Taking over the old Jackson & Rye spot, Martha’s has arrived in Soho with a rather fabulous makeover. Upfront there’s a bar, serving classic cocktails and a dining room adorned with vintage gold chandeliers, brushed silk wallpaper, palm trees and a giant disco ball. Champagne is served in coupes and there’s a pink neon sign towards the back of the dining room declaring ‘nothing to see here’. So far, so very camp.
The menu is full of old-school American favourites, from the shrimp cocktail to ‘Martha’s Mega Steak’ – a 1kg tomahawk served on the bone and costing £80, designed for showing off.
We started with calamari fritti served with lemon mayo and crab cakes with pickled cucumber and chipotle sauce but there’s also a salad section with the likes of iceberg wedge and Caesar.
Everyone around us (including our whole table) seemed to be going for the honey truffle fried chicken which comes with buttered spinach and mash. Our lovely waiter poured the finishing sauce over the dish at the table, adding a little theatre to proceedings. Sides include mac & cheese (with or without truffle), sweet potato fries and arugula & parmesan salad (or rocket to you and me).
It’s very ‘Soho’ so we can imagine many a boozy lunch meeting going on here, just don’t expect to make it back to the office afterwards. We can certainly vouch for the killer espresso martinis.
If we’re totally honest, the food wasn’t the BEST we’ve ever tried, but we think Martha’s is more about the tongue in cheek fun vibe. Besides, with a programme including jazz and drag acts, you’ll be too busy looking at what’s going on around you to even think about what’s on your plate.
Unless you’re in a group of six or more, Martha’s operate a walk-in only policy, open from 8am to midnight seven days a week.
