Love a new restaurant opening? Especially one that not only promises elevated, modern Mediterranean–Turkish dining in chic surrounds? Yeah, me too. Now that we’re on the same wavelength, discover Chargal London, a new find brought to you by Serdar Demir (The Mantl in Knightsbridge) that threw open the doors in December last year.
Located on the site that was previously occupied by Jeru, down prestigious Berkeley Street in Mayfair, Chargal is in very exclusive company indeed. The three-floored space is cleverly divided: upstairs is for more formal dining; the basement for sexy after-dark drinks; and the ground level, where we were sat, for a more casual, mezze-style affair.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Chargal Mayfair
The interiors were really gorgeous, drawing inspiration from natural elements like wood, smoke and stone.
Need To Know:
- Address: 11 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DS
- Area: Mayfair
- Cuisine: Mediterranean and Turkish
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: I’m not exaggerating when I say the decor is absolutely stunning. Prepare for chestnut-coloured velvet seats, leather stools, dried flowers and glistening chandeliers that resembles shards of glass, plus tones of dark grey and peach throughout. Make sure to check out the Coal Lounge space towards the back, as the red and orange feature wall is seriously striking. As for the music? Expect upbeat house that’ll take you into the early hours.
- Perfect For: dinner then dancing, whether that's a date night or going out with friends (closing is 1am).
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £176 (excluding service)
My Chargal London photos show off a full range of vibrant, colourful plates.
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The menu at Chargal London was separated into cold mezze, raw, fish and 'from the mangal', but we chose hot mezze and mains.
- Artichoke fenugreek fritters (£12) - prepare for three golden, crispy, earthy balls placed on a green herb sauce, finished with pomegranate which cut through it all beautifully.
- Chargrilled halloumi (£14) - a generous portion of cheese which boasted lovely smoky notes. This dish was my favourite of the night, due to the fantastic combination of sweet and salty. I particularly liked the cherry pairing and addition of sesame seeds, but perhaps they could consider a stickier glaze (rather than a liquid coating) as I think this could have worked better.
- Pistachio lamb cutlets (£35) - just imagine a beautifully presented plate, showcasing tender meat that was French trimmed, smothered in a tasty nutty crust and served medium rare (as recommended). The pomme puree was silky smooth and provided a great base, plus the giant spears of asparagus brought it all together.
- Brown butter sweet potato (£22) - sliced in half, this creamy root vegetable benefitted from tangy slices of kumquat, crispy Damascus rose for texture and above all else, a divine smoked almond praline middle layer. Personally, I would have liked the end of the sweet potato to have been a bit more cooked, but the rest was melt-in-the-mouth good.
- Dark chocolate sorbet (£12) - you’re right in thinking this was incredibly thick, bitter and rich, but it was also very elegant. I enjoyed the peppery fennel pollen on top, plus the drizzles of olive oil worked well.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Chargal (£18) - their signature sip was a delicious blend of apricot-infused cognac, amaretto and citrus bitters. A theatrical little number that was smoked right in front of us.
- Hamam (£18) - a spicy tipple mixing tequila, herbal liqueur and lime juice, presented alongside passion fruit caviar, which was not only playful, but added bursts of lush, tropical notes.
- Old Town (£18) - Chargal impressed me again with a very well-balanced cocktail. Think whiskey, a dash of dessert wine and rooibos vanilla tea. Top tip, make sure to eat the slice of white chocolate and mango gel first to fully appreciate the flavour.
Our Overall Experience At Chargal Mayfair
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chargal is a glam, glitzy addition to London’s nightlife scene. There’s a clear emphasis on sophisticated dining and drinks afterwards here, all handily under one roof, and the cocktails were honestly some of the nicest I have tried recently. They were perfectly executed and effortlessly brought together both style and substance. Reflecting the setting, I appreciate the price was more on the premium side but the service was attentive, we had a great time and with a few minor tweaks to the food menu, it will only keep getting better.
