These dreary wet evenings have had us pining for sunshiney summers; thanks to the Mediterranean menu at Mayfair’s Riviera it’s just about possible to pretend you’re dining on a sun-drenched terrace rather than the grey London outside the window. With a menu rich in dishes reminiscnent of sultry summer evenings, it's the perfect antidote while we wait patiently for spring. We recently did the honours of trying it out...
Arriving dripping wet thanks to forgetting an umbrella in a rainstorm, I felt for the unfortunate receptionist to whom I gifted my dripping wet coat. Well, the evening couldn’t get any worse. The dining space itself is a sweeping, high-ceilinged curve of a room, with heavy drapes and a dazzling central bar making it feel splendidly theatrical in its styling. It’s terribly glamorous, in a subtle, non pretentious way.
The à la carte menu include a plethora of dishes inspired by the Mediterranean coastline and climate, from Snails with garlic and parsley escargots and truffle and goat cheese stuffed courgette flowers to delicious pastas and octopus chimichurri.
We began with the Riviera Josper Caesar Salad, elegantly presented crisp cos lettuce and grilled chicken absolutely smothered with parmesan and a creamy Caesar dressing. Fabulously tasty, but rather too big given the sheer size of the lettuce; we left half of it to make sure we had space for the rest. A creamy burrata was served with plump datterini tomatoes & taggiasca olives, sweet and delicately delicious. We ordered two pastas, the trofie pesto and Parmesan bucatini, perfectly al dente and indulgently rich. Despite being on the brink of fullness we couldn't help constantly diping in for more. Desserts include a crème brûlée& lavender shortbread and a sea salt chocolate mousse, but we had to try the famous tiramisu, freshly layered tableside with each order and all the better for it.
By the time we finished our meal the dining room was buzzing with guests, surely a good sign given it was a rainy Wednesday evening. A set lunch menu is also available daily from 12–5pm, featuring dishes like veal ragù rigatoni, Riviera sea bass, and truffle and goat cheese stuffed courgette flower in tempura. Choose one course for £19, two for £34, or all three for £41.
