Avenue

Avenue has been a fixture of London’s dining scene since 1996, but it still manages to come across as a thoroughly modern brasserie. Part of the D&D restaurant group, which also operates Coq d’Argent in the City and German Gymnasium in King’s Cross to name but a few, Avenue occupies a large, light-filled building at the bottom of St James’s Street.

The Russel Sage designed restaurant welcomes guests through a dedicated bar space, while further back you’ll find the main dining area, as well as an intimate private dining room. Avenue manages to fill the space with stand-out features such as the twinkling wine-glass chandelier that sits in the room's centre, and the vibrant, large-scale artworks that line the walls.

The restaurant has served a few cuisines over the years, with its menu having taken inspiration from the likes of the US, South America and Asia across its long life. These days though, it serves a refined selection of meat and fish dishes which champion British ingredients.

We’re happy to report that this shift in focus works, with the menu’s unassuming yet effective dishes hitting the spot – it’s also a rare pleasure in London these days to find a menu that doesn’t require you to share. Our starter was a simple, but cleverly assembled crab salad; a mound of sweet shredded Brixham crab paired with brown crab mayonnaise, ready to spread on two slices of toast.

This simple yet effective approach appeared again in our main course, a slab of lusciously fatty pork belly with a sticky-glazed crackling topping. We padded out our main with golden tripled-cooked thick-cut chips and a bowl of creamed spinach, before rounding things off with an unashamedly sugary treat of a mixed berry sundae. This delightfully nostalgic concoction combines chocolate sauce, and strawberry and raspberry ice cream, with a final crowning coming in the form of a swirl of whipped cream.   

Prices reflect the area, but deals such as the great value set lunch menu and the oyster happy hour where you can shuck away for just £1 a pop help to draw people in, and we also hear that the lively weekend brunch is quite the party destination.  

Avenue is a modern British brasserie in the heart of London St James’s and part of the D&D restaurant collection. With an all-day offering that spans lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and Sunday roasts, diners can head here for modern plates cooked with seasonal British ingredients. Leading the kitchen is Michelin-trained Rudi Warner, who was appointed Head Chef in 2021 and who previously worked at Blueprint Café (also D&D owned).  

Warner’s classical training can be seen in his menu, where familiar flavours are given a contemporary twist to bring something new and creative to Avenue. From the a la carte menu, expect the likes of Jerusalem artichoke soup with truffled cheese toastie, roast Organic duck breast with confit duck, a potato cake, radicchio and sherry jus and caramelised ‘eggy bread’ with malted barley ice cream. There’s also a set lunch and pre-theatre menu available from Tuesday to Friday, which are both a steal.  

Relax with a lazy two or three-course brunch on Saturdays, choosing from eggs benedict made with honey roast ham, poached Arlington White egg, muffin and hollandaise, steak frites with bearnaise and paprika French fries or pancakes with blueberry compote and crème fraiche to finish. While on Sundays, guests can dine on a whopping multiple-course roast accompanied by live blues music. If you want, add bottomless bubbles with both brunch or a roast to make it a weekend to remember.  

The 112-cover restaurant is a smart and glamorous room centred around a decanting bar, above which hangs a chandelier made of wine glasses. It’s an impressive place to grab a drink from its extensive cocktail and wine list. Avenue also boasts a separate bar that’s a popular destination for pre-dinner or after-work drinks, as well as a comfy lounge area for larger groups. Sip on a signature gin and tonic or a contemporary cocktail – there are plenty to choose from.