London’s seafood scene has evolved dramatically, with crab butter pasta emerging as a standout dish that combines delicate seafood flavors with rich, velvety textures. From upscale dining establishments in Mayfair to charming seafood shacks along the Thames, the city offers countless opportunities to indulge in this luxurious Italian-inspired delicacy.
Key Takeaways
- Scott’s in Mayfair offers the most authentic Italian-inspired crab butter pasta in London
- Many top restaurants source their fresh crab daily from British coastal waters
- Price points range from £18 to £32 for crab butter pasta dishes across London’s best establishments
- Most restaurants offer both lunch and dinner seatings, with weekends requiring advance bookings
- Several venues provide seasonal variations of crab butter pasta throughout the year
What Makes a Great Crab Butter Pasta?
Great crab butter pasta balances the delicate sweetness of crab meat with rich, creamy butter sauce and perfectly cooked pasta. The finest restaurants in London pay careful attention to pasta texture, ensuring it’s cooked al dente to provide the ideal foundation for the sauce. Fresh crab meat, typically a mix of white and brown meat, delivers both texture and intense flavor.
The butter sauce itself requires precision – too heavy and it overwhelms the crab; too light and the dish lacks depth. Many chefs incorporate subtle flavors like lemon zest, chili flakes, or fresh herbs to enhance without dominating the seafood.
London’s Top 10 Restaurants for Crab Butter Pasta
These ten restaurants represent the pinnacle of seafood excellence in London, each bringing unique interpretations to the classic crab butter pasta dish:
1. Scott’s – Mayfair
Scott’s has perfected their crab butter pasta with hand-picked Devon crab folded into a light butter sauce infused with lemon and finished with bottarga. At £29, it’s a premium offering that showcases why this Mayfair institution has remained a seafood destination for decades.
2. J Sheekey – Covent Garden
This historic fish restaurant serves a decadent crab linguine with Dorset crab, fennel, and a touch of chili. Their butter sauce incorporates the crab shells for an intensified flavor profile that seafood lovers celebrate.
3. Randall & Aubin – Soho
A Soho staple since 1996, their crab butter pasta combines Cornish crab with perfectly al dente spaghetti. The kitchen adds a splash of white wine and fresh parsley to their butter sauce, creating a lighter take on the classic at a reasonable £24.
4. Fiume – Battersea
Overlooking the Thames, Fiume brings Italian authenticity to their crab butter pasta. Chef Francesco Mazzei creates a silky butter emulsion with subtle hints of chili and lemon, paired with handmade tagliolini and fresh Devon crab.
5. Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill – Piccadilly
Richard Corrigan’s seafood institution offers a refined crab butter pasta that’s been on the menu for over a decade. Their version pairs linguine with a rich butter sauce incorporating both white and brown crab meat for maximum flavor depth.
6. The Sea, The Sea – Chelsea
This innovative seafood spot combines retail and dining, ensuring the freshest possible ingredients. Their crab butter pasta features sustainable hand-picked crab from Cornwall and house-made pasta, with the butter sauce incorporating subtle Japanese influences.
7. Lina Stores – Soho
This Italian deli-restaurant creates a delicate crab butter pasta using their fresh, house-made pasta as the foundation. Their Dorset crab version comes with a lighter butter emulsion seasoned with preserved lemon and a touch of chili.
8. Orasay – Notting Hill
Chef Jackson Boxer’s seafood-focused restaurant offers a seasonal crab butter pasta that changes throughout the year. The summer version includes brown crab butter, zucchini flowers, and a hint of Amalfi lemon for brightness.
9. Darby’s – Nine Elms
Robin Gill’s riverside restaurant serves a rustic yet refined crab butter pasta with hand-picked Irish crab, house-churned butter, and finished with breadcrumbs for textural contrast.
10. Sartoria – Mayfair
Francesco Mazzei’s flagship restaurant offers an elevated crab butter pasta featuring Sardinian fregola instead of traditional pasta, combined with Scottish crab and a rich butter sauce finished tableside.
Best Value Crab Butter Pasta in London
Not all excellent crab butter pasta comes with a premium price tag. These restaurants offer exceptional value without compromising on quality:
Randall & Aubin’s weekday lunch special prices their crab butter pasta at just £18, making it the most affordable option among top-tier restaurants. Lina Stores also offers a smaller portion of their crab butter pasta as a starter for £14, perfect for sampling without the full-dish commitment.
For those exploring London’s best restaurants on a budget, many venues offer early dining specials. Fiume’s pre-theater menu includes their crab butter pasta at a reduced £22 price point when dining before 6:30 PM.
What to Pair with Crab Butter Pasta
The perfect accompaniments enhance the delicate flavors of crab butter pasta. Most restaurants recommend crisp white wines with good acidity to cut through the richness of the butter sauce. Vermentino from Italy, Albariño from Spain, or English bacchus all make excellent pairings.
Side dishes should complement rather than compete with the pasta. Simple grilled vegetables, a light green salad, or crusty sourdough bread to soak up excess sauce are ideal choices. Many restaurants offer curated pairings – at Scott’s, for example, their sommelier specifically recommends a glass of Gavi di Gavi to enhance their crab butter pasta.
Seasonal Variations to Look For
The best restaurants adapt their crab butter pasta throughout the year to showcase seasonal ingredients. Spring versions might incorporate young asparagus or wild garlic, while summer brings opportunities for fresh herbs and edible flowers.
Autumn and winter variations tend to be richer, with some chefs adding truffle shavings or replacing some butter with a touch of cream for added warmth. Orasay is particularly noted for their seasonal adaptations, while The Sea, The Sea changes their recipe monthly based on the best available seafood.
When visiting hidden gem restaurants in London, always ask about seasonal specials that might include unique takes on crab butter pasta not found on the regular menu.
Making Reservations and Planning Your Visit
Most top seafood restaurants in London require advance reservations, particularly for weekend dining. Scott’s, J Sheekey, and Bentley’s typically need bookings 2-3 weeks ahead for prime dinner slots, while others like Lina Stores operate on a more accessible walk-in policy during weekdays.
For the best experience, consider these booking strategies:
- Lunch reservations are generally easier to secure than dinner
- Most restaurants release new reservation slots 4-8 weeks in advance
- Solo diners and couples can often find last-minute counter seating
- Follow restaurants on social media for cancellation announcements
- Consider dining midweek for a more relaxed experience
When exploring London’s hidden restaurants, planning ahead ensures you won’t miss out on experiencing the city’s finest crab butter pasta offerings.
Beyond Pasta: Other Crab Specialties to Try
While crab butter pasta deserves its spotlight, many of these restaurants offer additional crab dishes worth exploring. Scott’s famous crab cakes provide a different texture and flavor profile, while J Sheekey’s crab toast with avocado makes a perfect starter before their pasta.
For the ultimate crab experience, Bentley’s offers a “Taste of Crab” menu featuring multiple preparations from a single crab, including their butter pasta alongside dressed crab, bisque, and crab on toast.
The Sea, The Sea takes an innovative approach with crab butter served separately as a spread for sourdough, allowing diners to appreciate the pure flavor before experiencing it with pasta.