PYRO Restaurant — Restaurant in London

What an experience! I'll start with the atmosphere. The décor is rustic with a touch of elegance, I felt transported to an extravagant restaurant in the mountains of Ibiza (or Greece, although I haven't been so can only guess). The food was brilliant, I don't think my words can do it justice but I'll give it a go. For starters, we ordered the potato pita which was a warm soft cushion with bits of onion running through - although the onion was not overpowering or commanding. We used this to mop up the spiced feta dip that was drizzled with a sweet pepper marinade that contrasted and mellowed the sharp feta. We also ordered the spanakopita. You could really taste the fragrant herbs. My only criticism would be that it could be bigger but what it lacks in stature it makes up for in flavour. We also had the coal seared bass that was bathed in a light sauce with grapefruit and fennel, as the dish rested on a theatrical bed of coals with smoke emanating. The cinematics really enhanced the sensory experience setting the scene for the charcoal-kissed bass. The sharpness of the grapefruit really gave the dish "joie de vivre" - truly exceptional. For our mains, we ordered the Dorset lamb and octopus dishes. The lamb you get is a multitude of cuts, ranging from succulent shoulder to fatty breast that melts in the mouth (foreplay is advised with this dish - take your time). It was seasoned perfectly and gelled with the accompaniments: the fricassee had a real depth like it was stewed in the womb of a mother sheep, the yoghurt riddled with anchovy for a sharp salty punch and the lamb fat flatbreads - combine all and you achieve pure synergy. We ordered the "smaller" portion between the 2 of us but the dish was far from small. The octopus was a party of flavours and textures that worked brilliantly. The barbequed octopus tentacle was served on what I believe to be a mash with a red wine sauce and split pea, and garnished with pink pickle shallots - the dish was very easy on the eye, as well as the tongue. We used our spoons to devour this and ordered more of the lamb fat flatbread to mop up the remains for good measure. The service was great - the staff were present and attentive (shout out to Ewan and shout out to Nath the Chef for the recommendation). We even had the pleasure of being served by Chef Yiannis - the man really knows his food and prides himself on the menu. From what we tasted there was a lot to be proud of.

I can confirm we left fully satiated - we didn't have room for dessert. Overall, everything was reasonably priced considering the quality of the food, location and service. During summer, this will definitely be a vibe as they also have the outside courtyard. I will not be surprised if this place gets a Michelin star or 2 and I look forward to seeing how...

Ah, where to begin with this fever dream of a dinner experience? Imagine paying through the nose for a meal and still leaving confused, and slightly concerned for the staff’s training levels. And death because of the music level. Welcome to whatever-this-was, where the vibes are cool, the prices are hot, and the food? Well, let’s just say some would be ashamed.

First things first: drinks. Or should I say the idea of drinks. Several items on the menu weren’t available. Or maybe did I just get unlucky? The mystery remains. When I did finally settle on something that existed, I had to ask three times. By the time the drink arrived, I’d aged a year, gained a wrinkle, and lost the will to live.

Now, let’s talk about the £14 (including service charge) market crudité. I use that term lightly, because what showed up was essentially a sad collection of vegetables that had been mildly assaulted with a knife and dumped in a bucket of ice like they’d done something wrong. This wasn’t food prep—it was a hostage situation. A culinary intern with a blindfold could have done better.

The waiter, bless her, seemed to be on a gap year from reality. Couldn’t explain half the items on the menu—neither what they were nor why they cost more than a small utility bill.

To be fair (because I’m nothing if not fair), the dips were genuinely tasty. Smoky, punchy, probably the only things on the table that seemed like they knew what they were doing. But the fish? Oh, those tiny, tantalizing morsels? At that price, it’s basically an edible trust exercise. Couldn’t faut the lamb or the potatoes too much (if you like fatty lamb that is ).

The staff were… fine. There were lots of them. So many. I couldn’t turn around without bumping into someone who wasn’t bringing my drink. It felt like a rehearsal dinner where no one had read the script.

In short, this place is all sizzle, no steak. A masterclass in mediocrity masquerading as minimalist chic. I won’t be back—not even if you paid me. Which, by the way, is about the only way...

I visited for lunch on a Thursday. It is a strikingly large space, with extensive seating both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor spaces were mostly covered and I saw a few heaters around, but still wondered how they would make it work during winter.

I was visiting solo and asked to be seated at the kitchen counter which has around 8 seats. I ordered the potato pita and spicy feta dip, a spanakopita tart, and the lamb, followed by the smoked chocolate dessert. The dip was very nice and I liked the fluffiness of the pita. The spanakopita was snack sized but also quite enjoyable. I was not prepared for the feast of the lamb main course. This was way bigger than expected. It comprised 2 different cuts of lamb (slow cooked for 48 hours), a lamb moussaka, some flat bread and an anchovy yoghurt. This was an entire meal in itself and after having a couple of starters there was no way I could finish it all. The lamb was beautifully tender and very flavourful, the moussaka was fine but less enticing, while the yoghurt was the only bit which I didn’t enjoy - it just didn’t pair that well with the lamb. Despite being totally stuffed I did persevere with the chocolate dessert and this turned out to be the right decision!

Service was very friendly. I was one of the first diners to arrive but the indoor space did get quite busy as my meal progressed. My bill came to £84 of which £14 was spent on a cocktail. Undoubtedly a pricey solo lunch but also a much bigger one than was necessary. Overall I came away quite impressed though, the food was high quality and the venue/decor was certainly different (in a good way). Not quite as hyped up as its Greek neighbour Agora, but I would rate the two similarly. Worth a visit at anytime of year, but with that sprawling outdoor space summer time...