Review: Hunter 486, The Arch, London

April 22, 2015

This chic restaurant within The Arch hotel, tucked away in London’s Marylebone, boasts a new ‘best of British’ menu.

Located on the ground floor of boutique hotel, The Arch, in London’s Marylebone, the decor of restaurant Hunter 486 gives a nod to the glamour of the 1950s – all velvet chairs, cosy booths and low-hung lighting; indeed the restaurant takes its name from the dialling code of that era for Marylebone, the upmarket neighbourhood in which it resides.

The hotel itself, which is set on an elegant road a short walk from Marble Arch, is a collection of terraced Georgian townhouses that have been knocked through to create long hallways that lead to understated, individually designed rooms that provide five-star comfort – something that is recognised in the hotel’s inclusion in the Pride of Britain portfolio of hotels.

But back to the restaurant: in February it launched its new ‘best of British’ menu, the brainchild of Head Chef Gary Durrant and award-winning food writer and broadcaster, Henrietta Green, which promises to create honest and simple dishes using traditional recipes and quality ingredients. This it does to great effect, with the odd curve ball thrown in – the crispy oxtail salad surprises when it lands in front of you looking every bit a plate of meatballs, but it’s light and tender – an ideal starter.

For your main you can’t go wrong with a homemade burger with onion marmalade, or for something a little more daring, why not opt for a hearty dish cooked in the stone oven, which the restaurant says produces succulent results thanks to its high temperature. We were certainly impressed with the homemade game pie, which is fine on its own or could be accompanied with some roasted root vegetables.

For dessert, leave some space for the British farm cheeses, served with quince jelly and oatcakes, or go for that other British staple, sticky toffee pudding with caramelised banana ice cream. Yum.

For an intimate dinner in a central location with a moderately priced bill, Hunter 486 ticks all the right boxes, and if you want to make a night of it, why not book a room?

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