Wild by Tart, Eccleston Yard review ★★★★★

Friends turned foodies Lucy Carr-Ellison and Jemima Jones are perfect poster girls for chic clean eating. They met on a fashion shoot as model and photographer, bonded over a passion for wholesome and hearty food, then set up bespoke catering company Tart London in 2012. Having cooked for the likes of Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and Mulberry, and shared recipes in their Evening Standard Magazine column, they are now sharing the healthy ethos through their first permanent restaurant.

Wild by Tart is a take-away deli, all day cafe and fine dining restaurant/bar in one stylish space in Belgravia's Eccelston Yard. Thanks to stylish yoga studio Re:Mind and Barry's Bootcamp Gym, the Eccleston Yard space has become a wellness hub – and Wild by Tart is a welcome addition, as either a stand alone destination, a pre-workout pitstop or post yoga brunch.

It's the sort of space you crave for in crowded west London. It's light, airy, casual but oh-so-Instagrammable. Diners sit under a high glass-panelled ceiling dating back to the 19th century on long wooden tables dotted with charming ceramics sourced by the two chefs.

But don't let this relaxed aesthetic fool you, this isn't thrown-together food, but tasty, refined plates. Lucy and Jemima's love of travel is not only reflected in the space's design, but also in their eclectic menu which is an intriguing synthesis of Middle Eastern, South American and European influences.

The menu comprises of Bites, Small Plates and Sweets, all designed to share. Dishes include trout crudo, green tiger’s milk, mezcal, avocado salsa and crisped corn. Our Bites highlights were the perfectly crisp autumn vegetable tempura served with crème fraîche and grilled halloumi (made in London) served with lime, chilly and honey. We decided to go for a dry and highly-convincing Chardonnay from Slovenia – a 'wild' selection recommended by the sommelier. As for the small plates, the wild mushrooms with tarragon and walnut were perfectly rich and full of flavour and the squid marinated in pickled lime dressing proved to be a winner. Another wonderful experience was the Wild mushroom pizzetti, spinach, taleggio and rosemary, oven-cooked right in front of us.



True champions of the farm to fork trend, Lucy and Jemima get their ingredients from their farms in Somerset and Northumberland respectively. Emphasis is also given to locally-sourced produce with British mozzarella and halloumi taking centre stage. Across the different offerings – from juice bar to the the restaurant – the emphasis is on fresh, nutritious ingredients with plenty of flavour. Pop into the juice bar, where you can consult with staff to choose personalised adaptogens to target specific health woes from sore muscles to sleeplessness. And you can stock up on wholesome store cupboard ingredients such as a killer homemade kimchi and tahini.

The cafe space serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with brunches at the weekend. We particularly recommend the hotcakes with bay leaf crème fraîche and wild blueberry compote, and the coconut and cardamom porridge offset with tangy rhubarb. Along with the variety of dining options, there's also a bright airy photography studio and a retail space where you can pick up some gorgeous teal and monochrome crockery.

The only downside is that the restaurant and deli aren't open on the weekends (yet), but that gives you the perfect excuse for a mid-week catch up with friends over heart-warming food.

There's something prophetic about eating here. One leaves with the feeling that the female chef duo may well be the next Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray.

Opening Times: Restaurant Mon-Fri 12pm-11pm | Deli Mon-Fri 8am- 5pm