The Gunmakers

Gastropub in Marylebone 

Iberico Pata Negra Pork Chop

It has been a while since I last dined at a pub, there are not many great London pubs within central London so when I heard Mark Javis is taken over The Gunmakers, a gastropub in Marylebone not far from the celebrities hangout joint Chiltern Firehouse, I was excited to see what he would come up with, I am a fan of his modern British cuisine, haven eaten at his flagship restaurant Anglo, and his two other central London restaurants Stem and Nero Bistro (sadly now closed). He has teamed up with another big name in the industry, in the name of Xavier Rousset, who was behind the creation of the trendy wine bar group 28-50.

Fried Maldon Rock Oysters

Raw fresh oysters

Hand Dived Scallops, Black Pudding, Cauliflower & Apple

The menu of The Gunmakers is short, with less than 20 dishes in total. For starter, I had a very un-pub like dish of scallop, apple and black pudding. The scallop was cooked perfectly, and the richness of the black pudding and the sourness of the apple proven to be such a lovely combination to enhance the sweetness of the scallop. This dish won't look out of place in a fine dining restaurant. The Iberico Pata Negra pork chop was cooked pink and finely seasoned, the meat was so moist and the use of crispy artichoke on top was clever, which added a nice crunchy texture and a mild nuttiness. The other main of wagyu beef was not as good, however. The meat was not as tender as I was hoping for, all in all, it felt like just an average steak.

English Wagyu Bavette, Potato Rostï & Watercress

Sticky toffee pudding

Bitter chocolate ganache

To sum it up, the food at The Gunmakers is for sure an upgrade if compare to many gastropubs across London. The cooking was classic British but was given a nice refinement,
that is to expected when such a skilled chef like Mark is looking after the kitchen. However, the location is pretty strange to me. As it is on a quiet street in Marylebone, and not too close to either Bond Street or Baker Street, I wonder if trading would be an issue. Both Stem and Nero Bistro failed when it was located in a prime location in Oxford Circus, so I wonder how The Gunmakers would work going forward.  

Food 3/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£30

33 Aybrook St, Marylebone, London W1U 4AP

https://gunmakershouse.co.uk/