Michelin Stars - Worth The Hype?
Discussion
I'm not a sophisticated man by any means, one look at my posts in the infamous DTP thread would confirm that, but I have been wanting to try out a Michelin starred restaurant for a while now. However I keep having the niggling feeling that it won't be worth the hype.
Planning on heading down to London in the first weekend of Nov to see some mates so I figure that would be a good time to bite the bullet since there seems to a silly amount of them in the big smoke. Any suggestions? I'm happy to go for either lunch or dinner but I'm guessing dinner reservations will be harder to come by at such a short notice and potentially 6-8 diners.
Budget is flexible, I don't drink so won't be dropping silly money on wines. I doubt any of the multiple starred places cater for halal diners so I will probably end up going for the fish or vegetarian options.
Planning on heading down to London in the first weekend of Nov to see some mates so I figure that would be a good time to bite the bullet since there seems to a silly amount of them in the big smoke. Any suggestions? I'm happy to go for either lunch or dinner but I'm guessing dinner reservations will be harder to come by at such a short notice and potentially 6-8 diners.
Budget is flexible, I don't drink so won't be dropping silly money on wines. I doubt any of the multiple starred places cater for halal diners so I will probably end up going for the fish or vegetarian options.
You'd be surprised at how flexible the chefs can be with regard to the menus. Halal probably won't be an unusual request in London so it's worth asking either when you book or when you order.
Lunch at somewhere like Gavroche might be a good starting point. Excellent food but a little old fashioned in decor.
Chez Bruce is very popular and does some excellent food.
Pollen Street Social is supposed to be excellent
Lunch at somewhere like Gavroche might be a good starting point. Excellent food but a little old fashioned in decor.
Chez Bruce is very popular and does some excellent food.
Pollen Street Social is supposed to be excellent
obob said:
22s said:
Why did you feel self-conscious?
Because I went with colleagues who I didn't know and some silly cow told me I was using the wrong fork the starter. So after that I just sat there in silence.obob said:
Because I went with colleagues who I didn't know and some silly cow told me I was using the wrong fork the starter. So after that I just sat there in silence.
I hate when people do that. Good restaurants should make you feel relaxed. If you're paying a fair bit of cash you should get a special experience. Uptight, old fashioned service, and the fools who look for it aren't worth the time.OP, try calling the restaurants directly. Lots of chefs will respond well to a special order. OR pick a fishy/veggie place. Pied a Terre (1 star) do an excellent veggie tasting menu.
giblet said:
I had a look at Benares but I'm leaning more towards places like Gavroche, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, Ledbury and Restaurant Gordon Ramsey. However finding a table for the dates I am there is looking to be difficult.
Benares is nothing special. All the others you mention are, but they are expensive. The least expensive and, in my opinion, best of these is the Ledbury. It's also the most difficult to get into.GR isn't open at weekends.
I've been to AD and Gavroche and they both do excellent value lunch deals.
The Ledbury is now booking for November but it's very popular and you might struggle with a table. I had to compromise on time to get a table on a Friday evening at the end of the month and I booked it on the 1st.
I've been to AD and Gavroche and they both do excellent value lunch deals.
The Ledbury is now booking for November but it's very popular and you might struggle with a table. I had to compromise on time to get a table on a Friday evening at the end of the month and I booked it on the 1st.
giblet said:
Looks like Alain Ducasse can cater for halal diners, and they have a spot available for dinner. Now I just need to convince my friends that £85+ service is worth it for a 3 course meal. I'm happy to pay that but I'm not sure that some of the others will be.
Some people are sniffy about the restaurant. I think the food is very good and service is perfectly good. It is very expensive. The Dorchester bar does great Martinis. Zod said:
Some people are sniffy about the restaurant. I think the food is very good and service is perfectly good. It is very expensive. The Dorchester bar does great Martinis.
I suppose once you factor in a few drinks and a tip you are looking at £120-£140 but it is a one off for me.Zod said:
giblet said:
Looks like Alain Ducasse can cater for halal diners, and they have a spot available for dinner. Now I just need to convince my friends that £85+ service is worth it for a 3 course meal. I'm happy to pay that but I'm not sure that some of the others will be.
Some people are sniffy about the restaurant. I think the food is very good and service is perfectly good. It is very expensive. The Dorchester bar does great Martinis. It is worth it every once in a while, and it's got nothing to do with being 'sophisticated' or not.
There will be ponsyb
ks people thinking they are important for being there, but bks to them I say.
For me the Michelin stars just means another level of service, and that you should expect a minimum level of food. However it doesn't guarantee sublime food unless you go in the 3 star category.
OH, and don't forget to laugh if anyone says you're using the wrong fork, never heard anything so silly!
There will be ponsyb
ks people thinking they are important for being there, but bks to them I say.For me the Michelin stars just means another level of service, and that you should expect a minimum level of food. However it doesn't guarantee sublime food unless you go in the 3 star category.
OH, and don't forget to laugh if anyone says you're using the wrong fork, never heard anything so silly!
fredt said:
It is worth it every once in a while, and it's got nothing to do with being 'sophisticated' or not.
There will be ponsybks people thinking they are important for being there, but bks to them I say.
For me the Michelin stars just means another level of service, and that you should expect a minimum level of food. However it doesn't guarantee sublime food unless you go in the 3 star category.
OH, and don't forget to laugh if anyone says you're using the wrong fork, never heard anything so silly!
I thought the stars were based purely on the cooking, not on the service?There will be ponsyb
ks people thinking they are important for being there, but bks to them I say.For me the Michelin stars just means another level of service, and that you should expect a minimum level of food. However it doesn't guarantee sublime food unless you go in the 3 star category.
OH, and don't forget to laugh if anyone says you're using the wrong fork, never heard anything so silly!
The Dorchester experience was very nice but for the money, I've eaten food just as nice for a lot less. The service was fantastic, the ex politician company was interesting and the atmosphere was nice if a little too posh for a northern monkey like me. All in all, I'd be just as happy with the food in your average 'decent' place but that's just me. Saying that, my palate isn't the best in all honesty.
TIGA84 said:
I thought the stars were based purely on the cooking, not on the service?
No, clearly the cooking is important but I've had pretty ordinary food as well.I don't know the whole service etiquette thing but this is also very important. For example in a 3 star restaurant they have to change your napkin if you leave the table. There are also ratios of waiters to customers and a whole array of other things they consider when judging a restaurant.
JUST excellent cooking won't give any stars
lepetitoeuf said:
I'm sure that's a load of rubbish.
It is. Hard as it is the believe it is only the food that is judged. "The star symbols judge only what’s on the plate, meaning the quality of products, the mastering of flavors, mastering of cooking, personality of the cuisine, value for the money and the consistency of what the restaurant offers to its customers both throughout the menu and the year."
However a chef is unlikely to cook the best food available and then sling it out on a paper plate.
toon10 said:
The Dorchester experience was very nice but for the money, I've eaten food just as nice for a lot less. The service was fantastic, the ex politician company was interesting and the atmosphere was nice if a little too posh for a northern monkey like me. All in all, I'd be just as happy with the food in your average 'decent' place but that's just me. Saying that, my palate isn't the best in all honesty.
I totally agree with what you said. The service is though very very good. Not too in your face but attentive. Also they have rich people turning up in Lambo's the night me and my wife went on the good old tube, but although they could probably tell we were just hamming it up for the night they pretended well that we were special As well as the food the experience is what makes it.
The Hennessey XO brandy was £20 per shot in the bar, nice though, zakelwe would have approved. Ended up paying £250 for one bottle of wine, later found out it is £90 on the Internet. Was the best glass of red I have tasted though. Only time my wife has felt special in 25 years ... heh
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