Seven must-visit chefs’ tables in London

For restaurant obsessives and fine diners, securing a place at a chef’s table is the ultimate dining experience. It is the next best thing to hiring a personal chef. Patrons get the opportunity to better understand how food is prepared and the different techniques implemented to achieve the results. In addition, the chefs can get experimental with a very willing audience

From fish to beef and everything in between, there is a chef’s table restaurant to cater to all tastes. And while seats are limited and the experience comes at a cost, this unparalleled food theatre might just inspire some inner chef’s table flair for guests sat in those kitchen chairs and dining chairs at home.

Behind

When this 18-seat chef’s table, located on the edge of London Fields, won a Michelin star in 2021, despite only being open for 20 days, it set food circles ablaze. One year on, the quality of food presented by chef Andy Beynon is still a hot topic of conversation amongst those in the know. 

The counter surrounds an open kitchen, where prep tables are the main focus. Based on sustainable seafood, the eight-course menu is given its final touches before being presented to guests with lunch and dinner bookings. With a sublime wine bar to match, patrons will be mesmerised by this briny bonanza. 

The Sea The Sea Hackney

A sequel to fishmonger/seafood bar The Sea The Sea, the Hackney location pushes diners even deeper into the unbelievably fresh produce sourced by owner Alex Hunter and cooked to perfection by chef Leandro Carreira. 

The first sitting of the evening begins at 6pm, as the day’s catch is unloaded directly from the West Country. Diners watch their meals being prepared from scratch for £150 a head, which includes a 14-course tasting meal that is meticulously plated and served. Native fish paired with ingredients from around the world make this a location one can’t miss.

Muse

In 1997, 26-year-old Tom Aikens became the youngest British chef ever to win two Michelin stars, and he perfectly channels his haute cuisine heritage and personal history into Belgravia’s finest fine dining. 

There’s a seven-course tasting menu (£140) or a four-course lunch menu (£80), which both offer 11 lucky guests the opportunity to experience food prepared on a level not easily matched. The dramatic presentation only enhances the affair, meaning diners are ready to book their next visit as soon as they exit. 

Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley

While most chef’s tables offer a delectable savoury menu, Cédric Grolet has cracked the code with sweet treats. His seven-course collection of cakes with teas and coffees is the ultimate indulgence for anyone with a sweet tooth. 

The French native, who has won an award for the best pastry chef in the world, creates edible optical illusions, realistic down to the finest detail. The horseshoe counter, which seats only eight at a time, offers a dreamy view of Hyde Park while patrons enjoy the £135 menu. 

Evelyn’s Table

As a proud owner of a Michelin star, this 12-seat chef’s table is hidden in the cellar of Chinatown pub The Blue Posts. The five-course menu, costing £95, is prepared by a trio of brothers, who flex their globetrotting expertise and training, often sporting a strong Japanese influence. 

While most of the menu is dominated by fish, there are dishes like raw beef with wild nettle tempura and wasabi to offer something different. Saké is just as popular here as wine, but low-alcohol and non-alcoholic options are available too. 

Gaucho Beef Bar

For restaurant-goers whose perfect meal consists of steak, more steak and perhaps some steak on the side, this beef bar on Charlotte Street is the ideal place to visit. At just £50 a head, the four-course menu leaves carnivores more than satisfied without breaking the bank. 

From chorizo tartare to grilled Argentian steak, this dining experience is almost more about learning how to cook the perfect steak than it is about eating it. A personal chef can cook selections to preferred tastes, or patrons can have a go themselves on a hot stone. 

The Drunken Butler

While most chef’s tables are essentially counters in tiny restaurants, the Drunken Butler goes one step further in pursuit of intimate and personal dining experiences. The top table for two overlooks an open kitchen, making diners feel as if they are sitting in the home of Iranian head chef Yuma Hashemi, while the tables behind feel just as personal. 

Hashemi recently replaced the French-inspired menu with a Persian feast and, at £120, patrons can expect dishes from his Middle Eastern childhood, Iran’s national dish and something sweet to finish. The chef himself takes the time and effort to make everyone feel like a long-lost friend at his establishment, quickly turning this into a date-night favourite. 

Social Eating House

Situated in the basement of Jason Atherton’s Soho restaurant, the Social Eating House chef’s counter seats eight diners looking straight into the kitchen, which is used to prep meals for both the onlookers and the main dining room upstairs. The result is an experience that offers a unique insight into the workings of a busy West End restaurant. 

The six-course menu, at £95, presents exciting and unique takes on seasonal British dishes. From a Waldorf salad to flank tartar, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy options alongside over 20 different wines from all over Europe. 

The editorial unit