Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill — Restaurant in London

There are weeks when the heavens part, the stars align, and the gods of gastronomy beam down upon you. This, dear reader, has been one such week for me. Not once, but twice I’ve graced the hallowed halls of Bentley’s in Mayfair. First, hosting a client Christmas lunch in the Mersea private dining room, and then again on Saturday night, celebrating my wife’s birthday with friends.

Now, those of you smirking and muttering about my lack of imagination would be entirely correct. But I’ll have the last laugh here, because if there’s one restaurant I could choose to frequent for the rest of my life, it would be Bentley’s. Allow me to elucidate.

The Food

Oh, the food. Where to begin? Each bite was nothing short of transcendent. The oysters, glistening jewels of the ocean, were impossibly fresh, transporting you straight to the rugged shores of County Galway. The bread arrived warm, its crust yielding to reveal a pillowy interior that demanded immediate slathering with butter. And the scallops? Sweet, tender, and so moorish I began to question the etiquette of licking the shells.

Then there was the halibut, its delicate flakes suffused with moisture and flavor. It’s the sort of fish dish that makes you pause mid-conversation to marvel at the sheer brilliance of it all. Frankly, I’d wager there isn’t a single misstep on the menu. Every morsel is a masterclass, a symphony of flavor crafted with unparalleled skill.

The Venue

Bentley’s doesn’t merely feel like London; it is London. It’s a living, breathing embodiment of the city’s history, tradition, and effortless style. The warren of rooms buzzes with conviviality, each space a tableau of happy diners and sparkling glasses. It’s charmingly eclectic, with an atmosphere that somehow makes you feel both a guest and a regular from the moment you step through the door.

The Service

And then, of course, the service. Good service is expected; exceptional service is rare. But Bentley’s? They’ve turned it into an art form. This is service as it should be — attentive but never intrusive, warm but never cloying. Max, the manager, presides over it all like a maestro conducting an orchestra, setting a tone of impeccable professionalism laced with genuine charm. The team anticipates your needs before you’ve even articulated them. Your glass never runs dry, yet you never feel hovered over. It’s the sort of service that leaves you not just satisfied but slightly in love with everyone involved.

The Conclusion

In a world where dining out can feel increasingly transactional, Bentley’s is a beacon of what’s possible when every element — food, service, atmosphere — aligns perfectly. This week has reminded me that life is too short for mediocrity. I don’t want to eat out just anywhere; I want to eat at Bentley’s. Anything else...

It has been a long time sine I went to this place, possibly decades. And I should be ashamed, as this is probably the best fish restaurant in Central London. I went for a very late lunch and wanted to eat fish, and I was so happy to see that the place was still serving food at 14-14.30, the time I arrived. The staff at the reception was very nice and smiling, she gave me a table straightaway and even made me choose between the counter or the table, a rarity nowadays when you do not have a reservation. The guy who served me was another brilliant person, competent, efficient, ready to give advice and his timing for everything was absolutely perfect . The space is beautiful, timeless, the clientele is friendly and happy to talk to their next door table, there is a real, civilised buzz to this establishment. The food: it is impeccable, well cooked, well presented, solid, consistently delicious. I started with a combination of 6 oysters, 3 of them were Irish and Scottish if I remember correctly, the other 3 I do not recall. The ones on the left of the picture were astonishingly good, the other 3 not as incredible like the others, but still exceptional. I paired them with a great Piper-Heidsieck champagne glass, and this was a perfect start to a memorable meal. I also ordered the octopus special as a starter, and it was paired with a Petit Lestrille Sauvignon Blanc, yet another perfect match suggested by the amazing staff that was looking after me. I ordered the Turbot as a main, a big, chunky, perfectly cooked piece of fish of the highest quality, and it came with some divine mash and a langoustine sauce that was “” I want to lick the plate, but I am not dong that as I am a polite, civilised human being “ type of sauce. Incredible ! This main course was paired with a Montagny Premier Cru Domaine Laroche, a burgundy that was magnificent, it left me speechless. The last part of the meal was clearly the dessert, and I had to have the Crepes Suzette! This is one of my favourite desserts of all time, but, sadly, it is rarely found anywhere l, including Paris, and, when found, it is done badly. Not here! They flambéed it table side with Armagnac instead of Grand Marnier, and it was amazing! That was the perfect ending to a faultless meal! I spent a good couple of hours there, and I could have stayed longer. I recommend this to anyone that wants to treat themselves, or wants to impress a nice, competent foodie friend, or wants to go on a date, wants to propose to their partner, or celebrate a special occasion ! It is that kind of magical place where anyone that ever visits will be longing to come back as soon as...

Why is this restaurant still open, how has it not shut down? This place does not practise basic food safety and does not comply with basic hygiene standards. I would not even want to give it 1 star, had it been for me trying to warn people and writing a review here.

In short, I paid over £40 to get food poisoning. On Saturday 21st May 2022, a group of 7 of us went to celebrate my friends 30th birthday (it will be under your records as 'Jennifer') - the food is extremely expensive (which I can just about forgive, it was my friend's choice to come here, so we all went of course). Two girls bought half a lobster each (which contained only one spoonful of meat) for £40's and that was their meal. The poor girls were starving after and so I shared with them my extremely expensive fish just so they wouldn't go hungry. Whilst it didn't taste bad, on Monday, I started vomiting and having diarrhoea, it felt like death - I was passing out numerous times and couldn't even walk. I hadn't been anywhere else that weekend, so I suspected it to be this place, but I was still unsure (I don't like to speculate without evidence). Later on Tuesday, I find out that 5 out of the 7 of us (including the birthday girl, of whom we all don't know each other too) had been vomiting and having the runs over the course of the week, 3 of them having to take sick leave including myself. This is the ONLY place that ties us altogether (as we don't know each other, apart from the birthday girl).

Someone should do a food safety audit, I can't imagine what they would find - I suspect a lot of cross-contamination and bad handling of fish, as we all had different meals but yet 5 of us had this. I have seen at least two other separate reviews on here who have said they were vomiting after coming to this restaurant too. Also, on that day, coincidentally and ironically, a person vomited on the stairs too. I just wished I read the reviews sooner, please do not put your health at risk! I expect to be responded to and for this to be dealt with immediately. I have bank statements to show I ate here and expect for to be greatly compensated, and there will be CCTV footage to vouch for this too. If I don't hear back, I shall go to people who deal with food regulations as I don't want other people to suffer. My friend has already emailed you, to which you do not care about the people you have inflicted this suffering upon. This is not what I expect of a fine dining place, which charges extortionate amounts and which prides itself on quality and standards (and from which, I...