The Summer Edit: Fenix Mayfair’s Passport to the Aegean
- 59 minutes ago
- 2 min read
I had hoped this would be the summer I made it back to Greece, but somehow the season got away from me and the Greek islands remained firmly on my wish list. So, when an evening at Fenix Mayfair offered the chance to experience a little taste of Greece without leaving London, I was more than ready to be transported. With its new The Summer Edit promising a journey through five of the Cyclades, it felt like the perfect antidote to a summer spent on the wrong side of the Aegean.
Fenix Mayfair is an elegant, contemporary take on Greek-Mediterranean dining, but it is the interiors that immediately begin the journey. Sculptural arches, warm natural textures, mirrored surfaces and cascading fringed lights create a glamorous space that feels somewhere between an Aegean hideaway and a particularly fashionable Mayfair night out.
We were there to experience The Summer Edit, Fenix’s new five-chapter tasting menu, which takes its inspiration from five Greek islands: Amorgos, Delos, Mykonos, Milos and Santorini. At £65, it is an appealingly accessible way to sample the restaurant’s take on Greek cuisine, moving from comforting classics to more contemporary combinations.
Our evening was made all the more enjoyable by our fabulous server, Fell, whose warmth, attentiveness and genuine enthusiasm for the menu made us feel wonderfully looked after.
Our journey began in Amorgos with warm pita, traditional tzatziki, hummus and a spicy feta dip with walnuts and paprika. It was wonderfully unfussy and exactly what you crave at the beginning of a Greek-inspired feast: generous, familiar and designed for sharing.
Delos brought a touch of Mayfair luxury, with tuna tartare accompanied by truffle and caviar. It was rich without being overwhelming, while the Mykonos course took things in a more playful direction. Halloumi cheese tempura came with yuzu hollandaise and a shiso vinaigrette – a clever combination that gave a familiar Greek favourite an unexpectedly modern twist.
The highlight for me was the Milos course: a sea bass fillet with broccolini, grilled kale, smoked pepper cream and piccata. The fish was beautifully prepared, with the smoky cream adding depth without overpowering the freshness of the seafood.
Then came Santorini, and dessert was every bit as fun as the island itself. Frozen Greek yoghurt was paired with candied walnuts, berries and traditional Greek doughnuts. Fresh, creamy and just indulgent enough, it was a fitting finale, and, unsurprisingly, the doughnuts disappeared rather quickly.
We were also encouraged to explore the Greek wine pairings, which added another dimension to the experience. It is an enjoyable way to discover the diversity of Greek wines while following the menu’s island-by-island story.
Fenix manages to capture that unmistakable Greek holiday feeling – the long lunches, the generous plates, the late evenings, while remaining firmly rooted in Mayfair. On a summer evening when a flight to Mykonos is inconveniently out of reach, Fenix offers the next best thing: five islands, excellent food and a beautiful setting.
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