HUNter 486 at The Arch London, is a bizarrely named restaurant nestled comfortably within the high class Arch Hotel. It is a modern restaurant, with lots of dark wood, light walls, leather banquettes and unclothed tables.
The atmosphere is relaxed and casual definitely designed for the business visitor in mind. The “Express Menu” is just one example of that, offering a two course meal in 45 minutes, or a 3 course meal in 60. Perfect for the lunch hour diners.
The menu is a modern take on British food using local ingredients. It is made up of dishes such as oxtail, gravlax, chicken and mushroom pie and British cheese. While each dish is inspired by English favourites, they are prepared and served in a very modern way.
The kitchen is open plan and produces smells good enough to make you feel hungry, even after you have eaten. The noises coming from there added character to the atmosphere, but not enough to become overbearing. They were welcome distractions when we visited, as there weren’t too many people dining and the atmosphere was somewhat lacking.
“HUNter 486 at The Arch London was good enough for a return visit.”
For once, we didn’t elect for a three course meal, we decided instead to have a fillet steak each. We chose the 8oz fillet steak, cooked medium well. It arrived perfectly done, with no blood evident, yet still tender and juicy. It’s a hard balance to make, something even accomplished restaurants can have trouble with.
We were provided with some fresh home-made bread and butter to awaken our appetites while we waited. The bread was lovely and soft with a satisfying crunch with each bite. It was a rustic, but welcome touch.
The steak was served with potatoes and vegetables. The overall impression was of a high quality dish. The steak cut easily and almost melted in your mouth. While we knew what to expect with a fillet, it was served and prepared perfectly.
Apart from the atmosphere, our experience at the HUNter 486 was entirely positive. The service was good, the wine list extensive and the food excellent. While we didn’t sample the variety of dishes we usually do, the steak was good enough to gain our support for a return visit.
The Bill: £35 per head
