Foliage Restaurant

Went today for Sunday Lunch. It was pretty much full as far as I could see, so advisable to book, and serves a full menu list similar to weekdays.
The Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge is always a pleasant place to visit and all the staff are helpful and friendly so it is a pleasure to risk your wallet there. To find the restaurant you walk in the entrance, up the stairs and go straight but to the left side of the central wall, and on your left will appear an entrance to a very nice bar (excellent for a comfy drink) with the restaurant reception alongside.
We were nearly first to arrive and were seated by the window overlooking the park. They have two levels of set menu as well as random choice, and our party chose the 4 course with 2 glases of wine priced at £37 + service. There is a more expensive tasting menu that also looked good, but the choices on the menu we chose easily pleased everyone with a choice of three dishes at each course, plus cheese extra if wished.
I chose the foie gras, gnocchi and then the Guinea fowl, followed by Calvados souffle. The others chose crab, salmon, halibut or lamb, and another pud. For me all was simply first class, and I thoroughly enjoyed everything I chose. I got a taste of nearly every dish, the crab was good but did not have quite the flair I expected though the accroutrements on the plate were very good. I don’t like almost translucent Salmon, which is very fashonable, but it tasted ok, the halibut made my companion exstatic it was so good and the lamb was also devoured. The souffle was very good, with a little apple sauce in it’s centre, served in a small glass accompanied by an apple sorbet ball, with powdered decoration, leaf & stalk to make it look like a miniture apple, a conceit surmounted by the sensational tase, quite the highlight of our meal.

The wines chosen by the ever helpful & understanding Somelier matched the food, and of course we got through more than our allocated two glasses, but were very fairly, accurately, and modestly charged for the extras. We finished up with a 20 year Tawny, and a fresh Sauterne & teas.

Do go, you will love it, but expect over £50 head of course, unless you are very careful. Excellent value.