Given the restaurant’s location is in an exclusive shopping arcade and its co-owner, Laura Hart, is an interior stylist, it’s no surprise that the interior of Wildflowers is on point.
As for the chef, Aaron Potter previously worked for Adam Byatt, and at Phil Howard’s Elystan Street in Chelsea. Not only has he worked with two of the best chefs in the business, but also worked in two ‘neighbourhood’ restaurants that know how to cater for their well-heeled locals.
His menu is split conventionally into starters and mains, making ordering easy - no sharing dishes or explanations of the concept needed. Of course, there’s a snacks section, which seems almost mandatory in restaurants these days, and often where some of the most exciting dishes are to be found. Here, there is moules farcies, served in the shell with a garlic and parsley butter, and gnocco fritto with Gorgonzola, speck and honey, good bite-sized accompaniments with an aperitif.
Sardines rarely seem to get their moment on many menus in this country, yet a starter of Cornish sardines grilled and served on bruschetta was one of those dishes that you could eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Another starter, mozzarella with Cantabrian anchovy, turnip tops and chilli, proved to be a generous portion for £14.
For mains, a sugar pit pork chop came with quince, almond and gremolata and was another generous portion (for £30), although the pork was ever so slightly on the dry side. A grilled sea bass with puttanesca butter, coco beans and Amalfi lemon honed in on the fact that this is proper, grown-up food: not intimidating, not fine dining, just food you actually want to eat. Elsewhere, an upstairs bar makes for an ideal pre or post dinner martini.
Regular GFG readers will know all about our annual Best Local Restaurants awards, a showcase for neighbourhood restaurants run by independent owners with a passion for proper hospitality, delicious food and offering good value for money. Could the neighbourhood of Belgravia and Pimlico have a new contender for next year’s BLR? Let us know.
WHERE Newson's Yard, 57 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8NE
WHEN Opened 27th September 2024
FOLLOW @wildflowers.restaurant
BOOK wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk
The Good Food Guide allows three to six months before anonymously inspecting a new restaurant. Look out for a full review coming soon.
