Boisdale of Belgravia

I went with a buddy to have a cigar on their roof lounge which was really nice. It was covered and felt very homey for being an outside space. I’m a little on the critical side of furniture and some of the details when I go to restaurants (how many times have you gone to a nice place where the furniture looks like it came from Ikea 8 years ago), so I was happy to see that the ownership took as much care decorating and furnishing the outside area as they did the restaurant. After a cigar and a few too many Manhattans we got the bill which, I have to say, was a little bit of a shock even for Belgravia.
We went downstairs and got a table, ordered dinner and some wine. The food was… good. But not great. I don’t eat a lot of meat but I got the 7oz filet which came on a plate all by it’s lonely self. I got an a la cart portion of broccoli which was pretty good. The service was really good and friendly.
There was live music which was outstanding!

Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone. If you just want a drink, they’ll let you into their bar-​within-​a-​bar for a pint and snacks in a relaxed business atmosphere. A nice change from the crowded chain pub across the rest of Victoria. They have a classy bar and reservation-​only dining in the rest of the house, but the secret pub is the real treat.

Went for dinner and a cigar, and really enjoyed my experience.
We ordered oysters for starter which were absolutely amazing. Possibly the best oysters I had ever had. We then both ordered the steak and truffle burger, which was also solid. Whilst it wasn’t as greasy as the Five Guys, it clearly was higher quality and nicer.
We then moved to the cigar terrace, where we shared a cigar and a glass of hot toddy. The gentleman was very helpful with cigar recommendations, and my hot toddy was perfect for the chilly evening as well.
Ambience was very posh and almost exclusive. I really enjoyed the paintings on the walk and the dim lights, typical of a jazz venue.
Service was overall great. They could be a bit slow at times, depending on the crowd, but they were generally helpful and prompt.
I’d definitely go back — if I had the money, this would be my new go-​to place in the neighbourhood.

This restaurant/​cigar bar is amazing! My boyfriend, colleague and I went here on a whim because they both enjoy cigars. Not knowing we needed a reservation, we walked in and Antonio and his team got us a seat right away upstairs to smoke cigars and order dinner. We loved this restaurant/​cigar bar so much that we came back the night after to have dinner again! Thank you Antonio and team!

I’m definitely too poor to be reviewing this place. A fancy whiskey members club — too rich for my wallet!
But I came regardless with a group of friends. This place is very old school London. Lots of toff types and old men in suits sitting down to dinner and swilling whiskey like it’s going out of fashion. It really wasn’t my cup of tea in terms of mahogany décor and carpets. But I can imagine if you wanted to take some relatives there and whoo them with fancy, it would work.
You can also buy cigars here but by English law have to smoke them outside and not in a room. In winter that just seems like a bad idea.
We sat in the back room which seems to be reserved for the young people types. I’m pretty sure if I was looking for a rich old husband who was on the brink of death, I’d find him here.
Bad points: Service was brutally slow. Even to pay, it felt like I was ageing as I stood there.
Good points: the fries with truffle mayo and the enormous ledger full of whiskey!

I have to say while I loved the place I went in my recent trip to London. This is by far the best so fast; the food (steak) was amazing; the Jazz playing and table side candles impressed; the wine selection was long but worth it.
If I had a relative visiting this would be the must not miss romantic/​steak dinner place.
I will be a regular here when I move to London no doubts.

Just fabulous after a day of work… I’m exhausted but this has been a nice stop on my trip to enjoy.

I’m sorry to say I haven’t tried a large part of the menu here. Why would I? This place serve the best burger I have ever had in my life. Specifically, the truffle burger. The truffle mayo mixes with the juices of the burger and makes everything so tender and delicious. Then you have the mushrooms and gruyère, which compliment everything else so perfectly. This dish will fill you up, so I wouldn’t even recommend getting a starter or dessert.
Now that I have that confession of true love off my chest, I can get on with the rest of the restaurant. Been here twice. The first time, I stumbled in and grabbed a seat at the bar. Even in slacks and a button-​down shirt I felt dressed-​down compared to everyone else, but the bartender was friendly and made me feel at home. Might’ve gotten some looks from the old fossil sitting next to me, but I was too hungry to care much.
The cocktail list is extensive. Maybe not too outlandish, and a bit pricy, but you’re sure to find something that’ll hit the spot. Not a whisky fan myself, but you’ll find a good selection of that as well. Ooh, and the whisky baba dessert! Give that a try if you have the appetite for it.
They usually have live jazz, too. Watch out, they tack it onto the bill. It’s pretty cheesy, too, or at least it has been the two times I’ve visited. Maybe not worth the money, but the old folks were getting turnt.
The only really negative thing worth noting is that when I returned with my wife, she asked for a burger and it came with mayo, contrary to what the menu advertised. When the waiter went to take our plates and saw hers was largely untouched, he looked at her like she had two heads. She just didn’t want to cause a fuss, but they made her a fresh one, at any rate. It was okay, but obviously the burger needs a bit extra to really stand out.
It’s right near Victoria Station, so you really have no excuse to not try this place, especially if you’re a burger lover.

An evening of great fun… but happenstance more than anything else. The food was ok, the service nothing to write home about, but the band was fantastic and we had fabulous seats. Old fashioned cocktails and even some late night dancing. Definitely worthy of a return.

Oh how wonderful this place was!
I came here on a Saturday night (my birthday) and had a wonderful time.
To start, I had the Roast Macsween haggis with mash & bashed neeps, and while this was the first time I’d had Haggis, it was amazingly good! My only regret is that I didn’t try Haggis sooner in life! I did add the Nogg of whiskey and it was delicious. That was accompanied by Marsannay Les Vaudenelles 2008, which accented it very well.
For dessert I had the Raspberry cranachan cheesecake, also excellent.
I’d gone in wanting to try the Macallan 30yr Fine Oak, but alas it was sold out. Instead I went with the Glenmorangie 25yrs, of which I ended up having two. Old enough to drink itself in any country, it was very smooth, dancing with flavors, and wonderfully balanced. I suppose the fact I ended up having two makes my point best o all.
I decided to indulge and had an Epicure No 2 with my first glass of Glenmorangie 25, it was light-​medium and very tasty. The taste was smooth and left a nice but not too strong aftertaste.
There was live music, a Jazz/​Blues band, and after making friends with one of the guys that happened to be a member he got us (and some very lovely ladies) seated right near the band. They were excellent and if any indication of the average band that plays here, something you’d be unwise to miss.
As the evening was winding down I wanted one more drink and had a pint, though the name escapes me.
The whole place was alive the entire time I was there. Had I not be alone I would strongly suggest reservations, but prepare to stay until closing as I did, you don’t want to miss out. They are open much later than many places around, which is wonderful if you want a full night out.
In short, this place is not to be missed.

Went here on a business trip, with 10 in our party. The place is very expensive to start with, but I think they saw us coming too. They had a «special», which was a porterhouse steak that had been aged 30 days, and weighed about 2 lbs. One of the guys in our group decided to try it. At the other end of the table, I had decided on the strip steak, and the guy next to me the filet. The waiter suggested that we order the porterhouse and split it… I take the strip side, he take the filet side. Made sense, so we said sure. Guess how much that «special» steak was? 100 sterling pounds. Converted, that was about $ 151 USD. Shame on us for not asking, but OMG.
The steak itself was pretty good, but I’ve had better in good ‘olé Richmond VA for ¹⁄₅ the price. They like to slice the steak in strips, still connected to the bone, which in my opinion dried it out. The sides were good, the beer was good, and the atmosphere was good. Service was slow, but we did have a large party. All-​in-​all, I would try somewhere else.

Sadly, was just ok. We were really looking forward to our first fancy dinner as newlyweds on our honeymoon and the gas was not working so my husband couldn’t have the steak he wanted. They did let us know before hand but I noticed that another couple that got there right when we got there were given the regular menu. All in all it was a bad restaurant experience with the service almost being non-​existent and the food just being ok. I would not recommend this place as London has some great restaurants.

Alright — time to set the record straight.
During my recent visist to London, I was invited to this location for dinner by a friend who is a member.
Cozy yes, (first floor), live jazz yes (first floor), good food Absolutely!
First off, met my pal at the cigar terrace — had a drink and went downstairs for dinner. Keep in mind this was in early May 2013.
I opended up with a special for the evening — Pigeon Salad, it was Amazing — PERIOD.
Entrée — I HAD to go with the Haggis — Full disclosure, I have never had the opportunity let alone tried Haggis prior to Boisdale’s. Simply put I am not a Haggis expert — buit thier Haggis dish is something I can eat at least once a week until I am no longer on this planet.
Service — the folks treat you like Royalty — smiles and amazing service all the way around.
If… If I lived in London, I would eat here 2 to 4 times a month.

I love this place.
They used to serve a salmon cerviche and it was wonderful. So simple and tasty. I wish they’d bring it back. The food is generally of a very high standard and I just love the atmosphere and the décor. The outdoor space upstairs is a wonderful place to just have drinks and cigars too.
Sometimes I’ve been and there was live jazz music. Wonderful.

Fantastically Scottish place. It is dressy. It’s covered in plaid (or tartan for British English speakers). There are many rooms and many floors, and there’s a lot of great whisky. I hear they have good haggis, and am very keen on trying it out. The live jazz band was completely solid.

came here for a work’s christmas lunch — although we were promised the christmas menu, there was some sort of misunderstanding and in the end we just ate off the a la carte.
there wasn’t much for me to consider on the menu, so i thought i’d go for steak, considering it is primarily a steak restaurant. i think my 10oz rib eye was £22.50. it didn’t come with anything additional, and the waiter didn’t prompt me for any extras, so i very almost just had a great big hunk of meat for my lunch (not my normal preference!), but in the end i ordered a side of carrots, and a side of broccoli. these were each priced at around £4-£5 which is, quite frankly, RIDICULOUS for vegetables! they were very tasty, but it was a small portion, and i was extremely glad that i was not paying for this meal.
the same goes for the steak — i haven’t went into a restaurant and ordered steak in many, many years, and whilst it was tasty, i’m glad i wasn’t paying.
service was slow and a bit shambolic, and i wasn’t a great fan of the atmosphere either. this place definitely wasn’t for me. 3 stars for the food alone, which was good, but far too pricey.

Very nice place and great food. Finally I could eat haggis after more than 10 years! Definitely recommended for the atmosphere and the service.

Boisdale of Belgravia: not just for foodies and down in the dumps Scot
Posted on 18 July 2012
Wondering where Andy Murray went to drown his sorrows following his defeat by Federer, in the Wimbledon final? I’m not sure of the specifics, but the Scot — whose startling skill made the Swiss maestro sweat last Sunday — could have and should have made a beeline for the Boisdale of Belgravia.
Situated on Eccleston Street, an area that seems to go unappreciated by visitors and residents alike, Boisdale acts as an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Victoria station. Put simply this fabulous Scottish themed restaurant run by Ranald Macdonald, that’s often referred to as the unofficial Scottish embassy in London, is a pure pleasure drome and thus the perfect place for Murray to forget his misery.
There are six places to eat and drink — the clubby Back bar, richly panelled Jacobite room, Auld restaurant, Cigar Terrace (a top spot for smokers to beat the ban in style), charming courtyard garden with its retractable roof for, weather permitting, al fresco dining and, my favourite, the Macdonald Bar which manages to be large yet intimate, buzzy but private.
The look is all deep red and dark green walls, mahogany and mounted stags’ heads while sweet staff wearing Macdonald Tartan skirts will cluck and fuss over you. Once seated at your table in a tartan upholstered chair, treats — such as warm buttered roles — begin arriving immediately for you to munch on, while perusing the menu. Food is sophisticated but scrumptious. Expect Scotland at its best: think Loch Ryan oysters, Hebridean crab, haggis, Aberdeen angus aged steaks — said by Square Meal to be «incredible» — and smoked salmon.
For a bit of stomach lining, I went for a girlie starter of asparagus that came in a truffle butter and hollandaise sauce so delicious I lapped it up like a kitten. Meanwhile my dining companion purred with pleasure over her Hebridean handpicked crab, accompanied by spiced avocado and melba toast (£12.50). As for mains, we can recommend the Dover sole served with buttered new potatoes (£29.50) and the filo pastry parcel of chestnut & oyster mushrooms, fennel and spinach, poached leeks, black truffle sauce (£14.75) — simply exquisite. And sides such as broccoli, ginger, chilli and garlic (£5) made me aware that cooking can be an art form. For dessert, do try the caramelised Bramley apple flan with15 year old Glenfiddich caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream — addiction on a plate.
While the Boisdale was busy when we arrived at 7.30pm, it gets more boisterous later on in the evening when the well heeled customers begin to kick back — helped by the outstanding wine and whisky lists and nightly live jazz that starts at 10pm. Indeed the fantastic musicians whip the wealthy locals into a frenzy well into the wee hours, making the Boisdale one of the hottest places to hangout in Belgravia post midnight.
Of course, this Scottish jazz, cigar and supper club does cost but believe me when I say the venue is worth every penny and sets standards few others match: we left a lot happier than when we arrived. All told if Andy Murray doesn’t get to dine at the All England club’s Champion dinner next year, he could do far worse than head to the Boisdale of Belgravia for a taste of the high life — and the Highlands.
Need to know
Boisdale of Belgravia
13 – 15 Eccleston Street, SW1W 9LX
020 7730 6922
Open 12 noon-​1am (Mon-​Fri); 6pm-​1am (Sat)
Transport: Victoria tube/​rail

You would never know it from the outside, but this place is very cool inside. The restaurant looks awesome (though I’ve never dined there). Instead, I have been up to the terrace/​cigar bar multiple times and had a great time. I recommend this place for dinner /​cocktails!

Went here for lunch on Friday; it was my first visit to this old school «Scottish» themed classic in over 6 years and not much appeared to have changed other than the introduction of the cigar terrace upstairs.
After leaving my coat with the charming lady at the entrance I made my way through to the main room and joined the «legal eagle» at the lovely zinc bar where we had a cold glass of Morretti before being shown to our table. There was some confusion as we thought we had reserved a table in the more casual bar out back but we were given a great table for two in the main restaurant. After a bit of debate with our helpful waitress it was agreed that we could keep our table and still order from the bar menu (confusing I know but at the Boisdale they have a different bar and restaurant menu and never the twain will normally meet).
Continuing our quest for the best burger in town we both went for the «dangerously hot» offering; a medium rare Aberdeen Angus rib steak pattie topped with chipotle chilli ketchup, red onion and jalapeños. It came in a seeded bun with a bowl of thick cut chips on the side. All in all it was pretty tasty, the burger had nice char and a good meaty flavour. The down side was that it could have been a little more moist and it was certainly not «dangerously hot» as advertised. However, I would say that most of the boys, and the smaller number of girls, in the Boisdale this Friday lunchtime did not appear to be the types who would be well acquainted with the delights of the chilli so it may well be that the regular punters would have found this pretty hot.
Service was quick and we found our waitress attentive without being overbearing. I was deep in conversation with the «legal eagle» during our lunch but this can be a good spot for a bit of people watching if you are in the mood to observe the old school approach to afternoon indulgence.
The menu here is big on meat and comfort food with a healthy nod to its «Scottish» branding i. e you can get a decent haggis, herring and good smoked salmon. It has a very good wine list and a great selection of whiskey but beware the prices are all a bit eye watering! This is not a place to come if you are looking to bag a bargain or you want something to write home about in the way of your lunch or dinner. However, if you fancy a bit of a blow out, followed by a nice cigar and a dram or two, this is as good a spot as any in town.
I will not be rushing back here in a hurry but I do look forward to a return visit in another 5 years or so. The quest continues!

Ca vaut le coup de faire un tour a Boisdale pour prendre un vrai coup de britanisme en penetrant. En fait c’est plutot un bain ecossais car ce restaurant se veut traditionnel ecossais, de la couleur rouge aux murs, en passant par les carreaux (tartans) sur les nappes ou cravates des serveurs, a la nourriture (riche, hivernale, a base de viande et gibier essentiellement). C’est vraiment depaysant et je n’ai fait qu’un tour au bar, pas au restaurant meme si les assiettes avaient l’air appetissantes. C’est cher en revanche (£50 par personne) donc une bonne alternative, si vous etes vers Pimlico, Chelsea ou Victoria, est juste de passer boire un verre au bar ou vous aurez le choix entre les 200 sortes de wisky