Early next month, the space will relaunch under its original name, The Grill at The Dorchester, described as a “confident, contemporary interpretation of the classic grill room.”
Nail, who has overseen the five-star hotel’s culinary operations since 2022 having held a similar post at rival Claridge’s, will work alongside “rising star” head chef Jacob Keen-Downs, who was most recently at Notting Hill Italian restaurant Gold.
The project is being billed as a return to the nearly 100-year-old restaurant’s roots, while also reflecting contemporary dining trends with shared small plates and “classic dishes presented in new ways.”
Dishes will include tuna tartare prepared tableside, The Grill seafood platter, and a “perfectly executed” beef Wellington.
The space – which was previously named The Grill by Tom Booton – will continue to offer breakfast and Sunday roasts.
“This dining room has been making history for 95 years,” Nail says. “Our aim is to celebrate the best of the grill tradition with exceptional cooking and a great environment. Whether our diners choose to snack at the counter, graze with friends, or enjoy the full experience alone, we want the room to feel vibrant, relaxed, and warm — the place to go, and the place to return to.”
Earlier this year it was announced that Booton was leaving The Dorchester after six years running the hotel’s grill restaurant, which was rebranded The Grill by Tom Booton in 2023.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Booton said he is leaving the five-star Mayfair hotel to begin a new chapter in his career.