Bluebird

To celebrate its 10th birthday, the main dining room at Bluebird (a site now comprising a cafe, bar, restaurant, event space, members’ club & deli) underwent a major refurb & emerged looking very chic indeed – all burgundy banquettes & bold-patterned walls. Long-standing exec chef Mark Broadbent is passionate about British cuisine, so it’s surprising that the revamped menu now has a strong international spin, but it’s the Brit dishes that work best. The standout starter among the likes of lightly spiced imam bayaldi (aubergine dip) & seared scallops with serrano ham was a quintessentially British dish of whole crab with homemade mayo. Similarly, simple poached halibut with asparagus & hollandaise sauce & perfectly pink rump of Herdwick lamb with broad beans & bacon shine among the mains. Less impressive are high prices & slow service, but Bluebird remains a much-loved Chelsea institution.