Last updated on September 12th, 2025 at 11:38 am

Indulge in ethical, innovative cuisine at Native, Browns, Mayfair!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog

When choosing a restaurant, we usually think about atmosphere, food, and service. But what if I told you that ethical and sustainable cooking deserves a spot on that list too?

That’s exactly what I discovered at Native at Browns in central London, a place where delicious food meets conscious choices, so you can feel good while indulging as a foodie.

Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON invites you to step inside this hidden gem!

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Native at Browns, Mayfair

Native at Browns is the new restaurant tucked inside Browns’ flagship store on Brook Street, Mayfair.

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog

At first, the plain white door might make you do a double take, but I loved the little sense of mystery! It only made me more curious to see what was inside!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog

The restaurant’s sustainable setting embodies an artisanal, handmade spirit throughout and celebrates traditional craftsmanship. The owners

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
This minimal interior decor with a few natural elements spread throughout the room is here to welcome you and make you feel at ease.

Native was created by Ivan & Imogen, who both “have a strong passion in foraging and growing their ingredients to get the best of what nature has to give.”

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog

That evening we dined indoors, but there’s also an alfresco option for sunnier days: Native at Browns Courtyard, which promises a stunning setting. Definitely something to look forward to on my next visit…

Innovative tasting menu at Native at Browns

The most impressive thing about Native at Browns is how it combines strong ethical values: seasonal, sustainable produce, with inventive, small-plate cooking!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
Apple & Sage Old Fashioned cocktail: “distilled from apples that would usually go to waste due to being too big/small/imperfect from the wonderful Holt Farm in Essex”. Made with apple brandy and sage syrup. 

Before even tasting our meal, we kicked things off with the restaurant’s “foraged cocktails,” crafted by a very talented mixologist. I couldn’t help but smile seeing a woman excelling in this field! The apple and sage mix was a perfect balance, and it set the tone for the rest of our experience!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
The master at cocktails herself!

I was joined by three equally curious friends, and we all agreed to order different dishes so we could sample a full range from the seasonal tasting menu.

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog

First up were the starters, cleverly called the Chef’s Wasting Snacks: a zero-waste selection made from ingredients that might otherwise be discarded, but here are treated as treasures. And trust me, these “non-compliant” creations were absolutely worth it!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Tomato water with a shiso oil, barley cracker with a smoked badger bean emulsion”. 

The smell of tomatoes was incredible here, and the cracker was exquisite with it!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Fish trim toast” with sesame seeds, yesterday’s bread, and crispy seaweed. Served with an apple hoisin”

This was absolutely divine! Just a few bites, and I was already hooked! I could have easily gone back for seconds (or even thirds), but we had to save room for the rest of the menu…

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Spring green taco, white crab and apple salsa”

I absolutely loved these tiny portions! So clever in presentation, and the crab flavour was just incredible!

Next, we moved on to the main menu dishes, starting with…

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Culver farm corn, confit egg yolk and shiitake mushrooms” Corn served 3 ways. Corn purée, charred corn salsa, and a corn cracker”

I had just a bite of this dish (above), but it was said to be scrumptious…

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Wood pigeon kebab” wood pigeon with harissa and dukka. Served on a housemade flatbread, pickled slaw, beetroot hummus & labneh”

This was my order (pictured above), and I loved how perfectly the meat was cooked, the thoughtful little sauces that came with it, and everything else was simply fresh and delicious.

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Horse mackerel, cucumber, pickled samphire, fishbone caramel, and a whey foam”

Not my personal choice this time (pictured above), but I gave the horse mackerel a try and it was absolutely delicious!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Hogseed vadouvan, english carrots and their tops, mellilot vinegar gel and hay ash honey” 

This vegetarian dish (pictured above) was anything but simple. Despite its modest ingredients, the combination of flavours was spot on, and the dressing tied it all together beautifully!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Fallow deer haunch, forge farm squash purée, whiskey-soaked prune and black radish”

Looking good, tasting good!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
Cornish hake, parsnip purée, crispy onions and brown butter sea purslane sauce

This was my personal choice, and I savoured every last bite! The mix of textures was fantastic: the soft fish paired perfectly with the crispy topping. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it, aren’t you?

Last but not least came the desserts…

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
Strawberry and mellilot sorbet served with sapling vodka  

This dessert was clearly indecent after one cocktail and a few glasses of wine, but it came as the perfect ending to this amazing tasting menu!

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog
“Yoghurt sorbet served with a butter tuile, fig leaf oil and kentish wood ants.” 

The ants were an unexpected twist in the sorbet, but surprisingly delicious. Definitely the most original ingredient on the menu! Who said ants were gross? I didn’t taste anything off, and the crunch paired perfectly with the buttery tuile.

There’s still one dessert I haven’t tried: the venue’s signature Marrowmel dessert, with white chocolate and bone marrow caramel. It sounds extraordinary, and after everything else on my plate that evening, I’m tempted to take the plunge. Who’s with me?

This tasting menu isn’t cheap, but we left completely satisfied and thrilled to have experienced such inventive dishes. It was impressive to see that ethical, sustainable cooking can also deliver on quality and creativity. I would highly recommend visiting Native at Browns for a special occasion.

Native at Browns Doyouspeaklondon Lifestyle London Blog


To go further:
Native at Browns: 39 Brook Street, London W1K 4AH
Website
Native Produce Store website

Check out my other restaurant recommendations in and around London here.


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4 thoughts on “Indulge in ethical, innovative cuisine at Native, Browns, Mayfair!

  1. Myriam says:

    So chic !
    Mais pas un mot sur les conditions d’élevage (viande et poisson) , sont-elles aussi ethical and sustainable ?

  2. elialand says:

    Un cadre délicat , et toujours de magnifiques photos! les fourmis me hantent…le futur est-il proche où il faudra semble-t- il adapter notre sensibilité à la nécessité ..?
    Ces menus magnifiques semblent nous y inviter

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