03/09/26

Review of the Il Grande Sunday Buffet at Bocconcio Mayfair

We’ve sampled a few buffets in our time, from metal containers filled with anaemic slop to more upmarket options, with the occasional dish that can be ordered from the kitchen. With a name like “Il Grande Sunday Buffet”, Mayfair’s Bocconcino is suggesting something more, something special, something… well, fittingly Mayfair?

Located on Mayfair’s Berkeley Street, Bocconcino is a stylish affair. A spiral staircase provides a dramatic descent down to the lower floor, as if to grant you a 360° tour of what’s on offer below. There’s a muted sophistication of tan leather, dark marble countertops and chequered marble flooring, combined with almost industrial touches of exposed brick, chunky wooden tables and black columns.

The buffet sweeps around one side of the room with an impressive and colourful array of cured meats, cheeses, bright vegetables and grain salads, and the most spectacular seafood selection I’ve seen on any buffet.

By any buffet standards, this section alone is pretty impressive. There are mussels, prawns, rock oysters, lobsters, smoked salmon AND dressed salmon. Feeling almost self-conscious about loading my plate with an entire lobster, I take a claw and accompany it with a small sample of each item from the section. The oysters are meaty – a dash of Tabasco? Yes, please. The salmon is well dressed and tender, and all of it is super fresh and delicious.

Next up, some cured meats, beetroot salad, a spot of pear, Gorgonzola and chicory, and a selection of other vegetables. I even threw in a couple of pigs in blankets. The ingredients feel high-quality, and each salad is put together beautifully. It’s worth mentioning at this point that our glasses of Prosecco are being topped up regularly, leading me to think I have accidentally crashed someone’s wedding banquet.

As a live guitarist and vocalist serenades us with smooth acoustic music, we peruse the kitchen menu, which is also included in the buffet. The kitchen offers a mix of pasta, pizza and a Sunday roast. What day is it? Sunday? Well, the decision is made. Already feeling gluttonous after a decent roast beef with all the trimmings, our waiter brings over a small pizza to sample. It’s thin, crisp and, although simple, nicely flavoured.

The dessert section is a vast collection of bite-sized sweets. We opt for a rich chocolate and salted caramel brownie, an indulgent vanilla cheesecake and a rum baba. If I had one complaint about Bocconcino’s Il Grande Buffet, it’s that you’ll want to sample literally everything on offer. Our advice is to take your time, spend a long afternoon there, enjoy the conversation and live music, and sample the fantastic array of food at your own pace.

At £75 per head, £98 with bottomless Prosecco, or £115 with bottomless champagne, Il Grande Buffet perhaps feels on the pricier end of the buffet spectrum. But with everything on offer included, we actually think it’s pretty good value.

For more information and to book, click here.

Written by Rick Hartley

Photography courtesy of Bocconcio Mayfair

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Independent Architect Designed Café Abuelo comes to Marylebone

Oct 1, 2024
2 min read

Abuelo is no ordinary cafe; this independent architect-owned brand seamlessly combines high-style, artisan produce and laid-back vibes. Perfect for those seeking an upscale café providing all-day crunching.

The company ethos is a combination of the owner’s heritage, Australian hospitality fused with great Latin American Speciality coffee and passionately sourced produce.

We visited the Marylebone branch, where the design pays homage to the 1970s; the interior is adorned with rice paper lanterns, timber-panelled walls and red quarry tiles. Low-level warm lighting provides that cosy lounge atmosphere, ideal for kicking back and sipping your artisan flat white or matcha latte.

The bar counter is cleverly made from a selection of marble and stone swatches in a patchwork pattern - very retro, each piece chosen from off-cuts of stone which would otherwise have been waste material. The bar has a real homely feel, where you can perch on a stool and watch the barristers make your perfect coffee. The staff are friendly and if you go their enough you will certainly start feeling like you’re at home.

If you are looking for an alternative to your avocado egg brunch then Abuelo’s menu is sure to inspire. We went for the Chorizo Salsa Baked Eggs, a warm and layered dish of chorizo, red pepper, tomato and fennel salsa, a dash of fresh dill, and topped with a poached egg and luxurious sourdough. This dish is filling and has just the right amount of spice, the bread is hearty and robust. We also ordered their other house favourite - Jamon Egg Plate, which provides a great protein fix of boiled egg and fresh jamon, pickles, sourdough and a creamy stracciatella and honey dip, you can feel the Latin influence and it makes a refreshing change.

Dishes are served on eclectic tableware and drinks come in 70s-inspired cups. The coffee is rich and smooth, leaving you wanting a second cup just because it was so good the first time around, no bitter aftertaste or lingering dry mouth, you can taste the quality of the beans.

We went on to share the Pan Y Fruta 1, a sumptuous mix of plums infused with ginger, lightly whisked ricotta, adorned with delicate rose petals and served on toasted banana bread, a delicious and intriguing flavour combination. The sweet, slightly tart taste of plums pairs beautifully with the warm, spicy notes of ginger.

For those who just want a light snack, there are sharing plates and daily baked goods. If you want a tipple to relax with, there is a selection of natural wines or cocktails by Taylor and Elementary. Abuelo in Marylebone hosts evening wine events, so keep an eye on their socials to find out when. Their other branch in Covent Garden is equally as stylish with a twist of timeless modernity set against classical architecture.

Website: www.abuelocafe.co.uk

Address: 7-11 Cavendish Place, W1G 0QD

Written by Claire Bloom

Photography by Nyla Sammons