WE enter the smart Hans’ Bar & Grill restaurant through its main doors on Pavilion Road, the swanky street just off Sloane Square, packed with boutiques and artisanal food stores. There is a buzz in the air, with tables filled with chatting locals who consider Hans’ their neighbourhood dining room. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the hotel’s residents at 11 Cadogan Gardens and local guests alike, it’s apparent by their familiarity with the staff that they are frequent patrons. Interior décor is contemporary with a homely feel – ceramic tables, contemporary lighting, and velvet chairs in verdant hues fill the floor.
World Wines at Hans’ Bar & Grill
The menu by New Zealand chef Rowen Babe focuses on local produce with a daily special’s menu, plus grill nights on Thursdays and Fridays. There is a strong focus on plant-based dishes, such as the cauliflower wings loaded with a spicy Korean sauce and sesame (which was so good I am still pleading for the recipe). Other light bites and sharing plates we selected were equally as moreish, especially the tuna tataki, beautifully sliced and accompanied with spring onions, crispy lotus root, and barely dressed in a ponzu sauce. The salted cod fritters also deserve a mention – little crunchy balls lightly fried and steaming hot, presented on a plate with grilled lime & watercress.
Hans’ Bar & Grill
Lime & Coconut Cheesecake
Tuna Tataki
Falafel Burger
Mains include a selection of land, sea and plant-based dishes. I settle for the hand-grabbing falafel burger, packed with crunch veggies and accompanied with paper-dry fries. My partner opts for the 28-day ribeye steak, which arrives pink on the inside and tender throughout. Hans’ wine cellar is as impressive as the food, brimming with a long list of world labels.
The delightful assistant restaurant manager, Enriquo Savino, recommends a crisp white Kozlović wine from the Istrian region of Croatia to accompany our sharing plates, and with our mains, he suggests a bottle of Amarone 2016, an aromatic dry red from the Veneto region of Italy.
Cauliflower Wings
Brioche Doughnuts
For dessert we order a couple of plates of pudding. The lime and coconut cheesecake is satisfyingly rich despite it being vegan and the sugar-dusted brioche doughnuts with its bitter chocolate sauce and sweet dulce de leche hits the sweet spot, concluding our memorable dinner hands down.
Exterior of Hans’ Bar & Grill
The Hans’ Bar & Grill is part of the Iconic Luxury Hotel Group, with Cliveden House, Chewton Glen, 11 Cadogan Gardens, The Lygon Arms, and Mayfair Townhouse within its globally renowned portfolio of properties.
by Amanda Bernstein
Hans’ Bar & Grill, 164 Pavilion Road, Chelsea, London SW1X 0BP
Tel: 0207 730 7000