Mac and Wild
65 Great Titchfield St, London
What is it: The Scottish nation receives a bit of a mixed reputation when it comes to cuisine – from deep-fried Mars Bars and Buckfast, to the finest venison and salmon and on to single malt whisky – the world’s most respected and loved spirit. Here at Mac and Wild they aim to showcase and celebrate only the finest food and drink us Scots have to offer, with a particular focus on Scottish game and seafood. This is combined with a cheeky nod to our native culture and banter, with glass bottles of Irn-Bru and brunch offers with names like The Scooby Snack. This combination means the offering is bang on. The space isn’t huge, but the design is well thought-out, well laid-out, and easily rivals any trendy London eatery, with comfortable seating and plenty of Highland cues. All this in the very heart of the UK's capital city. Opened almost a year ago by Adam Pinder, Andy Waugh, and Calum Mackinnon, this bar and restaurant has managed to build a brilliant reputation for itself, and subsequently, a loyal following. The owners clearly have a passion for working hard and trying their hand at whatever they can – with several events and pop-ups under their belts too. And with plans for another London venue to be opened in September, I knew I had to get myself down there and see what all the fuss is about.
Interesting fact: Their meat is hunted and butchered by Andy Waugh's family game-butchering business. But it's not just Mac and Wild’s food and drink that stays true to its Scottish roots. They’re so passionately dedicated to keeping everything authentically Scottish that even the table tops are made from a massive tree that was chopped down in Mackinnon’s Ardgay family estate. No Ikea here.
Verdict: I’m baffled as to why there aren’t more of these bars and restaurants across the world. Yes, Scotland might have a bit of a reputation for not having the best diet and drinking culture. But when abroad, the very first thing people tend to ask me about is our food and drink. As cheesy as it sounds, what Mac and Wild are doing here fills me with patriotic pride, and makes me incredibly excited to visit their newest venue in the not too distant future. I’ll be first in line when it opens.
Drink: As it’s a Scottish venue, of course their whisky offering is plentiful, with over 100 drams to choose from. They also serve exquisite bottled cocktails, which add something a little different to complement their hearty dishes.
Food: I went for the venison tartar to start, followed by the Veni-Moo Burger. You might say "a burger – really?" But, as it was voted best burger in London 2016, how could I resist? It did not disappoint. We weren’t there on time, but the brunch offering also looks pretty good, and I have heard great things.
Price: For what you’re getting, it’s incredible value for money, especially in the heart of the city. Tenner for a brilliant burger (the best in London), and in fact it’s not much more for a really decent steak.
Alfresco: There are a couple of nice little wooden tables and benches outside the front of the restaurant, but we had no chance of getting a seat when we were down – the sun was out in full force so, of course, every inch of sunshine was already being soaked up.
Children: The restaurant is child friendly during the day, but I'm not so sure about later on in the evening.
Perfect for: Real, authentic Scottish food, whisky, and cocktails in a space that has an intimate, cosy atmosphere and attentive, knowledgeable staff. It’s the ideal place to get a refreshing, bold taste of the Highlands, without the need to step foot outside the capital.
Avoid if: You’re a vegetarian who hates Scotland.
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