The English Grill is fit for a queen. Not the actual Queen – it’s fit for you, you total queen.
London is positively embarrassed by the sheer number of fancy restaurants, but few of them can boast a view of Buckingham Palace. The English Grill, housed in fancy hotel The Rubens at the Palace, is one such spot. Whilst you may never see the inside of the palace itself – unless they do actually put a bedroom on Airbnb – you’ll be spoilt like a princess at this rather upmarket grill.
‘Upmarket’ translates as “polished silver, beautiful chandeliers, and tailcoat waiters”, which is not something you see everyday. In a further nod to their inherent fanciness, The English Grill also use the same suppliers that provide the Palace’s food. Which means when you brag that you’ve eaten the Queen’s food, you’re actually not that far off.
It’s a quintessentially English menu, heavy on produce from our own fair isle. Starters include Orkney king scallops, English chorizo, and smoked Applewood cheddar, and Lobster “Arnold Bennett”, which is reportedly sheer decadence. Mains hero British meat, with lamb shank, wild duck, and Cornish plaice featuring regularly. They’ve also got a Josper grill, which they’re rather proud of, turning out flame-cooked steaks with a whole range of sides.
Flying in the face of tradition, The English Grill don’t limit their roasts to Sundays. In fact, they have a roast for each day of the week, ranging from Wednesday’s beef wellington, to Saturday’s slow roasted pork belly. Some may call this sacrilege, but we’re honestly so into it. Proving their commitment to excellence, The English Grill also owns their own vineyard, out in South Africa (because growing grapes in Westminster is just hard work). As you’d expect, the resulting wine list is a behemoth, with almost too much choice.
Speaking of which, The English Grill isn’t even the only restaurant in this hotel. The Rubens at the Palace also sports The Curry Room, a richly decorated spot filled with the aromatic scents of India. The Palace Lounge, meanwhile, is a upmarket breakfast spot that’s ideally located to “watch the comings and goings of the royal carriages”. As you do. Finally, The Leopard Bar is a stylish watering hole that boasts over 200 whiskies in their collection.
Sadly, the prices make The English Grill a fancy pipe dream for your average broke millennial, but we can always hope. One day, for sure…
Location: The Rubens at The Palace, 39 Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, SW1W 0PS. Nearest station is Victoria. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: lunch sittings are 12:30-2:30pm (Mon to Fri), dinner is 5:30-9:30pm (Mon to Sun)
Price: starters range from £9-£20, grills start from £30, mains are £22-£36.
More information: from their website.