If you’re looking for a restaurant that can do it all, then Hide – the new partnership between Hedonism Wines and Ollie Dabbous – should be on your list of spots to check out.
Ollie Dabbous certainly has some clout in London, so when he closed his restaurant last year it became an intrigue to see what he might attach his name to next. In that regard, Hide is definitely an expansion for him, a three-storey restaurant at Piccadilly that promises to cater to every range of dining experience.
With a prime spot overlooking Green Park, there’s immediately a lot to like about this new restaurant. A dramatic, sculptural, oak spiral staircase unravels itself with sinewy fervour throughout all three levels. Speckled plastered walls, delicate floral murals, dark wooden floors and furniture, and a shimmering of copper throughout come together to create an elegant setting that is both natural and theatrical.
The inspiration for the design was the neighbouring Green Park and the concept a collaborative effort between Hedonism Wines and These White Walls studio. “Creating a restaurant felt like a natural progression given our love of food and wine,” says Tatiana Fokina of Hedonism Wines. “It’s great to be teaming up with another independent company to create something heartfelt to us and unique to the neighbourhood.”
But it’s with the food where Dabbous has naturally stepped in. Having already made a name for himself with his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant, Dabbous, there is a lot to live up to. Hide will be providing two ways to experience the next creations to come from the young chef, thanks to the distinctly separate floors of the three-level venue.
The ground floor will be reserved for the à la carte menu for lunch and dinner, as well as for breakfast and afternoon tea. It’ll be serviced by an on-site bakery, proffering freshly baked bread, pastries and cakes. The mezzanine floor – referred to as “Above” – will host the tasting menu and set lunch and is where Dabbous will be able to truly express himself with his inventive dishes. Regardless of the floor you’ll eat on, however, the same focus on seasonal ingredients of the very best quality will continue to be core to the food, with Dabbous displaying his trademark combination of simplicity and finesse across all his dishes.
When it comes to drinks, we enter the realm of Hedonism Wines, which will stock Hide with a wide range of delicious tipples. The accompanying Hedonism Store means there’s no chance of missing out on its huge selection of wines, but that’s not all for drinks since the bar on the bottom floor – called “Below” – will cater to fans of high-quality spirits and will offer up a cocktail menu devised by Oskar Kinberg (ex-Dabbous and The Cuckoo Club).
The restaurant also services private groups with separate, individually styled rooms able to accommodate parties between four and twenty with the option to eat from the restaurant’s selection of dishes or to take on the feasting menu that is based on the British-produced ingredients of the best quality.
“People were surprised that I closed Dabbous,” says Ollie, who hopes that now Hide is open his fans will “understand why that decision was taken”. We’re certainly looking forward to finding out for ourselves.
Hide, 85 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 7NB
Visit the Hide website to find out more and book your table.
Words by Adam Barnes