Pieds Nus (French for barefoot) is Londons latest must-visit pop-up by David Moore, restaurateur and owner of Michelin-starred Pied à Terre and LAutre Pied. (Recent guests include Keira Knightley and Pip McCormac.) As the name suggests, the concept behind the pop-up is a stripped back approach, with dishes having little or no cooking, letting the simple, fresh ingredients speak for themselves. The less is more idea is further reflected by the rustic interior of the cosy, 32-cover space - previously occupied by two-year pop-up, Roganic - with exposed steel and wood tables and chairs (plus stools for the higher tables).
The menu is concise 10-12 dishes, with a similar-length wine list, featuring good quality wines served by the glass, carafe and bottle. The dishes are made for sharing, with 4-5 being a perfect amount for two, though my dinner companion and I ploughed through double this, as we simply had to try as much as we could possibly fit in Compliments to Ed Dutton, who returns to the Pied group from his position as sous chef at Tom Aikens Restaurant (Ed previously worked at Pied à Terre for two years), who executes these delicious dishes to perfection.
The dishes are made for sharing (though you might not want to) and we were won over, in particular, by the 98 degree 12 hour slow cooked pig belly, which was out of this world The meat was so tender, and the flavour combination was glorious. The bacon and onion brioche was an unexpected savoury delight, and the deconstructed New York Cheesecake with blackberry ice cream was, quite simply, heaven on a plate. To name but a few!
To top it all off, the service was exceptional. The only slight negative was when we were informed that our table would need to be shared by another two guests in due course understandable given the size of the restaurant, but Im not keen on sharing a table of four with two strangers for dinner though we were at the stage of our meal where this did not become an eventuality. All in all, it was a wonderful evening, with delicious food that I would highly recommend (and have done), but best be quick, as its only open till April
The ELLEuk Score
Food: 10
Ambience: 9
Service: 10
Value: 9
Style of food: Sharing dishes
Good for: Special occasion, first date, group dinner, work lunch/dinner
Prices and Other Details for Pieds Nus
Address: Pieds Nus, 19 Blandford Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 3DH. Enq: +44 (0) 20 7486 3353, piedsnus.co.uk, Twitter: @_PiedsNus
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday: Lunch 12 noon - 14.30 / Dinner 18.00 - 22.30
Average price per person for two-course meal without wine: Sharing concept. Average cost is £40 per person.
Set menu: None
Price of glass of house wine: Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Apaltagua, San-Antonio, Chile, 2012 (£12 for 37.5 cl carafe, or £19.50 for a bottle); Aglianico, Trigaio, Feudi di San Gregorio, Campania, Italy, 2012 (£12 for 37.5 cl carafe, or £19.50 for a bottle)
Price of bottle of house champagne: Sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, Cordillera, Miguel Torres, Chile, 2012 (£25.00 per bottle, or £5.50 per 12.5 cl glass only)
Private dining: Available in the main restaurant. The restaurant is very small but should you want to host a party or relaxed private dining, they can provide exclusivity. Contact info@piedsnus.co.uk for details.
Garden/al fresco dining? None
Best table? Almost any although the slightly secluded tables at the back are good for a more private dinner, while the tables at the front are good for people-watching.
Bar? None
Who goes? Anyone who loves delicious food!
Door Policy? Reservations preferred. Very limited space for walk-in tables in the evening.
Nearest tube: Bond Street, Baker Street
