The Running Horse

Such a lovely place and yummy food. Had the unlimited prosecco/ Belinis with 3 course meal! Was perfect such a good treat for a girly weekend away!

I ate at The Running Horse last night and I am full of praise. We ate downstairs in the pub bit although there is a specific dining area upstairs too. I are monkfish cheeks to start and steak and chips to follow. All delicious. My friends loved their food too. What was also great was the staff, friendly, attentive and remembered what we ordered so always placed our food at our places without asking 'who had the steak'. Definitely plan on returning.

I am always on the hunt for new places to eat.

A friend of mine recommended The Running Horse. A charming little place on Davies Street (Mayfair) Supposedly they had a steak and chips and a smoked salmon salad that were second to done. Well, naturally I had to put that declaration to the test. So on a sunny, hungover thursday (this was a post-grazia review morning) I got myself a co-pilot. One of my oldest friends and photography genius, Jack Hardy. Well… where else do a couple of hungry Brits go to watch the quarter final of Wimbledon? A pub indeed. The Running Horse was certainly the perfect place!

These geezers, on a quick lunchtime jaunt out of the office certainly had the same idea….

Cute and quirky, bright and airy, with a lovely old wooden bar and an absolutely lovely waitress, The Running Horse is the epitome of all the things i love about good British pubs.

Without too much dilly dallying, we got straight on with it and ordered a round of bloody marys… the only hangover cure that works. Spicy, zesty, with a healthy Worcester sauce kick, I knew my delicate little self was in good hands from the first slurp.

Right, to more serious matters. The food. We decided to be diplomatic and share a selection of dishes, to come the the table all in one. The starter plate was braesola served with rocket, wafers of parmesan and a rather pleasing goats cheese mouse. Delicious, creamy, salty and fresh, a little lemon might have been nice but a minor quibble. You can’t go wrong with top notch cured meat, cheese and salad!

For mains I went for the smoked salmon and crab salad, with green beans, fresh capers and tarragon. Jack got the steak. The intention to share was there… It didn’t really happen that way. As soon as the boy set his eyes on the steak, it was like trying to prize food away from Joey (in friends). Lets face it, it wasn’t a wise move!

The steak was a beautiful cut. Juicy, well-rested and perfectly pink, not that I tried it. The sounds Jack was making, a little akin to a cat purring, assured me it was good! The little hazelnuts in the side salad were a nice touch, but the chips, which I did try, were a whole other kettle of fish. They were crispy, perfectly cooked and drizzled in blue cheese sauce. I have never before had blue cheese chips, let alone chips covered in cheese that have maintained their crispness. My only association with cheese and chips goes back to filthy, post-partying, pig outs at Crispy’s (the Leeds purveyor of the finest battered sausage man can buy)… I am horrified to have not tried blue cheese chips sooner. What have I been missing?!

The salad was delicious too. The hefty amount of salmon did not go unappreciated, nor did the quality of fish. There might have been a little more crab, but all the other components on the plate made up for that. Juicy little cherry tomatoes, crisp green beans and a lovely amount of tarragon to lift the salad with its pleasing aromatic anise taste.

After I had suitably quizzed the waitress on the whole menu, got a tour of the amazing jockey-themed bar upstairs (The Whip, which I will certainly save for another trip) we finished of our meal with a little bit of something chocolately, whilst watching Murray getting thrashed by Dimitrov.

If you happen to ever find yourself in the Mayfair at lunch time, with an empty tummy to feed, this is definitely a place to check out. All the more so on a sunny day, when you can enjoy your lunch al fresco. The have a great menu choice or classics all re-inventied with unique little touches (like hazlenuts in the salad) that take the dishes out of the typical pub food realm and make them into something that much more spectacular. I will certainly be coming back again, possibly next time in the evening to try out their cocktails upstairs too.

Lovely bar situated just two minutes walk from Bond Street station. The bar is on two floors; downstairs with a lively pub atmosphere with a selection of draught beer, hand pulled ales and spirits and upstairs an intimate cocktail bar and dining area with a great selection of signature cocktails, spirits and bottles beers. There is a selection of bar bites and full menu which are both great. Would recommend.

Had an event here in the room on the second floor. Delicious food. Portions not huge, but all food really well presented and excellent. Nice selection of beers, wines and cocktails although I wish they had beers on tap upstairs.. Fantastic service!

Amazing pub, great staff.always made to feel welcome. Daniel is best barman I've met, always brings out the good stuff 👏🏽

Visited the Running Horse early evening of Saturday 5th January. Quite quiet (as might be expected for a 'business' pub on Saturday afternoon) but sufficient customers for a good atmosphere. Good beer choice and well kept. We ordered food; fish and chips for my companion which he described as 'excellent'. I asked for a burger with a number of 'features' not strictly on the menu. The result was truly excellent! I am a bit of a burger professional (usually my menu item of choice) and I have to say this was among the top 5 in my experience! all served by friendly and sociable staff. A good way to spend a dreary winter evening. We will be back! Recommended!

Running by a corner and with time to kill before going to the Royal Opera House, we came by a pub called The Running Horse and popped in for a drink. Friendly pub where even a teddy bear can get chatting to people easily. Had I not been able to chat with any humans I could have chatted to the horse head that's on the wall! Reasonably quiet around 4 p.m. it soon became too loud soon after 5 when people drop in after work. With it's dark green walls it's warmly dark without being too dark.