Harden's survey result
Summary
“Yes, it is expensive (if not by Mayfair standards) but it is a meat-lover’s nirvana in a great setting” – that’s long been the accepted view on this quirky, grill room (est. 1952) behind a Young’s pub, tucked away in a scenic central mews. “Old fashioned pies, mixed grills and excellent steaks” are washed down with an “impressive, if over-priced, wine list” and served in a quaint, period setting, whose “overcrowded tables are part of the experience”. In the last couple of years, though (even prior to the departure last year of well-known manager Oisín Rogers), ratings have been on the slide. Some “shockingly bad” cooking has been reported, alongside service that’s “so indifferent”; and the current impression is that they are relying ever more heavily on their “captive market” of local business-lunchers.
Summary
“Proper man food!” is to be found at this “very old-school” Mayfair favourite – a dining room behind a well-known Young’s pub in a cute central mews, which feels “like a different century” (est 1952). “If you like steak in a traditional environment”, look no further: “there’s an extensive menu including a mighty mixed grill, a variety of prime grass-fed steaks or tempting traditional pies”. “Best of all, you can then go on for drinks in the attached pub!” No hiding, though, that its performance has taken a knock in these troubled times. While it’s always been “a bit expensive (but completely unique)”, some meals this year badly missed the mark due to service that was “nothing special” or poor preparation (“The Guinea used to be one of my favourite destinations for a sumptuous piece of charcoal-grilled beef, but the rib steak on my last visit was so tough it has hardly fit to eat”). BREAKING NEWS: In July 2022, Oisin Rogers, who has managed the dining room here for the last 6 years, announced he is moving on to pastures new.
Summary
“Superb devilled kidneys” and “the best steak & kidney pies in London” take second place to the high-quality British steaks cooked on an open grill that are the headline act at this venerable Mayfair institution, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Business entertaining goes down particularly well here: “clients love the fact that the Grill is through the pub and hidden at the back”.
Summary
“Splendid old pub” in a cute Mayfair mews whose adjoining “old school” grill-house – “various small rooms packed with tables” – may be “noisy and less-than-comfortable”, but is “an institution” for those fond of a “fabulous steak” or meat pie. “Superb beef and lamb are cooked on the open charcoal grill (you can choose your cut on the way in)” and the meat is of “consummate quality”. With its “excellent real ale” it’s a “good place for the boys” but its “sky-high prices” can deepen the impression of catering for a “principally male, expense-account clientele”. Top Tip – in early 2019, landlord Oison Rogers started opening for breakfast: “full English in meaty portions”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
The Guinea Grill Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Most disappointing. The evening it had been advertised as a gala for the Coronation. Instead, it was the regular menu and uninteresting."
"Lovely private lunch for 16 in the Boardroom upstairs. Classic fare of prawn cocktail/smoked salmon followed by a selection of steaks expertly cooked on the grill and naughty puds. I was glad not to be picking up the bill! "
Prices
Drinks | |
---|---|
Wine per bottle | £47.50 |
Filter Coffee | £4.08 |
Extras | |
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Bread | £0.00 |
Service | 12.50% |
30 Bruton Pl, London, W1J 6NL
Opening hours
Monday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
Tuesday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
Wednesday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
Thursday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
Friday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
Saturday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
Sunday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
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