• Added: 23rd of February 2008
• Area: Marylebone
• Category: Restaurants

London W1U 3DB
020 7486 9696

freddie5540 said
An off day?
We sat there next to Fay Maschler and Joe Warwick on a quiet monday lunch. I was very excited to be there and when the menu arrived it all looked great. The room was nice but a little bizarre in that i thought it was a little oriental for a french restaurant.

Smoked eel veloute with white beans was delicious, very rich, smoky, silky and satisfying. It came with smoked olive oil which was hard to taste in the already smoky soup.
My friend had a foie gras ballontine that was very average and came wrapped in clingfilm. We pointed out to the waiter that Fay may wat her terrine without the clingfilm. They were not very amused.

A main course of pigeon was bland and forgettable. Served with vanilla and pear puree (not enough on the plate) and some turnips. Boring. A cold rhubarb crumble in a martini glass was also not to my taste.

The bill arrived once with the foie gras on and then again with the foie gras taken off and an apology. I feel i was there on a bad day and would try it again but places of this class should not have bad days.

• Added: 23rd of February 2008
• Area: Mayfair
• Category: Restaurants

London W1S 2FB
020 7758 9160

freddie5540 said
The sequel is every bit as good
Another Arbutus in London, what fantastic news. Its almost a carbon copy. The room is a bit more mayfair than soho but thats where it is, so perfect. Located in the building that formely housed Drones, its a breath of fresh air.

Smoked eel with sweet & sour turnip and pear puree was delicious and salt beef pot au feu was fantastic and simple. cheese was in good condition and delicious. The wines by carafe are all well picked and the Chateau Batailly was delicious.

We need more of these please Anthony & Will.

• Added: 23rd of February 2008
• Area: Notting Hill
• Category: Restaurants

London W11 2AQ
020 7792 9090

freddie5540 said
All a bit fast
The food was good not amazing as was the dining room. I cannot decide if I've just eaten in too many better places than this or is it just not that good.

The room was nice, not too stuffy and the staff were very friendly, even if the waiter had very bad breath.

The food started very well with taramaslata on crisp potato and deepfried quail egg with truffle mayonnaise. The loin of tuna wrapped in basil was very good, light but tasty. The gateau opera at the end was also very accomplished, my kind of dessert. Most of the fod in between was not as good. Each dish missing the mark just a little. The shellfish tortellini with pumklin and ginger should have had just a little less ginger. The venison was a little large.

My main critism of the Ledbury is the speed at which we were made to eat our meal. A six course menu must be eaten over some time or the whole experience is ruined. This is what happened to us. Good cooking sometimes is just not enough.

• Added: 23rd of February 2008
• Area: Chelsea
• Category: Restaurants

London SW3 4HP
020 7352 4441

freddie5540 said
Well done Gordon
This really is the best restaurant in London. The food here is on another level and the service is flawless. I could talk about the food for hours becaus there wasa so much and all of it perfect. The list begins: pumkin veloute with white truffle, cepe butter and brioche (wow), seared foie gras with carrot puree, sweetbreads & cabernet sauvignon vinegar (wow, wow), seared scallops with octopus carpaccio & parmesan veloute (wow), truffle stuffed turbot fillet with civet sauce (more please), fillet of sea bass with deep-fried oyster, potatoes, broccoli & caviar sauce (delicious), pressed terrine of chicken, foie gras & truffle, the list goes on and on.

I dined with my wife and two friends. Two of us ate one tasting menu and the others had a different one allowing us to consume some 25 or so dishes. I am really struggling to find a way to convey just how good it all was. At times I thought I might be dreaming and had to pinch myself to make sure it was all happening. The balls of strawberry ice-cream coated in white chocolate arrived at the table with dry ice spilling all over the place, adding to my dream theory.

The service was fantastic. They knew all our names and charmed us all night. We even met Mr Ramsay who chatted with us and was very funny. A tour of the immaculate kitchen followed and by the end of the whole experience I was wondering if anything I would eat in the future would ever be that good again.

• Added: 23rd of February 2008
• Area: Marylebone
• Category: Restaurants

London W1H 4HH
020 7723 0666

freddie5540 said
A MUST!!!!
This place is fantastic. I want to write that again and again to stress that this place has to be visited.

The place is not easy to find, I had known about it for some time and even walked past it a number of times before I realised where it is. On the ground floor is a sushi bar and just a few chairs and downstairs there are a few tables, not many, maybe eight or nine. The decor is very simple and the staff, all japanese are very nice.

We ate so well, a tuna tataki with truffle was superb, well executed and fresh. King crab in a taco (the best way i can think of to describe it) was a revelation, very fresh and clean and tasting of exactly what it was. Sushi and sashimi was all perfectly executed and again fresh. Then came Wagyu beef, wow. At first there was a mistake and they brought it well done, but the waiter quickly promised to replace it with some rare meat, as ordered. He then brought over some Wagyu tataki to keep us amused while we waited. Superb flavour and texture, unlike any other beef. The rare rump of beef followed and delivered on all fronts: flavour, texture, perfect cooking and it was £16 for 200g, so cheap especially compared to £65 at Zuma.

When I come accross a gem like this I want to tell everyone because this place deserves to do very, very well. Please go but just don't take my table.

• Added: 23rd of February 2008
• Area: Mayfair
• Category: Restaurants

London W1K 1QA
020 7629 8866

freddie5540 said
Its not Monte Carlo
When I first heard that Alain Ducasse was opening at the 'Dorch' I could not wait to eat there. I had only heard strories from friends about his imense talent and fantastic food.

I booked my table well in advance and when he night came round I was overly excited. The room is not very interesting, modern and a little stale. The staff, I was led to believe came from his three star restaurant in Paris but infact had come from some of Alains less prestigious outposts and it showed. They did not speak good English either.

The food was well cooked but uninteresting. The tartare of langoustines was the highlight for me, very delicate flavours that balanced well. This was, unfortunately the first course in out tasting menu and thus meant it was downhill all the way.

Dessert was rum baba 'like in Monte Carlo' except not the same selection of ru. In MOnte Carlo they wheel over a trolley offering you many rums to choose from to accompany the baba. I was offered two in London, not very Monte Carlo. The baba was excellent however and still worth it.

The price is my main problem here, over £450 for two was ridiculous. Having eaten at Gordon Ramsay (RHR) weeks before and paid less for an outstanding procession of food this was terrible. Oh well Alain, better luck next time.

• Added: 12th of June 2007
• Area: Barnes
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SW13 0AP
020 8392 2000

freddie5540 said

A fantastic gastro-pub!! The bar is decorated in a homely fashion with up-turned wine cases making a shelf filled with books and games for the customers. There is an interesting collection of photos and cuttings hanging on the walls. Outside is a cute garden with more interesting pieces scattered around. It has the feel of a smoking garden waiting for the ban.

The food is well executed simple fare. Potted shrimps, rillettes. A lovely dish of duck breast with roast peach and watercress, potato and shallot salad. A mediteranean vegetable 'stack' was packed with flavour. Sticky toffee pudding is to die for and must be had by anyone who visits.

Alround a lovely place to go, look out for Mr Bojangles (the resident dog) and if you want bring your dog for a dried pigs ear available at the bar.

• Added: 25th of May 2007
• Area: Knightsbridge
• Category: Restaurants

London SW7 1DL
020 7584 1010

freddie5540 said

Today I had the pleasure of eating just about every dish on the menu at this formiddable restaurant in knightsbridge. Nothing disappointed!!

Miso marinated black cod was a revelation. Rich and dense flesh matched with the slightly sweet marinade. Foie gras (also marinated in miso) with a salted plum 'relish' was a fantastic combination. Soft shell crab beatifully crisp and tasty. The best tempura I have ever had. Skillfully rolled to order sushi is unbeatable with so many variations. Sashimi sea bass with truffle dressing, japanese aubergine and salmon 'caviar' was very interseting in the mouth. I could go on for a while!! However I will mention the Wagyu beef, incredibly expensive but an experience in itself, if you can afford it dont stop to think, order it!!!

Very trendy too, well worth a visit.

• Added: 16th of May 2007
• Area: South Kensington
• Category: Restaurants

London SW3 2EP
020 7584 4477

freddie5540 said

I had always liked Racine, and I still do, but Galvin is far superior food in a similar style.

Steak tartare is fantastic and they ask how spicy you want it, which I like. It will not disappoint. If you like offal there is always great options.

The wine list is ok, mainly French but generally well sourced.

The service can be stuffy but not overly so. I would advise a visit, based on my experiences but i have known people who have not had a good time at all.

If you go let me know how it is now.

• Added: 16th of May 2007
• Area: Clapham
• Category: Restaurants

London SW4 7SS
020 7622 4248

freddie5540 said

Bodeans isnt bad but its not great. I've been spoilt for BBQ, having dined in Carolina and Mississipi, however its the best you will get here. If available have the burnt ends. Ribs are not bad and starters are good.

The service is pretty good if you get an American, not so good otherwise. Kids get a good deal, especially on sundays.

Its a fun experience and worth a visit, maybe if you are hungover and want to eat something big and a little greasy.