Peter Morrell and his wife enjoy a meal and the sophisticated tranquillity in this oasis of calm

The Ham Yard Hotel Image – Architypist2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
 
A two-minute stroll up Great Windmill Street away from the frenetic bustle of Piccadilly Circus takes you to a peaceful backwater with trees, water features and terraces, and home to the Ham Yard Hotel.

Inside the hotel is a celebration of muted sophistication and style, all the work of award-winning design guru Kit Kemp. The greeting from the front of house and service teams was both friendly and efficient.

We had a drink before dinner in the elegantly decorated bar, complete with zinc topped counter. Although it was a Monday evening the bar was busy but not overbearing

Moving into the restaurant, we found a lofty space which, with clever design and decoration, has created intimate spaces where you can dine “à deux”, or have a private conversation with friends.

The à la carte menu had a good range of dishes that will please carnivores, pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans. Starters included a Spring vegetable tempura, Dorset crab, and ox tongue. The mains offer an equally good selection, a celeriac and black truffle wellington, saddle of rabbit, and poached cod. Desserts had a tempting array of sweet dishes, and a cheese selection for those with a savoury taste.

However rather than choosing à la carte our attention was grabbed by the set menu. Not only did it have a choice of dishes that appealed but it was also remarkably good value. With the option or two or three courses for £35 or £40 respectively which included a glass of champagne, it seemed a natural choice. As with the main menu, there was land, sea, and vegetarian/vegan options.

If you feel hungry while waiting for your food, there are dishes for the table that you can order at extra cost. To start my wife had Jacob’s Ladder, slow cooked short rib beef, in a Yorkshire pudding, with a rich gravy. It had been braised to perfection, and had great depth of flavour. I had a seafood broth with fresh mussels, and sea vegetables. This was light, creamy, with aromas and tastes of the ocean.

Chalk stream trout and a vegan dish were both mains options but we both chose the guinea fowl with spelt and kale. It was well presented, and bathed in a velvety, appetising sauce. The meat was juicy and tender, with a slightly gamey taste, and the spelt, which neither of us had tried, was impressive. This was a very satisfying dish.

My wife resisted the very decadent desserts, but I finished with English cheese and crackers.

Drinks wise there is a well curated wine list, my wife had the two glasses of champagne, and I had a light red to pair with the food.

This was an enjoyable dining experience from every perspective, the décor and design of the dining space was calm and relaxing, the food was impressive, great value for money, and the service team excellent.

The Ham Yard Hotel
1 Ham Yard
London W1D 7DT

https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/london/ham-yard-hotel/