Hunter 486 | The Arch London | Restaurant Review

 

Last week Russell and I was invited to Hunter 486, located in The Arch Hotel just behind Marble Arch station. 

Promising a 'best of British' menu in a relaxed atmosphere, we were pretty impressed with the menu before our visit as it seemed to have a dish for everyone (making it very hard to choose what to order). We also noticed it was VERY reasonably priced for central London.

The restaurant has an open plan kitchen, allowing you to watch the chefs at work, whilst large windows offer a view of a residential mews lined with pots of flowers. It's a rather romantic setting, which we wasn't expecting at all.

To start I ordered the dressed Dorset crab, avocado and pink grapefruit (£9.50), which was the perfect choice on a hot summer's evening. It was fresh, light and delicate; the grapefruit cut through the creaminess of the avocado whilst the Dorset crab added sweetness to the dish.

Russell opted for the pan fried chicken livers, bacon, pea and mint which was rich, robust and hearty - the complete opposite of my dish. He lapped it up without much feedback, so it must have been good. The next time we visit I will be ordering this dish for myself. 

For main course I chose off the stone oven section of the menu and selected the rack of lamb, crushed Jersey Royals, spring vegetables and a herb broth (£20). I was impressed with the freshness of the dish - it's vibrant colours and herbaceous smell instantly transported me to the British countryside. The lamb was cooked to perfection and the sweet onions and carrots gave a great contrast to the white sauce. 

We were both impressed to see Flat Iron steak (19.50) on the menu, which surprisingly is our favourite cut. Served with sweet potato fries and a peppercorn sauce, unfortunately the meat was rather overcooked and the sauce wasn't to our taste (which I hate to say as we really wanted to love this dish!).  

We both tucked into a side of tomato and onion salad which was drizzled with a sweet yet sharp balsamic. It's slightly addictive... you have been warned. 

 

We finished the meal with an indulgent chocolate fondant and a cocktail - the perfect end to a very good meal. 

If you're looking for somewhere with good food but in a relaxed atmosphere, then this is your place! Perfect for an after-work meal, the staff instantly put you at ease and the final bill will be a very pleasant surprise.