I wasn’t initially planning to share this night out (hence the scarce images below) but I was so surprised at just how much I loved The Maine Mayfair. I love places that offer live music and entertainment with dinner, dinner and dance even better. But it’s really rare to find (quality) places like this, that’s got to be a gap in the market. 

We went to Maine in December which in hindsight was the perfect time because it was festive and buzzing. I’m not really the kind who has to rush to an opening of a new restaurant (my list of places to eat is ever growing, ever dwindling) but what I have noticed is if you delay going somewhere (say, a few years after it opened) it doesn’t have the same vibey atmosphere because the vibey crowd would have moved on (probably rushing to the next opening of the latest restaurant). 

The fact that The Maine Mayfair had recently opened (with a backlog of reservations so booking months in advance for a weekend is advised, especially if you want a good table) and it was the lead up to Christmas, made the experience very magical. It’s a three storey renovated townhouse and The Brasserie, where the main dinner takes place, is super intimate and designed really beautifully. It’s a much more refined version of Quaglino’s (I was not a fan of Quaglino’s. Though novel in experience as it also has live music, here my comment on visiting restaurants fairly early in their lifecycle comes into play as Quaglino’s feels like a worn out version of The Maine Mayfair).  

What I also loved was that everybody was dressed up. It’s becoming very rare to find places in London where everyone has made an effort as dress codes are becoming more relaxed. Though I agree with the intent of this to make places feel more accessible, what you lose in the process is feeling like you’re out for a special night at a special place. And as a new mother, any opportunity I now have to go out in the evenings I really don’t want it to go to waste! 

But yes…the men were in dinner jackets and blazers, the women in heels and sparkles, the live band played South American music against a (rather short lived, late into the night) burlesque performance under a grand chandelier. And to cater to stellar photographs, their table lamps convert into a selfie light so you can get some great snaps even in the dark. I kid you not. It’s fine and fun dining for the instagram generation.

And the food… was so good! There’s a shocker! I’m always prepared to receive either form or substance, it’s a rare delight to have both and for some reason I was banking on more form this time. But no… the food was actually very good! The seabass was cooked perfectly with no fishy residue (yes, I’m that person uber sensitive to the ‘aromas’ of meats and fishes), the steak and chicken is halal (what a bonus) and the service was excellent. I still think the absolute best Creme Brulee I’ve ever had in London was at London’s Chinese fine dining, Kai, but The Maine gave it a good shot, it wasn’t disappointing. 

And to top it all off the bathroom is a getaway to a night-club. So you can start with drinks at the bar (in a beautiful alcove), move to dinner before you dance the night away all in one place. 

I honestly can’t recommend this place enough, it’s worth going… and I don’t often say that!

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