent its ratings this year: “post Covid, the previously first class service is not quite as slick as it was: still professional, but just missing a beat every now and then”, and this can sometimes lead to a “lacklustre” overall impression. Many fans, though, still feel “you can’t go wrong” here. Top Tip – “fair wine prices”.

Summary

£96
 ££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Full of bright, light flavours” – and from a superbly imaginative, “fresh and varied menu” – Phil Howard’s “splendid” ‘flexitarian’ cuisine continues to delight and inspire at this Chelsea five-year-old, in a chichi backstreet. “No expense accounters here – just real people spending their own money on wonderful food in a really friendly contemporary environment”, and with notably “attentive but unobtrusive” staff. Its ratings blipped slightly this year, and even a diner reporting his best meal of the year felt it was “struggling to find its rhythm, as so many places are post-lockdown”. More typically, though, diners “are thrilled to come back here”“during the lockdowns, he kept us going with civilized, assemble-at-home meals, but the reopening has made us realize what a master he is. Carry on!!!”.

Summary

£88
 ££££
5
Exceptional
5
Exceptional
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Phil Howard “is going from strength to strength” at his “vibrant and lively” four-year-old, tucked away in a chichi Chelsea backstreet, where survey ratings scaled new heights this year. Deceptively, the slightly “austere” room “has the feel of a high-quality, neighbourhood local, but standards of food and service are, by contrast, top class”. “Phil has gone back to basics” with his culinary approach and his “beautiful, clever dishes are a delight”: “really inspired cooking using seasonal ingredients and recipes” with a “light touch” and “superb precision”. Famously, he’s more ‘flexitarian’ in approach than when he was at The Square and “while it’s not a vegetarian restaurant, it delivers some of the most interesting gastronomic vegetarian dishes ever!” Service is “outstanding” too – “interested, engaged and good communicators”.

Summary

£88
 ££££
5
Exceptional
5
Exceptional
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Phil Howard “is going from strength to strength” at his “vibrant and lively” three-year-old, tucked away in a chichi Chelsea backstreet, where survey ratings scaled new heights this year. Deceptively, the slightly “austere” room “has the feel of a high-quality, neighbourhood local, but standards of food and service are, by contrast, top class”. “Phil has gone back to basics” with his culinary approach and his “beautiful, clever dishes are a delight”: “really inspired cooking using seasonal ingredients and recipes” with a “light touch” and “superb precision”. Famously, he’s more ‘flexitarian’ in approach than when he was at The Square and “while it’s not a vegetarian restaurant, it delivers some of the most interesting gastronomic vegetarian dishes ever!” Service is “outstanding” too – “interested, engaged and good communicators”.

For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Elystan Street?

Restaurant details

Highchair
16
No dress code
64

Elystan Street Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of Elystan Street Restaurant in SW3, London by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of Elystan Street restaurant.
Nadia C
Top tasting menu...
Reviewed 2 months, 9 days ago

"Top tasting menu"

Report this comment
Geoffrey P
Top notch simple set lunch...
Reviewed 4 months, 5 days ago

"Top notch simple set lunch"

Report this comment
Carolyn H
Took some Australian relations to lunch her...
Reviewed 8 months, 5 days ago

"Took some Australian relations to lunch here and they were impressed by the food, the service and the ambiance. It is rare to find a restaurant where it is possible to converse easily and where one is not hassled to finish and leave. My restaurant of choice to take people to."

Report this comment
Michael J
Obligatory tasting menu for this evening wh...
Reviewed 9 months, 22 days ago

"Obligatory tasting menu for this evening which was excellent but accompanying matched wines slightly disappointing; slow to arrive and meagre serving "

Report this comment
Chris D
Modern, light food, very well done. The exc...
Reviewed 11 months, 2 days ago

"Modern, light food, very well done. The exception was the short rib which definitely wasn’t light but was delicious!"

Report this comment
Have you eaten at Elystan Street?
Post your own review of Elystan Street and contribute to our annual restaurant review guide.
Post your own review

Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Lunch   £39.50

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Pudding
£27.00 £32.00 £14.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £50.00
Filter Coffee £4.00
Extras  
Service 10.00%
43 Elystan Street, London, SW3 3NT
Opening hours
Monday12:30 pm‑2:45 pm, 6:30 pm‑2145 pm
Tuesday12:30 pm‑2:45 pm, 6:30 pm‑2145 pm
Wednesday12:30 pm‑2:45 pm, 6:30 pm‑2145 pm
Thursday12:30 pm‑2:45 pm, 6:30 pm‑2145 pm
Friday12:30 pm‑2:45 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm
Saturday12:30 pm‑2:45 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm
Sunday12 pm‑4 pm

Best British, Modern restaurants nearby

Bibendum Oyster Bar
Fish & seafood restaurant in Chelsea
£85
 ££££
4
Very Good
3
Good
4
Very Good
Daylesford Organic
British, Modern restaurant in Chelsea
£72
  £££
2
Average
2
Average
2
Average
Rabbit
British, Modern restaurant in Chelsea
£69
  £££
3
Good
2
Average
2
Average

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Dinings
Japanese restaurant in South Kensington
£101
£££££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
2
Average
Zuma
Japanese restaurant in Knightsbridge
£105
£££££
4
Very Good
3
Good
5
Exceptional
Launceston Place
British, Modern restaurant in Kensington
£102
£££££
4
Very Good
3
Good
3
Good