Although the streets of SW1 are generally quite full of chic places to drink, dine and while away the hours, the St James hotel and club – just away from the bustle, dripping with elegance – is notable for being one of the most intimate and relaxing.
The venue combines rooms, a club of the old-school variety, and two places to eat overseen by William Drabble: the main restaurant Seven Park Place, and the more informal William’s Bar and Bistro. Serving as exec chef since 2009, Drabble has rejuvenated modern French cuisine there in all of its luxuriousness, and has found himself the surroundings to match.
With a dining room that wouldn’t look out of place in fin de siecle Paris or one of Prague’s more rococo tea, cake and absinthe dens, Seven Park Place screams luxury as soon as you walk in. There’s a formal air in service, and respect for this expected from the clientele, to match. With a la carte, afternoon tea, and private dining “dinner parties” available – as well as cheese and wine master classes – there’s a focus on choice as well as intimacy and exclusivity.
The food focuses on French ingredients and technique with Drabble’s unique twist, and there is plenty to be found to suit the budget.
Braised snails might come wrapped in chicken mousse and served with celeriac, cepes and watercress puree; rabbit with sweet pickled carrots, mustard and tarragon. Main courses tend to hang around one or two central foodstuff complemented with carefully-chosen and uncontroversial extra elements – lamb with garlic puree and rosemary jus, chicken with sweetcorn, wild mushrooms and baby leeks, and griddled John Dory with mussels, celeriac and chives are three examples. The key to this restaurant’s success is the care and finesse that goes into preparation and presentation – the dishes are put together beautifully, rich and indulgent and great to look at.
Find out more about Seven Park Place on Great British Chefs website, where you can also subscribe to Great British Chefs’ bi-monthly newsletter for competitions, recipes and more from Britain’s greatest chefs.
H&C News would like to congratulate William Drabble and the whole team at Seven Park Place, the restaurant looks sensational and the food looks even better, well done!