Review: Caxton Terrace and Grill, St James' Park

Some places will stay with you for a long time. The Caxton Terrace and Grill is one of those places. Why? I can honestly say I had one of the most fantastic nights of the year at this unique, traditional, and downright gorgeous venue.

Housed within the imposing St Ermin's Hotel (one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen) the whole place buzzes with chatter from such an eclectic variety of people. It's impossible for even the most socially reserved of us to not get drawn into conversation with diners and drinkers, whether they're suited and booted regulars or tourists on a whistlestop visit of London and its delights. And that's what sets this place apart. Because on location alone it should be a stuffy place. The entire area is the heart of government and politics, which aren't exactly synonymous with fun-loving nights out. But if you're looking for a bit of class and elegance mixed with friendliness, then it's a winner.

The Terrace, Bar and Grill are right next to St James' Park underground station, a literal stone's throw from New Scotland Yard (you know when you see the triangle sign rotating on new broadcasts?) and MI5. As that's the case, it's been known as the place spies relax in after a hard day, er, spying I suppose. No James Bonds were spotted, but we did think two men looked suspiciously like they were masters of espionage. Although if we noticed that, they probably weren't. The whole area has an upmarket, mysterious feel, and you can't help but wonder who's actually set foot in the venue throughout the decades.

The Grill is an L-shaped room with a handful of tables scattered about. Service is impeccable, the waiters, waitresses and sommeliers really know their stuff. The menu isn't vast, but there's something to suit a variety of palettes and wines to match. Obviously, as a grill their speciality is meat, so we let the chef knock up a steak according to a few basic requests. It was cooked to perfection. It's not served with side dishes, so we ordered a handful between us to fill us up. And the wooden chopping board, while we're not fans (germs!) makes slicing through steak a lot easier, with no squeaky plate syndrome.

It's the little things.

Another stand-out dish was the pea and ham 'soup', theatrically served with edible flowers. But the real highlight was dessert, a chocolate fondant slab with salted caramel. It was a real delight, and a well recommended suggestion by our waiter.

So the food was lovely. Top notch. Service and recommendations were spot on. But the success of the night wasn't down to the food. You can have a good meal at any number of locations in the capital. It was the people. The ambience. The reason why I'd head all the way over to SW1 again, and would recommend you do the same. By chance, I happened to get talking to an older couple on the table next to ours after they couldn't open the water bottle. Most unusual for English folk, after all, we're known for our reserved nature. It turned out they were American tourists from New Orleans, and had stayed at St Ermin's a few years back. As the place is steeped in history, it wasn't difficult to get talking about Winston Churchill, the local area and must-see places to visit. When they went to their room, we had a nose in the bar which was again, filled with a mix of suits and tourists mingling and chatting.

The Terrace is an open air balcony with canopies to protect drinkers from the elements. It was closed by the time we'd finished our meal, but the hotel staff allowed us a quick peek. It's the kind of place you'd dress up for a sophisticated yet somehow casual night out with a special someone, parents or your best friend. They serve bottled cocktails, so it's definitely something I'd love to try when I go back. That's right. I said when. Except next time I might dress like a Bond girl. Who knows what will happen.

Caxton Bar, Grill and Terrace | St. Ermin's Hotel, 2 Caxton St, London SW1H 0QW | 0800 652 1498