Motcombs Restaurant

Philip Lawless first became famous in London as the Manager of the well-known Scotts Restaurant in Mount Street. In Feb 1982 he bought Motcombs and transformed it from a small café into a successful restaurant and bar - expanding twice over the last 20 years into the two adjoining premises.

Motcomb Street is a mere two minutes from Sloane Street but for years was a quiet street filled with art galleries and eccentric residents. Suddenly the 'Village' has become very chic - think Parisian bijou street with a Belgravia twist! A lot of sought after designers have opened new stores recently with more to come next year.

Philip runs the bar, restaurant and suite of private rooms, which have become a London institution - they were recently awarded 'Best owner managed Restaurant in London' by Harpers and Queen and Moet et Chandon. The lively bar, informal upstairs eating area and full scale restaurant downstairs have benefited enormously from a recent full redecoration.

Located off Sloane Street, three minutes walk from Harrods - the restaurant offers excellent value for such a superb location; however, they do rather strangely then add on a £1 cover charge in the evenings only, instead of including it in the price.

Motcombs has increased steadily in popularity over the years and is frequented by a lot of celebrities and sporting personalities. The recipe for success has been to produce consistently good food at a reasonable price and to make the customer feel welcome. The menu is varied but simple in style - not a sun dried tomato or TV chef in sight.

Starters of smoked salmon with grapefruit, ginger and walnut sherry dressing and fresh crab mango salsa and rocket salad could be followed by halibut poached or grilled on bed of spinach and potatoes with Hollandaise sauce and roast rack of lamb with boulangere potatoes, bok choi and rosemary jus. Save space for panettone bread and butter pudding or amaretto brûlée.

The Bar has a terrific neighbourhood feel and is now featured in most International guide books as a welcoming place for people in their 30s and 40s who want a relaxed drink without feeling hassled or being deafened by music. You can have your vodka cranberry if you wish but 75% of sales are wines and champagnes. One can stand at the bar and chat to the locals or be served in the new bar with seating for 40. The owner is often around mixing with the customers - a rarity indeed in these days of restaurant chains.

Motcombs Private Townhouse has two private suites, The Robert Sangster Room and The Belgravia Room; they can accommodate numbers from six to thirty and can easily be used for all occasions, and their Website will give you a better picture. The unique aspect of the newly refurbished Motcombs Town House is that the private rooms have their own exclusive entrance - you do not have to wander through a hotel lobby or busy restaurant to get to your lunch, dinner or meeting. This can also be a great advantage if you are planning a birthday or celebration - you can also hire out the whole house exclusively for your event.

Full details on everyting that Motcombs has to offer can be obtained from their Website.