Harden's survey result
Summary
“Yes, it is expensive (if not by Mayfair standards) but it is a meat-lover’s nirvana in a great setting” – that’s long been the accepted view on this quirky, grill room (est. 1952) behind a Young’s pub, tucked away in a scenic central mews. “Old fashioned pies, mixed grills and excellent steaks” are washed down with an “impressive, if over-priced, wine list” and served in a quaint, period setting, whose “overcrowded tables are part of the experience”. In the last couple of years, though (even prior to the departure last year of well-known manager Oisín Rogers), ratings have been on the slide. Some “shockingly bad” cooking has been reported, alongside service that’s “so indifferent”; and the current impression is that they are relying ever more heavily on their “captive market” of local business-lunchers.
Summary
“Proper man food!” is to be found at this “very old-school” Mayfair favourite – a dining room behind a well-known Young’s pub in a cute central mews, which feels “like a different century” (est 1952). “If you like steak in a traditional environment”, look no further: “there’s an extensive menu including a mighty mixed grill, a variety of prime grass-fed steaks or tempting traditional pies”. “Best of all, you can then go on for drinks in the attached pub!” No hiding, though, that its performance has taken a knock in these troubled times. While it’s always been “a bit expensive (but completely unique)”, some meals this year badly missed the mark due to service that was “nothing special” or poor preparation (“The Guinea used to be one of my favourite destinations for a sumptuous piece of charcoal-grilled beef, but the rib steak on my last visit was so tough it has hardly fit to eat”). BREAKING NEWS: In July 2022, Oisin Rogers, who has managed the dining room here for the last 6 years, announced he is moving on to pastures new.
Summary
“Superb devilled kidneys” and “the best steak & kidney pies in London” take second place to the high-quality British steaks cooked on an open grill that are the headline act at this venerable Mayfair institution, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Business entertaining goes down particularly well here: “clients love the fact that the Grill is through the pub and hidden at the back”.
Summary
“Splendid old pub” in a cute Mayfair mews whose adjoining “old school” grill-house – “various small rooms packed with tables” – may be “noisy and less-than-comfortable”, but is “an institution” for those fond of a “fabulous steak” or meat pie. “Superb beef and lamb are cooked on the open charcoal grill (you can choose your cut on the way in)” and the meat is of “consummate quality”. With its “excellent real ale” it’s a “good place for the boys” but its “sky-high prices” can deepen the impression of catering for a “principally male, expense-account clientele”. Top Tip – in early 2019, landlord Oison Rogers started opening for breakfast: “full English in meaty portions”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Guinea Grill?
30 Bruton Pl, London, W1J 6NL
Restaurant details
The Guinea Grill Restaurant Diner Reviews
"The reservation was made to celebrate my partners birthday. He had been looking forward to an evening of good food & wine in a friendly atmosphere. The reality was completely different. I arrived first, I noticed the table was located not too far from the disabled toilet. You could smell a chemical smell in the air. On this evening it had been raining heavily- I don’t know if it caused an effect to the drainage outside but I knew I did not want to be seated there so asked to be moved to another table. Once my partner arrived and was seated. Before asking for his drink order or engaging with us. The waiter proceeded to alert us of when the table would be needed for the next reservation at 20:30 and we should order our mains as quickly as possible. Bearing in mind we were not late, we were 30 mins early. I have never experienced that kind of bluntness from any restaurant before. “How do you think you can get away with applying pressure to eat and go?” I chose to overlook this behaviour as I knew my partner was looking forward to eating there so this was not addressed. His main was a Ribeye Steak for £46 with no sides. You would get a better cut out of a supermarket. The steak was very fatty and partly inedible. The garlic butter which was supposed to melt over the steak was almost frozen and would not melt. The chips resembled McCain’s triple cut chips. My main which was the Beef mixed grill wasn’t great either, this tasted reheated instead of freshly prepared. Shortly after the main course the waiter proceeded to spill my partners glass of red wine on him. Instead of clearing the table and did not apologise for his clumsy error. When making the reservation I had informed the staff member that it was my partners birthday. I enquired if a ‘birthday plate’ could be arranged. I was assured that this could happen. When the dessert arrived like other establishments I’ve taken him to, you will see a decorated plate with ‘Happy Birthday’ wording, a candle or the birthday song being sung. This was not the case at the Guinea Grill. He received the dessert he had ordered then handed a postcard with the waiter stating “it’s your birthday right?” It felt like it was an after thought to the waiter, completely meaningless. Very disappointing. The bill was presented with the service charge added on of nearly £35. I have no issues paying for this at other establishments but after all I had witnessed and experienced - I asked for the service charge to be removed. The waiter could not grasp the concept that how he had acted from when my partner arrived had contributed to the outcome at the end of the evening. The bill was paid followed by a prompt exit - with both of us vowing never to go back again. Disengaged staff will cost this place customers."
"Great food but packed in like sardines."
"We love it there although it's got rather pricey. Old school and a bit cramped if on a table for two, Never been let down on the food front although getting harder to find any value in one list - ask for bin end deals. Service friendly although can get a bit chaotic. Looking forward to returning now it has the restaurant extension and is hopefully a bit less congested when dining? "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £51.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £5.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
30 Bruton Pl, London, W1J 6NL
Opening hours
| Monday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Friday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
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