Scott's of Mayfair began as an oyster warehouse in the Haymarket in 1851, relocated to Mount Street in 1967, and has never really stopped being the most quietly powerful seafood room in London. The conversion of Victorian-era oyster house into a contemporary Mayfair institution is complete — the Burgundy banquettes, the spotted tablecloths, the cut crystal and the understated room have the authority of a place that knows exactly what it is and has decided, correctly, that nothing needs to change.
The menu is built around the finest British fish and shellfish available: Atlantic halibut, Dover sole, native oysters, Cornish crab, dressed lobster. The kitchen does not over-complicate. The grilled Dover sole, presented whole and carved tableside, is one of the best dishes in Mayfair — a statement that requires no qualification from anyone who has eaten it. The plateau de fruits de mer for two, loaded with Lindisfarne oysters, Devonshire crab, langoustine and clams, is an aesthetic as much as a meal. The wine list, strong in Burgundy and Chablis, is exactly what it should be.
The clientele on any given evening will include hedge fund managers, private equity partners, property developers and the occasional government minister. This is not a boast — it is simply what happens when a room this good at creating a sense of occasion sits at the heart of Mayfair's business district. The external terrace, when weather permits, is among the most coveted outdoor tables in London: pavement seating on Mount Street, watched over by an attentive floor team.
Prices are serious — expect £80–£120 per head à la carte — but there is a minimum spend of £75 per person on the terrace that tells you everything you need to know about the expectation of the evening. This is not a restaurant that apologises for what it is.
