1771

A meal at 1771 feels like going for dinner at your posh mate’s house - and we say that with love. White tablecloths and pricey artworks let you know this is a serious restaurant, but the amiable service and cosy atmosphere make you feel right at home.

The dining room is a mix of white and tan tones, featuring rattan chairs, fresh flowers in wicker vases and honey-toned banquettes dressed with plump scatter cushions. During the day, we imagine 1771’s large windows flood the dining room with light, but it’s currently a dinner-only operation, so when we visited the space was warmly lit with candles.

Chef Mark Jarvis oversees a contemporary British offering, which clearly prioritises fresh, high-quality ingredients. Diners can choose between a three-course set, a six-course tasting menu or a succinct a la carte, all of which evolve with the seasons. We opted for the tasting menu and were impressed by the parade of disarmingly simple, well executed dishes.

The best thing we ate was a plate of blushing, gamey venison, paired with the sweetness of a smooth carrot puree. Aged halibut was another contender, accompanied by watercress and rainbow chard, which allowed the gentle flavour of the fish to sing, while a spoonful of caviar added a touch of luxe. We also loved a bowl of tempura wood cauliflower (actually a mushroom) wrapped in a light, lacy batter and finished off with a snowdrift of earthy black truffle shavings.

The only dud was a pre-dessert of beetroot granita with tapioca which felt like a clash of flavours and too overpowering to act as a palate cleanser. Pudding pulled things back though, thanks to a sweet and sugary pain perdu slicked with butterscotch and served with parsnip ice cream (far more appealing than it sounds).

At under £70 (excluding drinks) 1771 is something of a bargain as far as tasting menus go. If you want to keep splashing the cash though, head down to the basement bar on your way out, a hidden gem that pays tribute to the Pop Art era.

Found just off Sloane Square, 1771 is a contemporary British restaurant that serves a menu which is underpinned by locally sourced produce. The restaurant is the third London site for chef Mark Jarvis, who also oversees the much-loved Anglo in Farringdon and previously headed up the kitchen at Mayfair’s Stem (which closed its doors permanently in 2019).

1771 positions itself as something of a love letter to Chelsea, with the restaurant taking its name from the year that the area was first established. The dining room here is a chic and sophisticated space, complete with a green and tan colour scheme, marble-topped tables, plump cushions and plenty of natural light provided by numerous windows. The restaurant’s banquette seating is upholstered in linen from Chelsea-based luxury interior designer Rose Uniacke, while the walls are adorned with works by some of the 20th century's most notable artists - think Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. This artistic flair continues down into the dedicated basement bar, which is designed as a homage to the Pop Art movement.

1771 only opens for dinner, with Jarvis having designed both a tasting menu and a sharing menu for diners. The tasting menu features dishes such as poached halibut with mustard greens and charcoal, cured trout and potato souffle in a parsley emulsion and the chef’s signature cheese and onion malt loaf. To finish, guests can enjoy the likes of apple cake served alongside parsley root ice cream. Diners ordering from the sharing menu can instead tuck into dishes such as scallops barbecued in their shell served with seaweed butter or whole truffle-roasted chicken and wood fired jacket potato with cultured cream and caviar.

A well thought out wine list is also on hand to accompany your meal, one which champions a selection of whites and reds from Burgundy.