Review Of Mr Porter In Mayfair: An Elegant New Take On Your Traditional Steakhouse

London is renowned for its iconic steakhouses, which makes it a little hard to stand out against the crowd. But Mr Porter, a new luxurious steak restaurant from The Entourage Group (headed by Yossi Eliyahoo, who brought the restaurant to London after the success of their famed Amsterdam outpost), is the new Mayfair hotspot that’s putting its stamp on the sizzling steak scene, despite only opening this past April. In fact, it’s already accrued great acclaim – it was even awarded the Rising Star accolade at the Luxury Nightlife Awards – London Edition. And me? I was lucky enough to visit on a recent balmy Saturday evening, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

The elegant interiors and low lighting made Mr Porter feel perfect for date nights.

DesignMyNight Review Of Mr Porter In Mayfair

The Interiors & Atmosphere

After making our way down the spiral of monochrome marble stairs, we felt as if we were stepping into another world - one of relaxed sophistication (luckily, I’d read ahead about the dress code before arriving – smart casual for those interested). With help from designers Baranowitz + Kronenberg, the brand has created a sultry space that strays away from your classic steakhouse, with a ‘Dinner to Sinner’ concept – instead of the dark tones and industrial-chic vibes usually associated with steak spots, it combines a light and elegant steakhouse with a cool cocktail lounge where you can enjoy a long, delicious evening tickling the senses.

And despite being undeniably luxurious, it still felt warm and welcoming; think dusty pink velvet booths paired with a mirrored copper ceiling and natural travertine stone floors – a beautiful blend of natural tones. I also particularly enjoyed the soundtrack of funk and soul tunes: a nice, unique change to what you usually hear in high-flying Mayfair restaurants. Oh, and I can’t not mention the service – from the get-go, it was exceptional. Our server Yasien and the sommelier Benedict were both incredible, and everyone working seemed to be really enjoying themselves, which only added to the inviting atmosphere.

The Cocktails & Wine

We kicked off with two classic cocktail twists; my Chestnut Sour (£18) was beautifully balanced with sweetness from the Hennesey VS, chestnut liqueur, and chrysanthemum honey syrup mingling with the herbaceous and bitter flavours of mastiha and lemon. On the other side of the table, my partner's Hibiscus Negroni (£17) tasted delightfully smoky, thanks to the Ojos de Dios mezcal, yet subtle and delicate, with notes of jasmin and hibiscus. And, of course, it held that classic boozy punch negronis are known for, thanks to Bombay Saphire and Martini Rubino.

The Leeuwenkuil chenin blanc was a perfect pairing for our lighter seafood dishes.

For the wine, the amazing sommelier Benedict was at hand, who devoted plenty of time to us, thoughtfully explaining each bottle of wine and how they paired with the dishes (we also enjoyed picking his brain about all things wine - wow that man was full of knowledge). He matched us a couple of lovely glasses of Leeuwenkuil chenin blanc 2024 to enjoy with our lighter seafood-focussed dishes, which had a subtle fruitiness while being creamy with a salinity, and then the Time Waits For No One – a great, drinkable red that was smooth with a richness from berries.

The Food Menu

Looking at the menu, I felt like a kid in a candy shop – literally every dish listed was something I craved to eat. Our waiter, Yasien, let us know the concept of the restaurant was centred around sharing and socialised eating, so it's ideal to choose a few bites from the 'Little Kick-Start', 'Carpaccio' and 'Salad' sections of the menu, which will come and when they're ready, before diving into the 'Meat' and 'Seafood' sections.

Everything we ate was so fresh and of clear premium quality, from the beef tartare and carpaccio to the king crab leg.

Once the beef tartare (£38) passed our lips, my partner and I exchanged wide-eyed glances of pleasure - the perfectly minced mound of premium-quality raw meat was so rich and flavourful (you'd have thought it had been cooked, it had so much flavour), running with extra virgin olive oil and intermittent salty and pleasantly bitter bursts thanks to the beluga caviar. We also adored the sea bass and tomato carpaccio (£23), which tasted like a luxurious, coastal holiday with each bite. The slithers of white fish had been expertly prepared and melted in the mouth, with thinly sliced heirloom tomatoes and lots of olive oil.

I also highly recommend ordering a round of oysters (£7 each), as they were divine, with both green and red tabasco to splatter on for a touch of heat. And don’t even get me started on the king crab leg (£96). This impressive, slender crustacean was soft and sweet (I think I prefer this to any lobster I've ever had), with just a simple wedge of lemon to squeeze over and a side of mayo – and I understand why: anything else would have overpowered this delicate dish.

I will honestly be dreaming about those steaks (and those chips) for days to come.

The Japanese wagyu A5 (£96 for 100g) was quite the treat, marbled to perfection with a dark, flavourful crust. We also shared the Mrs Porter (£116), a 850g bone-in porterhouse, which ticked all the boxes for the perfect steak (fresh, premium-quality meat and impeccable cookery, being both tender and having a gorgeous sear) and is something I've been dreaming about ever since. It came with a little boat of gravy that we took great pleasure in dipping each strip into. From the ‘accessories’ section of the menu (essentially side dishes), we went for the thick-cut chips. Now, as a self-confessed chip connoisseur, I am not being dramatic when I say these were outstanding, and I don’t think any chip will ever compare. 

I won't lie - by this point, I was nearly fit to burst, but my partner's sweet tooth cannot be denied. And thank god for that, as I'm glad we stuck around for the salted caramel popcorn crème brulee - it was incredibly unique, topped with caramelised popcorn, jalapenos and sweet corn for an extra crunch on top of the classic sugary disc.

Overall: Mr Porter Steakhouse

I walked away from Mr Porter thinking, "I could eat that again, every day, for the rest of my life". Now that I've had some time to digest (literally), I know that I couldn't actually - and you know why? Because it was a treat, and treats should not be taken for granted. Everything about the restaurant was thoughtful and perfectly polished, from the interiors that were so much more than just interiors (I even read that Alice in Wonderland was a bit of an inspiration, which makes so much sense) to the wonderful staff and some of the best food I've ever eaten in my life. I have to admit, the price tag is a little steep - but if you're feeling flush or have a special occasion coming up, I couldn't recommend Mr Porter more.