Forget your liquid nitrogen and your fluid gels, when it comes to dining theatrics, you can’t beat a restaurant trolley and a bit of tableside preparation. A call back to a bygone era, a trolley wheeling around – whether it’s carrying French cheeses, a roast rib of beef or ingredients for a martini – remains one of the glitziest things you can have in a restaurant. Simpsons in the Strand, one of the most famous trolley destinations, may have auctioned off its silver back in 2023 when it closed after the pandemic but Jeremy King is bringing back the famed restaurant this year – and that means the trolleys will be back.
If you love a bit of theatre with your dinner, here’s where you’ll find carts of all kinds in London.
Maison François
A slice of Paris here in our very own London, Maison François’ patisserie trolley is a thing of beauty. Tartes and gateaux are wheeled out on top of the trolley and the drawers open to reveal columns of pretty pastries, eclairs, macarons and canelés. And that’s not the only thing that comes tableside as the restaurant also serves salads, tartare and cheeses from a trolley.
34 Duke Street, London SW1Y 6DF
Wiltons
Wiltons is one of London’s oldest restaurants so of course it has a trolley. Traditional roasts, including leg of lamb, rack of pork and sirloin of beef, are carved tableside every day of the week (because roasts aren’t just for Sundays), with beef wellington taking centre stage on Saturday evenings.
55 Jermyn Street, London
SW1Y 6LX
The Ritz
One of the most iconic hotels and dining rooms in London, The Ritz is the epitome of decadence. That means plenty of tableside theatre, with the likes of beef wellington and crêpe suzette served from silver trolleys by tuxedoed staff. In fact, The Ritz is so good at this that it offers a dedicated Arts de la Table menu featuring four courses prepared tableside.
150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR
Dovetale
One for all the big kids out there. Tom Sellers is leaning hard into childhood nostalgia at Dovetale with his knickerbocker glory station, where the chefs will build your dessert from ingredients like cookie crumble ice cream, salted caramel, brownie bits, waffles, popping candy and sprinkles.
1 Dover Yard, London W1J 8NE
DUKES Bar
The DUKES Martini is one of the most famous cocktails in the world. A favourite of James Bond author Ian Fleming, it’s as glamorous as it is strong. Mixed tableside on a trolley by legendary bartender Alessandro Palazzi, this is cocktail artistry of the highest order.
35 St James’s Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1NY
Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay
Given it’s a tribute to famed French chef Georges Auguste Escoffier (it’s named after the year he joined the Savoy), it’s not surprising that this Gordon Ramsay spot has a cheese trolley. And it’s not just for the restaurant, you can also sample delights from the trolley, created in partnership with La Fromagerie, as an afternoon experience in the bar.
The Savoy, Strand, London, WC2R 0EU
Otto’s
If traditional French dining in a smart setting is your thing, then Otto’s the the place for you. The piece de resistance is the canard a la presse, involving a whole duck pressed tableside and served in four courses. If duck isn’t your bag, Otto’s also does pressed lobster and pressed pigeon services. Whichever you choose, you’re in for a show.
182 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8EW
74 Charlotte Street
Ben Murphy has always known how to be playful and deliver fine dining standard food (remember the emoji menu he did at Launceston Place?). He’s gone a little more refined at his new spot 74 Charlotte Street, where you can call over an ice cream trolley for your dessert.
74 Charlotte St., London W1T 4QH
BAR 45
The negroni is the signature serve at the bar inside the 45 Park Lane hotel and they really put it in the spotlight by mixing up the classic cocktail at your table. There are five negronis on offer from the trolley, each paired with bespoke scents.
45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN
45 Jermyn Street
What is it about St James’s restaurants and trolleys? 45 Jermyn Street is also getting in on the tableside action and it’s doing so in true luxe fashion with a caviar trolley. Select your preferred variety and have it served from the trolley with blinis, baked potatoes and scrambled eggs.
45 Jermyn St, London, SW1Y 6DN
Cinnamon Bazaar
At Cinnamon Bazaar in Richmond, a trolley wheels everything you need to build your own chaat plate right at your table – including crisp wheat bowls, tamarind yoghurt, chickpea vermicelli, lentils, spices, chutneys, cashews, veggies and more.
31-35 Kew Rd, Richmond, TW9 2NQ
