The Pem

Delivering the highest standards of fine dining and service, The Pem is well worth a visit for lunch or dinner. The Headchief Sally Abe has recently featured on The Great British Menu, and it is not difficult to see why she is one of the most acclaimed young chefs in the country. My lamb cannon was particularly delicious, as was my lemon meringue, I would recommend both! At 170 a head, including 4 glasses of wine and 2 cocktails, it is on the expensive side but if you have the budget, I would encourage you to experience The Pem for yourself; the food was yum!

The restaurant is inside the Conrad Hotel, near St James Underground station. I chose the 2 course set lunch menu which was 35. Rather than picking 2 courses from the a la carte menu the set menu features special dishes that change seasonally (although the vegetarian option was on the main menu.) After being greeted promptly and seated, I was offered water and brought some home made wholemeal bread accompanied by whipped butter with a herb oil. The butter was delicious, soft and salty and the bread warm. I could've easily made a meal of it on its own! I opted for the spring salad and roast chicken, and that description doesn't begin to do it justice. Everything was beautifully presented, the salad looked like a work of art with tiny edible flowers scattered across it. I'm not sure my photos show how good it looked. My server described the dishes and ingredients as they arrived, which I normally hate, but this was done in a helpful and informative way. The chicken was presented two ways; as ballatine with panko breadcrumbs and as a slice of thigh with lovely crispy skin, I wasn't sure about the inclusion of nettles when I read the menu but everything was delicious. Both the salad and the chicken were excellent and the portion size good (I was offered the dessert menu but regretfully I didn't have room to do it justice.) I chose a glass of white wine to go with my meal and the sommelier was very helpful as my wine knowledge is pretty much none existent. For central London the price of wine by the glass wasn't bad, it started at 12 for 125ml/15 for 175ml. The wine was a new one to me and delicious, but I didn't think to note the name and now can't remember it. Throughout the meal the service was professional and friendly without being intrusive and I was addressed by name, which I thought was a lovely touch. It was the first time I'd been to The Pem but they made me feel like I was favourite guest. For the high level of food and service, and the atmosphere in the restaurant I thought it was very good value.

What a journey my taste buds had. To begin, the service was sophisticated and straight forward with the staff immediately ready to take care of you. The atmosphere is rather quiet and I expected a little more ambience, nonetheless the service surely made up for it. The food took me on a lovely journey, and I was quite lucky with my selection of plates - if I were you I’d recommend to try these pictured dishes in order. The scallop starter can seem very smoky at times but I enjoyed the unique flavour palette nonetheless. The beef was also delicious - but the lamb trumps it. A person at my table ordered the veal and was not very fond of the taste as it was quite bland. I did take a nibble at the apple tart and became quite fond of it. And surely, the lemon meringue lived up to it’s hype, it was light and refreshing. Although I personally preferred the earl grey tart as I do love earl grey. Lastly, I thought it was a nice touch to see women’s portraits displayed throughout the restaurant, perhaps to represent a feminist essence of the suffragettes? I hope to dine here again as I can see the hard work displayed in and out of the kitchen.

After seeing the amazing head chef of The Pem, Sally Abe, on Great British Menu my fiance and I were determined to make it here for her birthday. We weren’t disappointed, I feel so lucky to be able to have eaten at such a fantastic restaurant, the food was just incredible and the service was lovely, kind and attentive, even including a lovely birthday card and small cake for her, which was a really nice touch. Very highly recommended, we honestly can’t wait to go back! Obviously the cost is prohibitive, but if you do want to splash out on a treat, you’d be hard pressed to do much better than this.

Had the honor of coming here twice in the span of 3 days. The staff is extremely professional and polite. It is evident this establishment takes pride in their food and service. Food is of impeccable quality and attention to detail. The meat dishes in my personal opinion were superior to the fish based creations. Lemon merengue was easily my favorite dessert. The restaurant is very clean and the decor is elegant and accommodating. Highly suggest you try this place at least once during your stay in London. However, it could take 2 visits to gain a full appreciation. Special thanks to Maciej and Allen for a friendly, personalized and accommodating stay. As well as a compassionate understanding for our special diet need.

Delicious and inventive. The winter menu was warm with rich flavors and pleasing match ups. Can’t wait to discover what surprises are in store on the spring menu!

We went for Christmas lunch and it is one of the best meals my wife and I have ever had. Excellent at every course. Robert suggested the Dellamotte champagne and that was exceptional. Pem has shot up to the top of our favorites.Will be back for many more.

My birthday dinner at The Pem was an absolute delight. The food was simply outstanding. Whether it was the delicate flavors of the appetizer or the rich, satisfying main course, every bite was a revelation. Overall, my birthday dinner at The Pem was a truly memorable experience. The combination of exceptional food, impeccable service, and elegant ambiance made it a night to remember.