The Venue: SLOANE PLACE
The Citizen Sayz: “My kinda place…” 4 STARz
The Location: A short stroll south from Sloane Square at 60 Lower Sloane Street
The Vibe: A cosy, slightly higgledy-piggledy corner space overlooking Turks Row. There’s a random table layout, with quiet nooks for single tables, as well as a slim annex to the side of the main room, which would be ideal for bigger groups or parties. There’s a private dining room that seats 12. Maximum covers are 50, so the room is intimate, without being boring, and big enough to not feel you are lost in the crowd, risking whiplash to get served. There are no starchy tablecloths at Sloane Place, just bare wooden tables, which gives it a relaxed, brasserie feel. Cosy, but no cramped. Primped, but not pretentious.
Major renovations at the adjoining hotel and private members club – The Sloane Club – are nearing completion, so there is a lot else going in this building. I had a quick tour before dinner and loved what I saw. There’s a stylish bar in a traditional style, a restaurant, and a refined lounge. A new fitness area is getting into shape in the lower ground. The rooms have the look of a gentleman’s club of St James’s, but not so dusty or creaky. It’s all very polished and new.
The Menus: Sloane Place is an all-day dining restaurant which pitches itself at £63 per head. Breakfast is from 7-11am and is in an ideal location for an early business meeting, over coffee and croissants, or something more sustaining to set you up for the day. The all-day menu kicks in right after brekkie and goes on until 11pm, so this venue is perfect for a relaxed lunch, an early light supper, or a late night slap up dinner. There are seven starters and ten main courses and all are tempting classics, or slight variations on a theme. There is also a Kids Menu, serving well-prepared unbeatable classics, such a chicken nuggets, burgers, and tomato pasta, at a tasty £10. I hear that they also do a splendid roast on Sundays for £29 a hungry head.
The Service: Delightful. Friendly and attentive, without being over-bearing or smarmy. The maître d’ is Cosimo, a kindly Italian bear of a man with a clipped beard and a ready humour. The restaurant runs with a calm confidence. Everything that arrives from the kitchen reflects what is clearly a slick and well-managed operation.
The Tipple: The wine list is deliberately focused and constructed to not over-confuse. The Gavi at £60 (plus service) did the trick.
The Experience: I’m not one for breakfasts in restaurants and lunch away from the iMac is a tricky escape to enjoy these days, so I went for dinner with a Plus One. I have eaten at Sloane Place several times over the years, so it was nice to return. The food here always hits the mark. The tuna of the Nicoise starter was suitably seared and my burrata was a neatly formed ball that collapsed deliciously at the prick of the knife. The coating of the veal schnitzel was eggy and tasty, although the meat was a touch on the chewy side. In contrast, my guest’s grilled onglet steak was succulent and pink to perfection. As for the chips, well, they were to fry for. The Eton Mess was sensational, but did not get its just desserts because we were taken by the chocolate pudding and its dramatically poured hot chocolate sauce. All-in-all, dinner here is a sumptuous, relaxing feast. Sloane Place feels like a home from home – just one with better food, better wine and better service!
Top Tip: Locals who live and work in the area qualify for 20% discount as part of Sloane Place’s Neighbourhood Discount Program (6pm Sunday-11pm Thursday). Fist-bump to a super initiative. Check it out here.
Polite Aside: The wine could have been poured less frequently and more judiciously. The bottle was near-empty by the time the main course arrived. All my fault, of course. I could have – should have – sipped more slowly. Nonetheless, the attentiveness was much appreciated.
The Details: Email: enquiries@sloaneplace.com Tel: 0203 928 0700 Website: www.sloaneplace.com