It’s the place for posh pensioners to hunker down — where every apartment offers a balcony discretely positioned so that no one can see them enjoying their (abundant) free time.
I might be mildly envious of those living their best lives in such luxury. Not only are they minutes from Hampstead Heath and its range of restaurants, but they also have an elegant in-house restaurant. And I didn’t have to use my fake ID to get in. Everyone is welcome.
Wilde offers a bar area, private room as well as the dining room and large terrace populated with huge white parasols.
I visited late last year and was greeted by charming Maitre D’ – Vitor, whose lifetime experience in high end London dining rooms is evident in his warm greeting and light touch.
Executive chef Igor Sapega, has done stints with Gordon Ramsay, at the Swedish Embassy and the Royal Opera House before landing at Elysian – the property company behind this bougie block.
The menu is short with an Italian influence — perfect for a lazy summer lunch.
Baker's oven: warm Italian breads were a hit[Missing Credit]
We kicked off our meal with a platter of home baked Italian breads, which included warm fennel seed-strewn crackers. Starters included a generous and artistically presented smoked salmon piled onto avocado in a swirl of Marie Rose sauce. For my guest — the schoolfriend — a creamy ball of burrata hiding under Chelse-worthy floral display and peppery olive oil. I’m a sucker for edible flowers – a favourite way to titivate any plate at our JC photoshoots.
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The GLP generation could probably have stopped after these healthy portions but we’re on normal rations and picked from mains that included crisp-skinned sea bass with golden, roasted new potatoes; poached salmon with mashed potatoes, samphire and a buttery beurre blanc and enduring crowd pleaser, fish and (triple) cooked chips. There are simple pastas and risottos for a more simple appetite.
From the short dessert menu my apple tarte was at the sticky, caramel-topped tatin end of the spectrum paired with vanilla ice cream. The burnished apples were comfort personified although it did leave me discretely digging into my molars. Lucky my date was a long-standing mate.
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Our visit was earlier this year so the menu may well have moved on to reflect the changing seasonal produce and warmer weather.
I’d get there sooner rather than later, before the crowds land on this secret garden on the outer borders of NW3.
Wilde at The Oren
