Scottf

L'Arnsbourg? That Sole dish rings a bell and I remember you, Steve and Big Tone eating there a few years ago... ← I expected Gary to get it. Over to you

Gnocchi de Pommes de Terre Souffle, Raviole de Truffe, Homard et son Jus Sole aux Aromates, Jus a l'Eucalyptus Cappuccino de Carotte et Cardamome

How about The Stagg Inn?

Mirabelle?

An easy one: Low temperature egg yolk with sea urchins and a black sausage jus Rack of Lamb with mushrooms stuffed with lamb trotters Oloroso Ice Cream, rich Coffee Syrup, Ginger Biscuit and Chocolate

Purnell's

He's probably talking about the new area guides Michelin has done recently; NY, California, Tokyo etc. I wasn't around when Michelin first started restaurant guides. I wonder how they handled the stars during the first ever year of rating in Paris, France and the UK? Perhaps you can tell us Gary

If Michelin use the same criteria from country to country, (Bulmer leads us to believe this is the case) why is it only in the UK restaurants in the "bistro" category, at this kind of price point, are receiving stars? Perhaps France is yet to create a bistro culture.

Unbelievably good smoked salmon.

Star chasing whore

The wines ain't called Chavignol though are they

That's the one that sticks clearly in the memory . Not that I'd order it myself mind; if I want sauvignon give me a Cotat Sancerre any day of the week.

I've had one ordinary and one shockingly bad meal at The Capital over the last year. I used to be a big fan especially for the lunch (probably waxing lyrical on the early days of The Capital thread if you can find it) but after my last visit I've decided there's no need for me to return. I found the majority of dishes poorly conceived and executed and the whole experience lacked any satisfaction. This is low level 1* cooking as far as I'm concerned. I've only been to The Square once in the last year but had an altogether better experience. Ingredients appeared of a higher quality, execution was reasonably good and the dishes better conceived. I'd consider it the best meal I've had in London for a while from a British/French michelin restaurant perspective. Also at The Capital the wine list is outrageously priced. For that reason alone I'd go to The Square over The Capital.

Oops. Looks like I posted this in the wrong forum. I'm interested to see how successful a guide will be that rates restaurants against each other on such a scale rather than against specific regions in specific countries.

I think the cost side is a red herring. This is from Steve Plotnicki on Opinionated About and hits the nail on the head for me (though you will have to forgive the NY references a little): I don't know why people are surprised when they go to a Ducasse restaurant and find a soulless dining experience. After all, it's just a chain restaurant so why would you expect any different? That they impose very high standards, in a very rigid manner, doesn't negate the downsides of this type of dining experience. I have the same problem with Robuchon in NYC. It seems so stylized and packaged to me, eating there makes my skin crawl. Though I must say, many people I know like it very much. The thing with Ducasse, if the chef at a particular location happens to be particularly talented, like Frank Cerruti at Louis XV or Piege when he was at the Plaza Athenee, then Ducasse gives them some leeway and you can expect a better experience. Maybe even a great one if they are feeling up to it. But otherwise it's food coming off of a haute cuisine production line. Think about it. Every day the head chef of this restaurant comes to work, and he plans a menu of the day. He then emails the menu to the home office for their approval where they make sure the food is on the straight and narrow. For me, that is valuable if the meal costs less than 50 pounds. But at 110 pounds I'd rather eat at Ssam Bar because the food has a sense of life to it.

I don't know about Paris but I have it on good authority that Monaco's not run to make a profit

Would you rather not have been able to book a table?! It's relatively easy to make short notice reservations in most of London's higher end restaurants.

You managed a reservation at Bacchus for this Friday huh? Interesting

Are you talking about Ducasse's food in general or Le Louis XV in particular?

I ate here in May, I suspect with your little birdie, and I concur with you, whilst a good meal not a great one. My impression was chef may have been trying too hard to impress. Really good ingredients particularly the gamberi (head meat amazing), cod, foie gras and mushrooms (cepes and orange caps). However main course Slow grilled simmenthal beef flunked as the texture was too chewy and it was tasteless. We were also served 5 raw vegetable dishes which was a good two too many. In saying that next time I go to Louis XV I'll pop along for a return. I'm sure he'll improve greatly over the coming years.

Why not try the new chef?

I had a shit lunch at The Capital a couple of weeks back to follow on from a poor dinner on my previous visit. No idea how this place maintains 2 michelin stars. Totally agree re. wine mark ups. 2006 Cloudy Bay SB is £75, yet is £15 in Croydon House of Fraser and they must be making a little on that.

That's what happens when you never leave these Isles Bapi . It's so old hat now they even do a slow cooked egg at Chapter One.

Hmm, as I'm only about 15 mins away you could have tempted me to give it a try.