tony h

horrible little place to eat food's ok 'though

same here - I went 3 months or so ago & got the same response from M himself.

deleted - posted when very drunk last night

curious - I'm angoraphobic - can't stand knitwear

Just wondering - do you get nose bleeds a lot? I don't mean from punches but from the height of your soap box

I always saw his dishes as Ramsay hand me downs & lacking in sufficient originality & vision to progress on to the 2 star level. Maybe he has finally broken away form his master shadow but having both Ramsay (boxwood) & Petrus in the same hotel it doesn't look that way.

plus, you could rent a room if matters arise

wasn't aware of a change - but its been a while.

don't bother - its not even worth that

Racine: Saturday 22/11 – Lunch 4 of us went to Racine for yesterday & had goog to very good lunch there. For starters we had the calves brains & cauliflower (from the set menu) and foie gras & oysters from the a la carte. The brains were quite fishy 0 a bit like scampi from the 70s but I was assured that these were very good; I didn’t manage to taste the cauliflower soups or the oysters but I was told these were good – the oysters looked very plump indeed. My foie gras – 3 thin slithers (a bit on the small side) came with an excellent armangac jelly – in fact it was quite terrific so I forgave them the FG portion size. Mains were tete du veau; scallops fro the al la carte & sea bass and partidge from the set menu. Sea bass & partridge were far better option than our carte choices. The partridge was lighter than I expected and balanced with a sharp sauerkraut-like dish. The sea bass came with herb puree (which didn’t over power) on a bed of mix lentils – v good. The scallops were presented on a bed of Jerusalem artichokes which were perhaps a little too strong for the delicate but perfectly seared scallops. The tete du veau was not to my liking at all – tasted OK but too gristly for my delicate constitution - also served with a huge lump of brain. Every last piece was devoured by its chooser. We didn’t all have deserts: one had the cheese selection (form the fucking la frommagerie – its there no place to hide?) and another had the violet tart which was the scariest looking cake I’ve every seen – a sort of homage to Quentin Crisp’s hair. A brave dish but braver still the one who ate it. So a few minor complaints but on the whole pretty good cooking – especially in that price range. Its certainly got better since I last went there last year.

I'd be very happy with Pierre Gagnaire Pierre Gagnaire Pierre Gagnaire Pierre Gagnaire Pierre Gagnaire

slang for customer

I completely agree

The Ramsay thing is supply & demand - too few tables v too many punters. Even if you have the money - so what - there are quite a few others too. Shame really -- the food is that good. As for Sketch - I spent 34 pounds on the starter & 49 pounds on the main. I could have spent less (not much, mind you). Alternatively - one start was 70 pounds as were some mains. Dessert - which I didn't have because I couldn't even finish the main course (too much bloody food!) was 28 pounds for the Grand Dessert" - 7 separate desserts costing 4 pounds each but could be ordered individually. No bottle of wine (I couldn't afford). So I supose $200 is that starting point for dinner (but oh so worth it).

yes

shit. PM me your address & I'll send you mine (genuine offer)

London is just down the road

The food in sketch library is astonishing but not cheap - the night I went I didn't have any wine as I just couldn't it. I'd didn't have the lamb but the table next to me did & it looked amazing. The interior is quite, what the word, different? Some hits, some misses. they took me around the build afterwords & i was a bit suprised at the "video" room - large hite room white art video projected on the walls & all these expensively dressed kensington-types looking completely out of place in what is a "young" room. As for the library - can't wait to go back Ace cooking on a budget - try lunch at the Capital - which is just around the corner from harrods.

Have you warned them that we can get very bitchy?

Preferred order: Friday, Thursday, Saturday

I think someone is having you on - these aren't fine dining places.

MobyP: Are they so different? I don't know the answer. I only know the Nobu in New york and not in London. Shall give a good try to Aikens, the Square, Chez Bruce........ BTW where is ANDY I'd also skip Nobu, London - just not special enough. May I suggest lunch at the Capital over Chez Bruce

Blind lemon Higgins: Can you expand a bit on your quote. Veeraswamy was one of my favorites when I visited London five years back. I didn't do any actual tests as such and therefore can't say that they gave me food poisoning the night I ate there but as it was the only thing I had that day it was a sad and unlucky coincidence which has obviously coloured my perception.

I'd skip Veeraswamy if I were you - gone downhill

I'm game