Why I'll go back: I can tap into the genius of 2-Michelin star chef Tom Sellers, but in a more approachable (elevated comfort food) and relaxed (but still upscale) setting
You HAVE to order: Rotisserie chicken was an inspiration behind the comfort food menu (it was very good), but don't miss either of the pasta offerings (the onion agnolotti was phenomenal!)
Tony's Tip: Despite the cellar reference and tables downstairs, there's a lot more action inside (and out on the street) from the upstairs perch.
Every time we visit London (roughly once a year), the first thing we do is book Restaurant Story (always for lunch). We discovered the Tom Sellers gem before it had earned any Michelin stars, but we were hardly surprised to see it garner accolades so many accolades over the past decade. Sadly, the restaurant had been undergoing an expansion during 2023 and was not set to reopen yet when my wife and I were headed there for work (hers, but I was a willing tag-along!) in late November. But I was excited to see that in the interim, Sellers had opened Story Cellar in the Seven Dials neighborhood. We were thrilled to still be able to enjoy the mastery of one of our favorite chefs, so we booked a dinner reservation for the last night of our stay.
The upstairs is bright, with several seating options (tables with bench seating, low level stools along an outward-facing counter, and higher stool bar seating, which overlooks the prep and finishing station. We went with the latter (we are "bar people"), and that worked out well. Not only did we get to see some of "how the sausage is made," but it was a somewhat slow night, and we got to interact with the head chef and others while also being treated to a sampling of snail bolognese on toast and the eye-popping soft serve dessert topped with almond and dill. It also turns out that the maitre d' spent considerable time in the Boston restaurant scene (our home base), including at one of our favorite restaurants (Dexuave). So, we had a nice little convo about all of that on the way out. Needless to say, we felt very well taken care of.
We honestly liked everything we ate that evening, and my wife said she would go there weekly if we lived in London. Check out the pics, but the grilled roots over an onion cream was a nice starter, the agnolotti was decadent, and the rotisserie chicken did not disappoint...nor did the fries, which were perfectly crisp, but still tender on the inside. It's a broad enough menu that, yes, I think you COULD eat here every week for a while and never feel like you're having the same meal. I also have to say that I found the prices to be pleasantly agreeable relative to some of the more elevated places we dined and very on par for a high-end bistro.
We're already plotting this year's Fall trip, and it looks like our "story" is going to have two chapters this time. We can't wait! read more