You’ll likely know Bellamy’s as the Queen’s favourite restaurant – she’s famously visited on a few occasions. This Bruton Place stalwart (just down the road from The Guinea Grill) is celebrating its 15th Birthday. Owner, Gavin Rankin, flung open the doors after working as MD at Annabel’s Group, so he’s a well connected chap.

It’s a rather understated affair from the room to the menu to the clintelle. White table cloths, decent silverware, waiters (most of whom have been there for countless years) impeccably dressed. There’s a touch of old school class about the place.

Six West Mersea Rock oysters (£14) are plump little so and so’s. Perfectly shucked and turned, they glisten in the table’s lamplight. Other starters of iced lobster soufflé (£14.50) and prawn cocktail (£14) go down equally as well.

Sliced entrecote of Baynards Park beef (£32) is simply served with pommes frites, bearnaise and an oven roasted tomato. The thick chunks of steak are tender and full of beefy flavour while the sauce is an explosion of both tang and tarragon.

For dessert, my favourite pud of all time, ile flottante (£8.50), is a whopper. Poached meringue bobbing in a lake of cold custard is so light and dainty I feel almost virtuous wolfing down the lot. I enjoy it almost as much as the little bowl of Minstrels that arrives as petit four.

As Bellamy’s confidently and quietly strolls into its 16th year, this is a restaurant not to be forgotten. You’ll see no foams or silly squiggles just bloody good food served by people who enjoy what they do for a living. The Queen has impeccable taste.

Would we go back? Yes

Bellamysrestaurant.co.uk
We dined as guests of the restaurant