Le Caprice, the Ivy, J. Sheekey, Scott's, London
Le Caprice
Arlington House
Arlington Street
London
England
SW1A 1RJ
Tel: 44 20 7629 2239
The Ivy
1-5 West Street
London
England
WC2H 9NQ
Tel: 44 20 7836 4751
J. Sheekey
28-32 St. Martin's Court
London
England
WC2N 4AL
Tel: 44 20 7240 2565
Scott's
20 Mount Street
London
England
W1K 2HE
Tel: 44 20 7495 7309
Concierge.com's insider take:
While Scott's, The Ivy, and Le Caprice favor diners with perseverance or a famous name, J. Sheekey, the fourth in the best-known quartet of restaurants in Caprice Holdings' stable of eight, remains surprisingly accessible. From its theatrical David Collins decor and ostentatious crustacean platter stacked to the ceiling to its equally showy clientele, many of whom have just stepped offstage in nearby theaterland, J. Sheekey is a show-off. With some of the most delicious fish to be had in London, impeccable service, and an electric atmosphere, it's far more deserving of your reservation skills than its snootier siblings. Scott's, which has been hard to get into since it reopened in 2006, has an oak-paneled, understated decor in keeping with its classy Mayfair location. Its upscale menu includes fried cod's tongue, stargazy pie, and pan-fried slip sole, as well as posh fish-and-chips with mushy peas. Le Caprice, opened by Jeremy King and Christopher Corbin (the duo now in charge of the marvelous Wolseley and St. Albans), looks dated in its black-walled 1980's Eva Jiricna design, with tables too close together, yet it remains a glitterati favorite. Both Le Caprice and The Ivy have similar, multiculti comfort menus: seared tuna, fish cakes with sorrel sauce, roasted lamb, and the ever-popular Scandinavian iced berries for dessert. The rich and famous keep coming back, so they must be doing something right—even if it's only controlling the paparazzi.
