Dine
Online - Top 10 Featured Restaurants
Rhodes
W1 - Louise Elgin was impressed
by Gary Rhodes' latest West End venture
If you like to eat fine French and
modern British cuisine in a grand style
with plenty of attentive service in
a theatrical setting then Rhodes W1
will not disappoint.
It is an impressive experience from start to finish and certainly a place in
which a sense of occasion and formality is the order of the day. The modern
and spacious dining room is dominated
by glittering Swarovski chandeliers,
elegant
antique French chairs and lavish mirrors in sensual dark fabrics. It is dramatic
in every sense of the word, making it the ultimate intimate backdrop for a
perfect night of romance.
Gilgamesh Restaurant - Opera nights at the round table
Gilgamesh is the celebrated chef Ian Pengelly's uber trendy north London dining
room, and has to be seen to be believed for its wealth of interior opulence
and its surreal awe inspiring setting.
The Wallace - French feasts for both eyes and palates
The Wallace has one of the greatest collections of French art outside France
so its most appropriate for the dining room to showcase classic French cooking.
With its diverse gourmet landscape and fabulous produce, France is the country
par excellence for fine food. For a unique exploration of the wonderful gastronomie
française, look no further than The Wallace, Oliver Peyton’s
brasserie modernes, situated in one of London’s most opulent art galleries.
Natural Burger Company - Where the meat is 100% grass fed Aberdeen Angus
The Natural Burger Company, a small diner in St John’s Wood is trying
to put things right. The meat in their burgers is 100% Aberdeen Angus Scotch
beef from cattle that they guarantee are grass reared. This is not only to
do with animal welfare but gives the meat enhanced taste and flavour.
Brunello - Louise Elgin dined in style at this top notch Italian
The dining tables are large with deep comfy armchairs to settle into, the room
is predominately black and gold with stunning black Murano glass chandeliers
throughout. Jazz is played at a very low volume and overall a sense of occasion
and formality have been installed. Other interesting design features include
a wall of tumbling water and a beautiful large screen filled with retro style
black and white photographs. But would it all be a triumph of style over
substance?
Langtry's - Oscar Wilde never ate this well in his day!
Last September Langtry’s was relaunched in its own right after a makeover – and
here the Cadogan has stuck to its historic guns with a very restful and romantic
room, full of sinuous burgundy velvet and gilt chairs, well spaced tables draped
in heavy linen and subtle lighting from a mix of real and artificial candles.
The night we visited was between Christmas and the New Year. Thus, expectations
were not of a room buzzing with people and fizzing with the wonderfully creamy,
and fittingly Art Nouveau house champagne – Perrier Jouet Grand Brut – which
of course we had to sample whilst deciding on what to eat..
The Westerly -
Chef Jonathan Coomb’s new restaurant in Reigate, Surrey
Chef Jonathan Coomb’s new restaurant in Reigate’s London Road is
clean lined and modern with comfortable seating, rather small plain wooden
tables and vibrant art, currently by Claire Benn, on the walls. It looks every
inch the Modern Bistro and the menu strikes just the right balance between
foodie adventure and bistro simplicity. The roots of many dishes have been
transplanted successfully from The Stephan Langton, Jon’s previous country
pub-diner.
The Queens Arms - Barons Court, West London W6
The dark wood floors, tables and chairs - almost wilfully unstylish in design
- give the restaurant area an already lived-in, familiar feel after only
a few weeks of operation. This place is not new, it’s established and
working well, is the reassuring mood! A modest oblong slot passes as an open
kitchen plus serving hatch, through which is passed a tasty selection of
beautifully presented plates of food, all radiating tender loving care, prepared
by head chef Paul Foster – ex Ivy and J.Sheekeys – and his team.
Preston Cross Hotel - A modest Surrey hotel dining room
We quite often drive past this little country house hotel and, seeing a recent
sign advertising the reopening of the restaurant as a Bistro called the Adam
Room, we thought we'd give it a try. The hotel is a very popular wedding
venue but there's a separate function area so wedding guests do not impinge
on the normal dining facilities. French windows open onto spacious lawns
with distant tennis and squash courts. It would be a great little place for
a weekend break - within 20 minutes drive there's Denbies Wine Estate, Wisley
RHS gardens, and three important National Trust properties including Polesden
Lacey just up the road. And right now there's a veritable Hallelujah Chorus
of nightingales on Bookham Common!
The Bull - A really good Highgate pub eaterie
The Bull has that imposing air of 18th Century elegance which epitomises Highgate.
As one approaches there is a definite feeling that you are about to enter
an establishment with an element of comfort and luxury. The décor
is modern and tasteful and the room is spacious; there is an atmosphere of
relaxation. The kitchen, on full view of the restaurant is a hive of professional
activity without adding an intrusive element to the proceedings. The Bull
is a serious dining room - make no mistake, this is not pub grub. The management
have stressed only the best will do when it comes to quality of the produce
that is being served and the prices reflect this.
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