Staying in London Jan 18-26..what is the best meal?

[JAGS]

The Cinnamon Club in Westminster would be worth a go.

Food is great and a nice atmosphere in the Old Westminster Library

http://www.cinnamonclub.com/

[tamore]

JAGS said:

The Cinnamon Club in Westminster would be worth a go.

Food is great and a nice atmosphere in the Old Westminster Library

http://www.cinnamonclub.com/

excellent recommendation. had a great evening there a few birthdays ago.

mint leaf is a similar experience too.

[RDMcG]

The Cinnamon Club is superb indeed; tried it last visit.

[fastfreddy]

Quick food report from our visit to J Sheekey on Monday.

Between us we had Gravadlax, razor clams with chorizo & broad beans, grilled john dory and guilt-head bream, with some nice wines and desserts.

All perfectly cooked. Fish was nice and simple, but top quality. As always, excellent service, not too stuffy and very efficient.

Never been disappointed there and I'm glad standards are not slipping.

[Zod]

blowout: The Square, Bruton Street

Fish: J Sheekey

[Davey S2]

enioldjoe said:

I 've recently heard from someone who's into their fine dining restaurants, that this place is seriously good.

http://www.thedorchester.com/alain-ducasse

Anyone experienced otherwise?

Yes look at Andy Hayler's review

www.andyhayler.com

In his latest blog he seems very confused as to why its just been given 3* status.

[louiebaby]

I've been here a couple of times and enjoyed it. It Wagyu steak was great. Maybe I'm a heathen, but I like it...

http://www.wolfes-grill.net/

[fastfreddy]

Davey S2 said:

enioldjoe said:

I 've recently heard from someone who's into their fine dining restaurants, that this place is seriously good.

http://www.thedorchester.com/alain-ducasse

Anyone experienced otherwise?

Yes look at Andy Hayler's review

www.andyhayler.com

In his latest blog he seems very confused as to why its just been given 3* status.

I can't really see why anyone pays attention to him.

He may have eaten in a lot of restaurants, but some of his views and marks out of ten leave me wondering if he's got something personal against the chef or restaurant he's reviewing.

[jazzybee]

Wadeski said:

Pescatori on Charlotte Street is quite nice for fish.

+1 Pescatori in Dover Street is the one I have eaten in. Food is great, as is the service.

I also like steak at The Villandry on Great Portland Street. They have a nice restaurant at the back of the Deli/Cafe

[dubbs]

I'd add to the praise for Sheeky's

Also love Ramsay at Claridges - services and food was impeccable

The Don, down a lane off of cannon street is a nice choice for a City one

[sussexjob]

Look at the reviews and understand why its Londons oldest restauraunt, never had anything other than a first class meal/service.

http://www.rules.co.uk/

Edited by sussexjob on Sunday 24th January 19:15

[jimothy]

sussexjob said:

Look at the reviews and understand why its Londons oldest restauraunt, never had anything other than a first class meal/service.

http://www.rules.co.uk/

Edited by sussexjob on Sunday 24th January 19:15

And then pop over the road to the Porter House for a pint of the Polar Bear lager (can never remember what its called, but the pump has a picture of a polar bear on it)

[tamore]

jimothy said:

sussexjob said:

Look at the reviews and understand why its Londons oldest restauraunt, never had anything other than a first class meal/service.

http://www.rules.co.uk/

Edited by sussexjob on Sunday 24th January 19:15

And then pop over the road to the Porter House for a pint of the Polar Bear lager (can never remember what its called, but the pump has a picture of a polar bear on it)

pint of Chiller i think. think i'll add Rules to my list of eateries to visit.

[lauda]

fastfreddy said:

Davey S2 said:

enioldjoe said:

I 've recently heard from someone who's into their fine dining restaurants, that this place is seriously good.

http://www.thedorchester.com/alain-ducasse

Anyone experienced otherwise?

Yes look at Andy Hayler's review

www.andyhayler.com

In his latest blog he seems very confused as to why its just been given 3* status.

I can't really see why anyone pays attention to him.

He may have eaten in a lot of restaurants, but some of his views and marks out of ten leave me wondering if he's got something personal against the chef or restaurant he's reviewing.

He's not alone in being very underwhelmed by Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester though. I read several reports in the press when it first opened which didn't exactly shower it with praise (AA Gill was particularly critical - I think he gave it one out of five).

The Michelin guide does come up with some unusual scores sometimes and is still very heavily biased towards French cuisine (perhaps unsurprisingly). It's a useful reference guide but despite reputation, it's not the unfallible gastronomic bible some make it out to be. Hardens is more relevant in my opinion since it is represents the opinions of enthusiastic punters who are actually paying for their own food, not a Michelin inspector with a 1*/2*/3* ticklist.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

louiebaby said:

I've been here a couple of times and enjoyed it. It Wagyu steak was great. Maybe I'm a heathen, but I like it...

http://www.wolfes-grill.net/

Crikey they're still going, I'm surprised. Used to go there years ago when I worked just around the corner from them. The quality of the food and service slowly dropped away over the years and I gave up with the place. Maybe they've had a kick up the backside and got their act together.

Their burgers were over priced then, as now it seems. The Sun pub just down the road was almost the same quality and half the price those days....

[GJB]

richieboy3008 said:

The Goucho Grill does the best steaks at fairly reasonable prices.

Depends which one you go to. The best one I've been to is the one next to Smithfield Market. But that's no great suprise.

[Murph7355]

I was underwhelmed by Sheekey's. It was OK, but not "knock your socks off" good.

Zafferano's is one no one's mentioned. Nice Italian food.

Zuma's nice. As is Hakkasan.

[threesixty]

RDMcG said:

Well, not really too budget constrained. Coming from Canada,steak houses not exactly novel. In the past have eaten at Square (hated it) Ramsays original resto on Royal Hospital roed, (very good) plus loads of more regular places. Will pro do two or three really good meals when I am there. Its an off peak period so should not be impossible.

Really wasn't impressed with the square either, staff and atmopshere were awful.

Lots of good restauarents mentioned already. I'd add St John for something truly british, Min Jiang as an alternative to Hakkasan (lovely view of hyde park too), Chor Bizzare for indian in mayfair(supprisingly cheap for it location) and Dans Le Noir for pure novelty.

[Windsorphil]

A couple more suggestions, some favorite lunchtime haunts for me - Mon Plaisir - Monmouth Street, Cov Garden - one of the best Coq Au Vin's you'll get and the peas with bacon are excellent.

The top floor of the national gallery has the national dining rooms - good for lunch, nice menus and some excellent views.

I also like The Forge, opposite the Garrick and Bentleys just off Piccadilly is pretty good, too, had an excellent dinnner there last Tuesday. As previously mentioned you'll get a good steak at Gaucho - I like the one next door to Bentleys.

Edited by Windsorphil on Tuesday 26th January 09:51

[lockhart flawse]

As a Canadian I would think that you'll love Boisdales in Pimilco. (Google it)

L.F.