Maddox Tavern-Review by the Mayfair Foodie
This Maddox Arms has ceased trading
Today, I have the pleasure of reviewing the new incumbent at Mayfairs 47 Maddox Street, the Maddox Tavern.
The restaurant & bar Maddox Tavern is based on the concept of the celebrated New York Tavern. You will find the new Tavern at 47 Maddox Street less than a minute’s walk from New Bond Street with Saville Row & Berkeley Square very close by.
It’s the brainchild of CEO & founder Roger Payne of Enhanced Hospitality. As Roger pointed out when we spoke, he had the idea for the New York tavern for a while. He stressed one of the most important & difficult parts of bringing any restaurant theme to life is to find the perfect building.
After 6 months of searching & planning and a further 5 months of extensive renovations, Maddox Tavern opened in the Autumn of 2022. The works included sympathetically renovating the listed wood panelling found in this former tailor’s shop.
The building was built for William Cooling in 1892 and remained a high-end gentleman’s outfitter for much of its life, apparently one of the outfitters’ many customers included Winston Churchill.
The result is a stunning space that achieves exactly what Roger visualised for his New York tavern in Mayfair.
The moment you walk in your eyes are taken to a stunning wood-panelled long bar running along the right-hand side of the building, in true New York style there are plenty of bar stools neatly lined up along the bar, opposite more bar stools with a casual dining/bar area. Elegant & Stylish but at the same time homely.
Once you walk past the bar area it opens into a lovely dining area, tables neatly set pristine white tables & silver cutlery & condiments. The wood paneling & decor give a classic welcoming feel.
Maddox Tavern is open Monday-Saturday, in the week it opens at 8.30 for breakfast & on Saturday at a civilised 12 pm for brunch.
The breakfast menu covers all the British classics; it even includes eggs & soldiers which I’m very happy about. As you would expect there is a nod to Over the Pond with Steak & eggs, benedict & pancakes. By the look of the menu, it’s worth skipping breakfast at home or in the hotel for breakfast here.
Moving on from breakfast, the bar has an all-day Tavern menu, containing classic sharing boards, fresh oysters, burgers, Welsh rarebit & a delightfully decadent side of parmesan & truffle fries. Perfect food to order sitting at the bar with a cold beer, wine & even a cocktail.
As for the restaurant lunch & the a la carte menu, I think we all try to fall into the trap of trying to pigeonhole restaurant menus in terms of cuisine, classic British, Mediterranean, modern European & so on… So, I won’t do that and only say it’s very at home in Mayfair.
As we were here for lunch I will give you a flavour via our choices from the lunch & a la Carte menus.
For me at first glance at the starters I was set a trap, could I see beyond the beef ragù & rigatoni, the answer is not a chance & it was a great choice. Leigh, my wife had a frisee salad with smoked bacon lardons & poached egg, which was beautifully presented & by all accounts very nice, I was not offered the chance to try it.
For mains, I went for Chicken Fricassee which was delicious & ideal lunchtime main. Leigh followed up her salad with Cornish cod, nut brown butter & shrimps. I did get to try the cod & it was lovely.
Leigh loves a dessert especially if it contains the words rhubarb & crumble, I went with a selection of cheese with biscuits & quince jelly.
Lunch was lovely & we negotiated the 3 courses with ease. We both enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant. The staff were attentive, friendly & happy to chat which for me always adds to the experience
The team at the Maddox Tavern was keen to point out food providence. I’m told the fish is from Newlyn, Cornwall, the meat hails from Ross on Wye with Longhorn cattle, Middle white pigs & Ryeland sheep.
At this stage, it’s worth pointing out that the menu is seasonal & determined by their trusted suppliers and of course the talented chefs at the restaurant.
It’s worth mentioning that the Maddox Tavern has no less than 3 private dining areas available throughout the day & evening, ideal for special celebrations, I can also see this being a popular breakfast meeting venue.
The building has spent most of its long life as tailors and now it fits neatly into its new clothes as a New York tavern with a Mayfair twist, just as Roger envisaged.
The “Tavern” concept offers customers the chance to enjoy a casual drink & bite at the bar or like us enjoy the full restaurant experience.
I leave 47 Maddox Street very happy that this New York tavern has found its home in Mayfair, which I feel sure will be a successful part of the furniture for many years to come.
Maddox Tavern
47 Maddox Street
Mayfair, London
W1S 2PG
info@maddoxtavern.com
This review was based on our visit 9th March 2023
