NAC Mayfair Review

NAC Mayfair provides a French fusion cuisine in the heart of London, with a secret drinking den downstairs.

NAC, or North Audley Cantine if you want the full name, is a classy little French restaurant by Bond Street station. No, it's not a bog standard canteen, this is French chic and it's miles better than I'd imagined. There is a certain feeling of elegance to the place with its long open bar, exposed brick walls and a mix of marble and reclaimed wood tables. Quirky little attributes like the Scotty dog coat hooks caught my eye straight away and made me instantly feel at home. Unlike a lot of restaurants, the menu is small and fresh, changing seasonally such as the addition of succulent Padron peppers fried in brown butter and soy sauce. I'd suggest to get two or three of the small plates to share; we opted for the tiger prawn tempura, which had a wonderfully light batter and the teriyaki pork ribs, which were surprisingly not too sticky, but beautifully tender and flavoursome. If you like anything truffle based (like myself), you will be in heaven as a staple dish on the menu is the truffled macaroni and cheese, which can be served as a side alongside the ingenious new NAC truffle burger. The freshly baked brioche bun has an impressive glaze, and is soft but sturdy enough to hold the mammoth of a beef chunk, homemade truffle mayonnaise and lashing of melted mild cheddar. Everything complements each other so wonderfully, and the truffle flavor is warming, not overpowering as you might think, in fact each mouthful is like receiving a big meaty hug! The restaurant boasts an impressive wine list to compliment the food and the waiters are incredibly helpful and can advise you on the best bottle for your order and personal taste preferences. A word of advice before you leave, check out the speakeasy bar, Chez Chow after dinner and relax with a few cocktails in the dim lit 1920s feel space before heading home. Overall, NAC provides a wonderful dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere; a great ambience with an eclectic mix of jazz and old school R&B in a setting that almost makes you think you could be on the set of Made in Chelsea…without the pretense of course.   Ratings out of 5: Food: 4.5 Cocktails: 4 Venue: 4. Pricing:   Three course meal for 2(excluding drinks) £80 Cocktails £10 Bottle of Wine £48 NAC London 41 North Audley Street W1K 6ZP http://naclondon.co.uk