Salt Yard Fitzrovia first opened its doors in 2005 and since then, has become a fixture of luxury Mediterranean dining in central London. Led by head chef Panajot Prifti, the menu brings together the best of Spanish and Italian cuisine, experimenting with explosive flavours and elevated techniques.
The space itself reflects Mediterranean hospitality, too, with an intimate feel, low lighting and cosy seating. The restaurant is big on flavours, yes, but not so much on size itself, so this is the perfect place to get together for an atmospheric, smaller supper with best friends or date night.
Menu wise, Salt Yard welcomes both long lunches or dinners, as well as snacks by the bar or even a "quick glass of sherry after work", as the team say. To that end, the bar snacks include tasty options such as patatas bravas and aged manchego, alongside hand carved Jamon Iberico, and classic tortilla.
Moving into the heart of the menu and there's a mix of small plates to consider. Try the pan fried Martiko duck with sweet potato gratin and blueberry jus, as well as chargrilled lamb loin with aubergine puree and confit shallot. Plant based dishes include courgette flower tempura with goat's cheese mousse with orange honey blossom, as well as wild mushroom arancino with truffle alioli and aged parmesan. Don't sleep on the fish dishes either: we particularly like the sound of the chargrilled octupus with romesco sauce and navarico chickpeas.
Another option is to go for the head chef's tasting menu, available to order for two people or more for a set price, which brings together a selecton of chef Panajot Prifti's favourite dishes, ending with sumptuous desserts such as cherry tiramisu and churros and chocolate sauce.
Plus, if you have a private dining event coming up, Salt Yard Fitzrovia has a gorgeous dining room for a small group, so get in touch if you fancy doing something special for your next birthday.