I do love it when I stumble across a hidden gem – especially when it’s so close to my home. The Artisan Bistro is a tiny little restaurant located on the lovely Hollywood Road in Chelsea and is just a mere 10 minute stroll from my house, but a slightly longer 20 minute stumble on the way back. The restaurant serves up a modern European inspired menu created by head chef, Georgi Yaneff who has worked across the globe during his time in the kitchen. Owner of this fabulous place is Plamen Yankov, who is full of passion and his love of food & wine is evident from the moment you walk through the doors.
We managed to get the best seat in the house. A circular table sitting in front of two huge windows which pour out onto the street. Perfect for a little warm sun on your face and people watching. There’s even a built-in ice bucket – perfectly dangerous for wine consumption. For those wanting a little more sun there’s a terrace at the back, full of wild herbs used for garnishing dishes. We started with a couple of incredibly fresh rock oysters to prepare our palate, washed down with a glass of Champagne.
There’s an emphasis here at The Artisan Bistro on sharing. Small plates designed to be enjoyed together (or not). We ordered a plate of the classic Spanish padron peppers, covered in a sherry drizzle with cubes of sweet orange. Even better still was the gorgeously fried crispy aubergines, smothered in a sweet soy caramel sauce – an unusual mix between sweet and savoury which I loved. Star dish from the small plates were the prawns. Four perfectly cooked grilled prawns came served on a bed of silky, glossy black squid ink polenta. A beautiful trio of dishes which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Main courses came in the way of more beautiful seafood, succulent meats and decadent sides. A huge sizzling pan arrived at the table, full to the brim of mussels, prawns, asparagus and lobster – lots of it too. Everything was precision perfectly cooked, fresh and the simple splash of sauce coating everything was just perfect. You’d easily forget you were sitting on a bustling central London street, and not the shorelines of the Mediterranean. Feeling a little full by this point, but wanting to try more of the menu – we divulged in a small side of succulent sirloin steak with sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, light bearnaise sauce and legendary side of fries covered in parmesan and truffle oil.
Dessert was a jaw droppingly good chocolate fondant, carrying all the richness and decadence – but still fluffy and light in the middle. It was all helped with an extra helping of glossy chocolate sauce and dollop of vanilla ice cream. One dish you most certainly should make room for.
We had such a lovely evening at The Artisan Bistro. We loved the fact that there is absolutely no rush to anything, the service is so relaxed, the food doesn’t all arrive at once and the wine keeps on flowing. We spent more time than we ever imagined here – which is always a good sign in my opinion. If you’re looking for delicious simple food, brilliant service and an addictive atmosphere then look no further – The Artisan Bistro is here to stay.
I was invited to review
Looks great! I love padron peppers but I haven’t found many places in London that do them really well.
Author
I know! These were good but still nothing compared to my Spanish trips – my favourite in London is at Drakes Tabanco in Fitzrovia! Gary x