Scotch quail egg with smoked black pudding, baby gem lettuce, wild garlic and pea dressing and salad cream
Remind us about Berners...
Jason Atherton's restaurant here at the London Edition just off Oxford Street caused a huge stir when it first opened almost five years ago. The dining room was perhaps the most beautiful Londoners had seen in a while (it won our annual award for the Most Eye Popping Dining Room) but the food managed not to be eclipsed too.
So what kind of food is it?
Distinctly British - but with a modern treatment. So if there's roasted Cornish cod, it comes with crispy squid and fregola in a tomato consomme. All the meat comes courtesy of the Buccleuch Estate in Scotland and there's a separate section of sharing dishes.
Tuna crudo with avocado and chilli tartare, radishes, wasabi and yuzu dressing
Who eats there?
On a Saturday night in the Easter bank holiday weekend when it seemed like half of London had left town, the other half seemed to be in here. The place was wedged. The room was split pretty evenly between couples on dates and groups of friends getting together.
Where should we go for a drink first?
Definitely the lobby bar. The Clearer Colada is the drink of choice here.
What's new on the menu?
We tried several of the new dishes for spring. Tuna Crudo with avocado and chilli tartare and a yuzu dressing (£17) was an impeccably presented dish.
From the sharing menu, the two of us shared the Buccleuch Estate chateaubriand (£90 for two) where the accompaniments had just been swapped for the spring/summer period to roasted asparagus, wild garlic, morels and bone marrow butter. A perfect dish for a carnivore who wants to feel like they've at least attempted to aim for some of their 5-a-day.
Dessert had to be rhubarb and custard - a mixture of Yorkshire forced rhubarb, creme brulee and a rhubarb sorbet with ginger crumble £9.
Chateaubriand with roasted asparagus, morels, wild garlic and bone marrow butter
And to drink?
You could, of course, say no to the champagne trolley when it's wheeled round at the beginning of the meal, but where would be the fun in that? We went for matched wines suggested by the sommelier, the best o which was a Napa Valley Zinfandel from Heitz Wine Cellars to go with all that gorgeous beef.
Anything else?
Yes, make sure someone's booked you a table in the Punch Room afterwards. You're going to want to try at least one of their newly updated cocktail list.
Second visit opinion:
Five years on, this West End restaurant still makes it in the glamour stakes. Dress up, take someone you want to impress (or a group of your best mates) and have a blast.
Rhubarb and custard
Hot Dinners were invited to Berners Tavern. Prices correct at time of publication.
More about Berners Tavern
Where is it? 10 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP
How to book: Book online
Find out more: Visit their website or follow @BernersTavern on Twitter
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