the wolseley

the better half (tbh) and i have been wanting to go to the wolseley for breakfast for as long as it’s been open but as early starts on weekends aren’t usually our thing, we just never got round to it. he was feeling a little nostalgic recently and had a real hankering for kippers for breakfast….it was something his scottish father always ate. i found this a little odd as 1) he isn’t really that keen on fish and 2) he’s even less keen on bony fish! but hey, who am i to argue? i did a bit of a research and to my delight found that the wolseley serveâ kippers. result! he can get his fix of nostalgia and i can finally tick this one off my bucket list.

a lot of people asked us if we were going to enjoy afternoon tea while we were in london. we really wanted to, but we weren't sure if we'd have time. when i found this site, i was overwhelmed by the number of afternoon tea options. then i looked up the best places for afternoon tea (the ritz, claridge's, brown's hotel, the dorchester, the goring, the savoy) and i was astounded by what the best afternoon teas cost (40~55 gbp per person, or $60~$85 per person). i started to think maybe we'd just skip it.

the decor of the place is grand but yes it is a bit noisy because they're always fully booked so make sure you book a table. the food was quite a big portion and very tasty. i had the roast chicken with some side dishes. my friend had their chicken soup which is the best soup that i had in years! the broth was clear and packed with flavour. oh i also had their appel strudel which was super yummy...

i was in london for a short holiday with my husband and decided to try the wolseley. best decision ever. the atmosphere in really calm yet not dull. impeccable service from the staff. although, the food and drinks are on the pricey end, because of our pound: south african rand exchange rate, it really is all worth it. can't wait to go back!😊😋

whilst grand and one of the must-tries of london, it is totally free of pretence or stuffiness. the atmosphere is light-hearted and buzzing, with the restaurant full of people up for an ultimate london experience.

tables are packed in cosily, adding to the 'buzz' of the restaurant. waiters are friendly and aren't afraid of having a jolly with their customers, whilst never slacking on service or professionalism. 

the wolseley is particularly good for steak and seafood, although it is not too pompous to serve the usual favourites such as hamburgers, kedgeree or navarin of lamb.

for a fun finish, try an ice cream coupe; perfect for sharing, and exploring an exciting combination of flavours. the lucian is luscious; pistachio, hazelnut and nougat ice cream are drizzled with whipped cream and a butterscotch sauce, providing a nutty, soft sweetness to the end of your meal.

whilst certainly not cheap, it is worth a visit to try accessible meals done in fanciful ways within a warm, buzzing ambience.

excellent cream tea and very decent tea selection. 

it can get bit noisy but still the location is worth a visit if you live in london or just visiting.

the wolseley has only been open since 2003, but has steadily become an institution on the london dining scene. i’ve wanted to go for years and have heard many friends raving about dinners and brunches. i finally went for afternoon tea with a friend recently and thankfully was as good as i hoped.

the wolseley is an all-day grand european café-restaurant found next to the ritz hotel in piccadilly, london. created by chris corbin and jeremy king who were behind the renewed fame and success of le caprice, the ivy and j. sheekey. in december 2011 they also opened the delaunay on the corner of the aldwych and drury lane, basically these guys know what they’re doing so i had no doubt my first experience at a corbin and king eatery would be something special.

i dined here for dinner, not for their famous tea.  dinner was decent but it was very noisy and cramped.  if you are willing to pay this much, there are better places to go within 10 minutes walk.

i love this place the atmosphere is fantastic there's always a buzz and the service is always the best. i love that they serve up everything in silverware and china, and all the cakes are on display for us to choose. i ordered the signature wolseley battenberg cake my friend ordered the chocolate, both extremely moorish but not the best cakes i've ever had.

in 1921 william curtis green was commissioned to design a rather illustrious car show room for wolseley motors limited. he created an incredibly grand interior, resplendent with venetian-style pillars and archways and towering stairways.  in 1926 wolseley motors went bankrupt and barclays bank acquired the building, opening a new branch in april 1927.  in 2003 chris corbin and jeremy king secured the site and it was restored to its current glory, opening as a restaurant in november 2003 and named the wolseley after it's first occupants.  in march 2015, an adventurous london kiwi sent an email to see if anyone fancied meeting for breakfast at this grand dame of a restaurant.  in his book, breakfast at the wolseley  a.a. gill states 'breakfast is everything. the beginning, the first thing. it is the mouthful that is the commitment to a new day, a continuing life.' and with that being the case a group of six bloggers, iphones at the ready and cameras in hand descended upon the piccadilly restaurant to enjoy their first meal of the day together.  making up this sextet / hashtag of bloggers were: our wonderful organiser, emma from adventures of london kiwi sam, an expat aussie adventurer who writes the blog globetrotter postcards jaime from angloyankophile , an american girl living in london and working in publishing kiwi travel blogger, kara, who blogs at social, write, travel play and yannick, a london tour guide from luxembourg whose photography, thoughts and musings are recorded on london unravelled in front of us was menu of classics such as full english, eggs benedict, healthy choices such as fruit, yogurt and porridge and items to satisfy the sweet tooth. it was hard to know what to have... but being bloggers, we all know the most important thing...if you don't instagram it, it didn't happen. fully caffeinated, satisfied and happy we talked blogspeak for hours but as people began to filter in for lunch we realised it was probably time to leave our illustrious surr

afternoon tea at the wolseley is slightly different - for not only do they serve (with some aplomb) the traditional high tea - sandwiches, scones, pastries - but also an extensive all-day savoury menu.

on this occasion, while my sister went for the champagne tea, i plumped for a double london rarebit - a typical melted cheese rarebit on two large hunks of bread but with the addition of poached eggs, crispy bacon and small cherry tomatoes.

honestly i can't fault it - a huge plateful for £11. to accompany it i chose fresh mint tea and a classic negroni - i was feeling a little decadent!

also at the table we had the ever-classic omelette arnold bennett - perfectly eggy, cheesy and fishy!

i do like the wolseley a lot, and recommend you all go.

however, i love its sister restaurant, the delaunay. they have very similar menus but the dining room at the delaunay is just that much more relaxed.

actually, my recommendation is that you do both.

they excel at breakfast and tea, but the all day menu and the full lunch and dinner a la cartes present fine food at very acceptable prices.

absolute must-dos for the london foodie.

my husband and i ate here for lunch one day last week because fodor's london 2015 guide rated it high and a cheap meal. we really enjoyed the meal but it was much more expensive than we thought it would be. for two of us at lunch we paid roughly £40.

breakfast is a funny meal - how many times have we heard that it's the most important meal of the day yet, how many of us actually take the time to have a real one? im guilty of not giving it the attention it deserves and so many times, either go without or survive on a meagre piece of toast or a biscuit or 2. what it does mean however is when i do make the time for it, i sure as hell make an effort to do it right and it takes a place like the wolseley to really do the meal justice.

with its prestigious location right in the heart of mayfair, the wolsley has become somewhat of an institution since its opening in 2003, known for its fine food and splendid decor. such is the grandness of it all, you'd be forgiven if your jaw should drop on stepping into the dining room.

but today, i'm here for breakfast so with that in mind, attention turned to the menu and its caviar omelette...for £65. uh oh, i think i'm in trouble...but that initial shock is set aside as i eventually settled on an order of avocado, tomato and mushroom on rosti and a bacon & egg buttie with a side of mixed danishes from the viennoiserie.

the avocado, tomato and mushroom on rosti was fine and a nice hearty breakfast which is also pretty health giving however, for pure taste, the bacon and egg buttie reigned supreme and was quite frankly one of the best i've ever had - bun as soft as pillows, bacon of the highest quality and a sunny side egg cooked to perfection. however, the pastries are not to be ignore and to miss these would be a crying shame. fresh as fresh can be, they prove to be the perfect (if excessive) accompaniment to any main and a fitting ending to a breakfast of the highest standard.

if i could, i would make this a daily start to the day but as you can imagine, i don't think my wallet or health can afford such riches. but for a treat or special occasion, i can think of no better place to spend the morning.

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for the afternoon tea, there was a small selection available so i opted for the earl grey. for sandwiches celery, salmon, cucumber and chicken. i did not have the chicken so could comment but the others were simple and delicious but nothing out of the ordinary. the cakes consisted of a lemon square, a fig tart, chocolate eclair and a battenburg. not one to like fig, i tried it anyway and it was not too fig like and actually quite tasty.