Pescatori, Dover Street

Pescatori

11 Dover Street,

London

W1S 4LH
020 7493 2652 ds@pescatori.co.uk

One of the best things you can do if you have a successful restaurant, is to keep it fresh and up to date. I know this takes time and money but really if you go somewhere a lot you really want it to keep up its standards. well this happened to me the other day. I went to Pescatori on Dover street. Now this is a restaurant have not been to in yonks, yet when my friend Ian asked me to go and see the Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy, it was one of the first restaurants thought of going to as about ten years ago had had a great evening there and had always meant to go back but until now never had. Well almost thought had gone t the wrong place as it looked nothing like I remembered. I had an image of high gloss white paint everywhere. What I saw now, however was a rather nice panelling that would  not have been out of place in any country house drawing room, were they to have any, I find it hard to believe that this had once been painted high gloss white, but indeed it had. This change was one for the better. So having got over the shock of the new, onto the menu. Now the name of the restaurant is a bit of a give away, so yes there is a profusion of fish, but for those that like it there are several meat dishes as well as  lot of pasta dishes. There was nothing on the menu that take my fancy, which must say is not always the case. So being a great fan of crab went for the dressed crab to start with and then my absolute favourite, fritto misto, which in this case was a great selection of shellfish, and an abundance of white fish. Just what the doctor ordered.

The atmosphere in the place was buzzing and the table next to us proved to be very interesting and by the end of the meal we were like old friends. Its that sort of place nice people, great staff and management team and the evening seemed to fly by. The pricing was also very good and value for money, in an area where you can spend a fortune. The place was packed to the rafters so a lot of others obviously feel the same way. If you are in the area and looking for somewhere to go you really wouldnt go wrong in choosing this place. As it was so busy I would advise you to book to avoid dissapointment.

A great evening all in all the exhibition was fantastic and the dinner was a great end to a great day.

Pescatori, Charlotte Street

57 Charlotte Street,

London.

 W1T 4PD

 T: 020 7580 3289

 cs@ pescatori.co.uk.

 

Charlotte Street, just north of Oxford street is renowned for its diversity and profusion of restaurants. So finding somewhere to eat trhere is never a problem its just which restaurant to choose, walking the familiar pavements looking, still feeling uninspired we crossed over to the more northern part of the street and saw the terrace of Pescatori and decided to go there as neither of us had been there for ages and had good memories of it. It has been gussied up since the last time I had been there and we were shown to what I call a New York booth just beside the window, giving a great view of the busy street and also of the restaurant. We got there quite early and the place had the feel of a theatre just before a performance all the staff busy making sure that everything was in place much like actors at the five minute call.

The menu we were told had just changed, but really it still reflected what it is a rather good fish restaurant and the selection of fish and shell fish would keep any pescatorian happy and it did us down to the ground. Mussels and dressed crab to start with, both, especially the crab very very good. Very meaty and with that unmistakeable fresh crab taste. Ian who I was with and whom had just taken me to see the Degas exhibition then decided to go with the daily special of whole Sea Bass whilst I plumped for the Dover Sole. The Subtle way in which they had been cooked, only added to the freshness of the fish. Ian asked the waitress if she could bone it for him and this she did table side with the  dexterity of the true professional she is, over in a flash and presented back as a whole, very impressive.

Then cheese for Ian and ricotta tart for me, a perfect ending for both of us. The staff there really do know their onions and although it was quite quiet when we arrived it was soon packed, they were never far away if we needed them, Luana who was our waitress provided some of the best service and information I have seen in a long while and obviously enjoyed her time there.

They also have Pestatori on Dover Street in Mayfair, which unlike most chains, if two can be a chain, they run a different menu so if fish is your thing and you liked it here, you then have the added fillip of going to Dover Street for the different offerings.

We arrived at 6.45 and left at 10 and really had a very enjoyable evening, one I hope, I will have again before too long.