At the top of Frith Street on the corner of Soho Square, where taxis whizz by and the streets are awash with busy people wrestling to get from A to B and coworkers tolerating their colleagues for an extra hour because the boss said he’s buying, is a restaurant that will whisk you away from the franticness and into the heart of the English countryside.
Sussex, of the Local & Wild portfolio, offers farm-to-fork dining that is gratifying and intriguing in equal measure. With a brasserie-style menu, you can expect dishes as indulgent as wild game Wellington or as daring as Squirrel tortellini, all within a relaxed space that is a roaring log fire away from being a hunter’s lodge in the middle of nowhere.
The dining room aesthetic is clean and elegant with a beloved country-style panache. A butcher’s table overlooks the room, providing a theatrical hospitality area for the team to carve wellingtons, decant beautiful wines and display a British cheese board.
The seasonal menu celebrates the very best of British, with highlights including:
- Mushroom Marmite Éclair
- Chalk Stream Trout Éclair
- Handmade Gladwin Chorizo, Sussex Kale, Crispbread
- Salt Beef Croquettes
- Nutbourne Tomato, Strawberry & Basil Salsa
- Hampshire Asparagus & Somerset Pecorino Ravioli, Burnt Butter, Hazelnuts Rosemary
- Crispy Midhurst Potatoes
- Roasted Arundel Fennel, Lentils, Sumac, Tahini Yoghurt
- Dorset lamb Rump, Sweetbread, Peas, Anchovy Emulsion
- Peppercorn Sauce Lyons Hill Farm Fillet of Beef Wellington
The wine is also a particular focus
The wine is also a focus at Sussex, with chef Richard Gladwin curating a dynamic list which includes wine from the Gladwin family’s very own vineyard in West Sussex, perfectly paired to complement the menu.
Sundays lunches are typically awash with Bloody Mary’s, crispy roast potatoes, and succulent cuts of Sussex meat such as their rib of beef, or Somerset Saxon Chickens.
Bliss.
Related: Truffle hunters create an inn for all seasons at The Crown in Bray