What: A stylish restaurant located in the newly opened design hub Newson’s Yard in Belgravia. Housed in a two-storey building that was previously a timber yard, Wildflowers serves as a neighborhood brasserie featuring an upscale Mediterranean menu focused on premium ingredients and fire-cooked dishes.
Who: Wildflowers marks the debut solo venture of chef Aaron Potter, who has held senior positions at the Michelin-starred Trinity and Elystan Street. Renowned chefs Adam Byatt and Phil Howard have praised Potter, with Howard calling him a "truly great craftsman." Prior to this, Potter was the executive chef at the Italian-inspired Maria G’s, which operates in Kensington and Fulham. Co-owning the restaurant is Laura Hart, an interior stylist and florist.
The food: Potter’s seasonal cooking reflects influences from Trinity and Elystan Street while offering a more relaxed atmosphere. The menu, divided into snacks, starters, and mains, lends itself to sharing, but individual dining is just as viable. Dishes include moules farcie with garlic and parsley butter, grilled sardine bruschetta with Amalfi lemon, cuttlefish and lobster fideua with aioli, and a 30-day aged sirloin on the bone with smoked bone marrow rice meant for two. Starters average around £15, while mains range from £28 to £40.
To drink: The wine list features exclusively European selections starting at £6 per glass and going up to £160 for a bottle of 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru. The cocktail menu is straightforward and sophisticated, showcasing options like melon negroni, Amalfi spritz, and Peschiole dirty martini.
The vibe: Designed by Hart, Potter, and Studio Found, the 54-seat restaurant boasts a bright and minimalist ambiance with soft pastel colors and vintage decor. The open kitchen is situated at the back, allowing diners to watch the cooking process. The establishment also features a private dining room accommodating up to 12 guests (with special feasting menus available) and a fully enclosed terrace with 26 additional seats. An upstairs bar area offers a menu inspired by cicchetti and pintxos bars of Italy and Spain.
And another thing: Wildflowers should not be confused with Wildflower, the short-lived fine-dining restaurant in a shipping container in Camden run by Irish chef Adrian Martin.
Newson’s Yard, 57 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8NE
www.wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk
