Lutyens

This is a nice, cool restaurant just off Fleet St, near a very old church. I guess the food is a combination of Scandinavian and British, but not overly slanted in either direction. Quite a few seafood choices, but also lamb, pork, etc.
I was quite impressed. To start with the service was impeccable throughout. As for the menu, it was one of the best I’ve experienced in some time. It’s been a long time since I’ve had trouble choosing, because I literally wanted to try everything.
For my starter I decided on Devon crab. I saw the crabs on ice as I walked in, reflected in a slanted mirror near the kitchen, and I had to go with that choice. Others at my table had the salmon tartare, and some tried the house-​smoked salmon. There was smoked eel available, which I would like to try on a return visit.
Our host, taking the advice of the on-​staff sommelier, selected a nice crisp Chablis to accompany our starters. It was a very good choice.
For my main dish I tried the aged Middle White pork — the artfully plated slice of pork was delicious in itself, and had crackling both on the slice itself but also was accompanied by two detached pieces, like tiny mexican «chicharones». The plate had a nice thin gravy, and a section of baked apple of some type, and some baked onion as well, to accompany the meat.
This was going to be my last chance to try Middle White pork — I love British rare breed pork, but I always found this particular type a bit plain — something told me to try it once more, and I’m glad I did. It had a delicious full pork flavor — perhaps it was the 55 days of aging. In all, a top quality piece of meat.
As I mentioned previously, there were various seafood choices, which some of my companions ordered and raved about.
Onto dessert, and again, there were some nice choices, including a selection of British cheeses. I again wanted everything, but I ended up choosing a mango parfait with roasted pineapple and coconut with meringue. Even though I didn’t choose the cheese plate, I watched with interest as the everpresent French-​British rivalry of my colleagues reared its head, but in this case it was a friendly rivalry, and the French team willingly conceded that they were very impressed with the cheese selection.
I didn’t have time for after dinner drinks, but I noticed a fine selection of armagnacs and whiskys on a cart as I left the restaurant.

Lutyens is a pretty fancy Scandinavian restaurant on Fleet Street. The restaurant in the back is super fancy, but in the front there’s a bar with a really nice lunch menu (for about half the price). Lots of seafood, open faced sandwiches, and it just seems to exude healthiness (except for the fish and chips… they’re probably not that healthy!).
While you’re there, check out St. Bride’s Church right next door. The crypts beneath the church date back to Roman times, with everything in between also represented — the Saxons built a church on that site, followed by the Normas, etc. Very cool historical site! It’s also the «Spiritual Home of the Media, so there’s a permanent memorial to journalists who have died on the job

I visited Lutyens last week during a business trip to London. The menu is classic dishes. In my opinion the menu is poorly laid out. It doesn’t have a clear flow and did cause some confusion around the table .
After getting to grips with the menu I opted for the Crab Gnocchi to start. it was full of flavour and had a generous amount of crab but the Gnocchi was a little over cooked. At around £13 it was a fairly expensive starter so I was a little disappointed that the Gnocchi wasn’t quite right.
For the main course, a medium Sirloin steak. It was cooked perfectly and well seasoned.
The vegetables were nicely cooked and the potato gratin was excellent. Lutyens also has a good selection of wines.
The atmosphere inside the restaurant is a little sterile but the decoration is fresh and modern. If you’re looking for somewhere quiet to have a nice meal this is on the whole a good place.