Ladies who lunch doesn’t cut it anymore. But, girl dinner? That’s something I can sink my teeth into. Chucs Restaurant, Belgravia, has all the class of a high society luncheon, but it’s reasonable prices and timeless menu makes it a No.1 choice for all us girlies (and guys-ies) to flock to.
Think elevated brasserie, tucked down some lavish street in Milan. Located just five minutes away from Victoria, Chucs, is an ideal stop off for lunch in Central London.
With eyes on their newly launched pizza range, we wanted to see if Chucs food matched its timeless décor. Their white-shirted waiters and fresh linen is a throwback to that old-money generational dining – putting pizza on the menu showed it’s in line with the times.
Chucs does the classics, and does them well. The lunch time menu is A La Carte, but designed in a way that makes sharing highly appealing; it wouldn’t be a girl dinner without a considerable measure of picky bits and carbs.
The secret to a girl dinner is ordering tactically. I heard whispers of Chucs fabulous new pizza range, and so the carb-loading would have to hold off until the mains.
To start, we opted for the Burrata and the Ceviche. The Burrata was delicate and creamy, with a social media-certified ooze when cut into. The Ceviche was wonderfully fresh, boasting thick chunks of cured sea bass that was so light it seemed to melt upon first contact with the tongue. My advice? Order bread to go with it; you get not one, not two, but four types in your basket. Yes, I may have said to hold off on the carb-loading, but bread doesn’t count.
The mains were equally as satisfying. London has heated debates around the crowning style of pizza. I’m more of a thin and crispy sort of girl, and Chucs Roman-style Margarita ticked all the boxes. Thin, crisp and not a droop in sight, Chucs serves up some of the best pizza in Belgravia. Our Tuna Niçoise Salad was excellent, topped with thick cuts of fatty tuna and a zingy dressing.
To finish we were presented with a clean-cut slab of tiramisu. London has embraced tiramisu with rapid vigour. Chucs Tiramisu deserves to be on the get-to-know podium. It’s the sort of dessert that has those yearned for ‘glide-through’ layers. A harmonious blend of bitter-sweet coffee notes and thick, mascarpone cream is a testimony to the wider ethos of Chucs: simplicity, quality and a good sort of life.
Belgravia isn’t short of hot eating spots, but Chucs really does put the hot into girl dinner. If you’re after fabulous service, a sophisticated interior and food that infuses a bit of luxe into your lunch, then it’s an absolute must-try. Order the pizza, a glass of champagne, and one of London’s best tiramisu. Chucs invites you to lean into your inner indulgences. Feel expensive, and feel good about yourself.
Review and Images by Ella Mapes @mapesmakes and Emmie Blower @emmiebhungry
Feature image and some interior images supplied
