The Park is a New York-inspired restaurant in Bayswater with a private dining room for up to 12 guests, or exclusive hire for up to 80.
Set on the edge of Hyde Park, the all-day restaurant and bar takes its cues from Manhattan, and that transatlantic character comes through most clearly in the private Manhattan Room. Located on the lower ground floor, the intimate space seats up to 12 guests around one table and is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The interiors include African Limba wood panelling, a marquetry table, orange leather and velvet seating, photography by Horst P. Horst and a hand-painted ceiling mural of Manhattan’s Central Park by British scenic artist Michael May. It gives the room a warm, slightly theatrical feel that works as well for a client dinner as it does for a birthday or special occasion.
Menus mirror the main restaurant’s contemporary American style, with Italian influences running through dishes such as vitello tonnato and osso buco. Set menus include snacks on arrival such as The Park’s bar nuts and Nocellara del Belice olives, with house-made monkey bread and butter included throughout.
One example menu starts with native lobster salad with avocado and radish, followed by roast breast of Loomswood duck with cavolo nero and Marsala sauce, before finishing with traditional apple pie and whipped cream. The a la carte menu gives groups more choice: tuna tartare, vitello tonnato, Gotham shrimp cocktail or marinated artichoke salad to start, followed by butterflied king prawns with Cajun chilli butter, osso buco with saffron risotto and bone marrow, fillet of beef with peppercorn sauce and fries, or wild mushroom risotto.
Desserts stay firmly American, with Victoria plum cobbler, Key lime pie, chocolate sundae and baked New York cheesecake. The wine list focuses on Californian and Italian bottles, while menus and place cards can be personalised.
Candles are provided, Wi-Fi is complimentary and AV includes a large television screen with connecting cables.