Mere Restaurant Review, London

Mere Restaurant Review, London 

Monica Galetti, chef and co-owner of Mere with her husband David (who is also a respected sommelier), have opened their first restaurant in Fitzrovia, London. Mere Restaurant had no soft launch, and had only been trading five days when we visited this weekend. Trying to secure any weekend bookings now will prove impossible as tables are already taken for the next three months. It is no surprise considering the calibre of cooking involved.

30 Day Aged Sirloin, Mere Restaurant, London

Being a fellow kiwi, I have followed Galetti's career since coming to the UK and Monica has quite a cult following after starring on BBC's Master Chef - The Professionals Series, as a judge alongside her mentor, Michel Roux Jnr. Galetti trained with Roux Jnr at the iconic two Michelin star restaurant, Le Gavroche in London.

Pork 'Boil-Up', Mere Restaurant, London

Finally Galetti has opened her very first restaurant with a wonderful menu showcasing classical French dishes with a bit of South Pacific in the mix. The restaurant itself feels cosy inside yet also elegant at the same time and they have a magnificent feature window towering over two stories. This allows for an endless stream of natural light to flood into the dining area. You will definitely want to come here in the summertime. There are wonderful tapa wall panels, tributes to her Samoan roots as well as privately commissioned pieces on the walls toward to rear of the dining room, next to the private dining area.

Steamed Cod, Mere Restaurant, London

We opted for the tasting menu with wine pairings. Each course of six dishes was accompanied by expertly chosen wines. I am expecting that David Galetti had significant influence over the wine choices and I have to say the wine pairings were exceptional - the best I have had to date with a tasting menu. So much so that I am actively trying to source at least three of the wines chosen, including an interesting choice of Pinot Noir from Malborough, an area much further north than the Central Otago wines one typically expects from New Zealand. BUT - there is a catch, the wine pours were soooo painfully small. I'll put a pic in below and you be the judge.

Blood Orange Mousse with Meringue, Mere Restaurant, London

The menu has a good selection of proteins and I felt they were executed all to michelin standard - apart from one, I didn't fancy the pickled celeriac starter but everything else including the main dessert was fantastic. The sirloin was incredible - it had all the intense flavour one expects from a dry age, the monk fish - beyond good, and the must try dish for any self respecting kiwi was the Pork 'Boil-Up'. The broth in the boil-up was absolutely stunning. You can see, taste and smell all of the Michelin standard flavours and execution coming through on each plate. If I had boil-up anything like this back home in New Zealand, I probably would have never left! Well maybe I would, but I'd be home more often thats for sure!

With Owner & Chef Monica Galetti, Mere Restaurant, London

Fine detailing: Wooden Menu and Coat Tag, Mere Restaurant London

Wine pairings at Mere Restaurant - small pours

There's lots of detailing with the Mere brand which adds a nice touch, the menus are wooden as are the coat tags. If you are going to visit Mere, I would recommend the A La Carte menu with a bottle of NZ Pinot Noir wine but if you have loads of dosh to splash about or have fomo, then definitely try the tasting menu, that way you get a wee bit of everything but notice that I say 'a wee bit'.

Starters £12 - £18
Mains £23 - £34
Desserts £9 - £14

Tasting Menu 6 Courses £70
Wine Pairings £40