nikkib

why would they want to say they have 70 covers when exclusivity would be more highly prized? Surely part of the hype is knowing you are in "good comapny" when you dine at one of these establishments? No one is going to be impressed with turning tables at a 3 * restaurant are they but we know it happens and i'm sure more than one egulleter has dined in a starred restauarant through their willingess to take a 6pm or 10:30pm sitting which is the whole point, there will always be someone willing to eat at that unearthly hour to have the experience that we might otherwise be denied.

i phoned up about 2 weeks ago mid afternoon and was able to secure a 7:30 resevation for that same day ( i think it was a tuesday) however due to a late meeting had to pass up on it. I think it was a late cancellation at their end but it is always worth a shot....

but they missed the cut off date so it will be jan 09.....

how did this go katie?

Great meal at l'autre Pied earlier this week, i will definitely return. We started with the veloute of puy lentils with poached egg and bacon which was perfect for the wintery weather and extremely satisfying and the foie gras terrine layered with pain d'epices and served with a quince puree. The dishes were beautifully presented and perfectly executed. Mains were roasted pheasant with a scotch broth infused with lemon thyme and halibut with chervil root and pear fondants (cooked in redwine and diced so they looked more like beetroot) We reseisted the temptation to go for a whole baby vacherin (£26) and instesd shared an individual portion (8.50) and the bayleaf pannacotta which was every bit as good as tony h says! There are some really interesting uses of ingredients - vanilla puree with hake for example and i would have happily eaten anything on the menu. Service was friendly and capable. The winelist is an unusual joy for a london restaurant - there must have been 30-40 wines under £25.00 with some really interesting and well thought out varietals and port/dessert wines etc come in at about a fiver a glass! I found the decor a bit disjointed, great red banquettes and a lime green wall paper with pastel peas, chillis and flowers (?) and i have to say the toilets were not great (very clean and well maintened though) but all in all really minor quibbles for what was a fantastic evening. Personally i far prefer it to arbutus etc and they must be a dead cert for 2009 michelin...

Not that I'm likely to do so very often, but did he say why? I'm struggling to think of an occasion when I've been fortunate to have a glass or two of the top notch stuff and not enjoyed it. ← I would imagine it would be something to do with the depth of flavour and not wanting to affect the tastebuds by overpowering them with the aperitif, i know chefs somettimes like to think of these as palate cleansers..

i alsways thought that the wasabi should be eaten separately to the soy and that the ginger should be used as a "paltae cleanser" between dishes...

https://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/_SvBoPasse...K&_AGENCY=ESTAR £118 return on the eurostar to Paris and a little bistro in le marais or the like if london is THAT dull

am going next week will write up a post afterwards - looking forward to it though..........

No, we are not criticising for the lack of "wizardry" or gadgetry howver everything looks very dull and uninspired. I would say sloppy but be honest - did any of the photos make yor mouthwater and think "wow" i must eat that now.... For me personally a multiple michelin starred restaurant needs to have that "wow" factor, having never eaten in a french 3 michelin but i can't compare it but by Per Se, RHR, Fat Duck etc standards nothing looks taht interesting and i agree the steak and chips looks truly shocking, especially when compared with hibiscus' irreverent "sausage roll" which looked infinitely more appealing. Of course i will still want to eat there but there are plenty of other more excitng new openings i will go to first, hardly the "wow" ducasse might have hoped for.

http://www.areyoureadytoorder.co.uk/ ouch

Osteria Basilico - good little italian with a buzzy atmosphere on the Kensington Park Road (one road across from portobello)

http://www.germancorner.com/yellowpages/fo...es/newyork.html might be able to help...

Fishes in burnham market. not fine dining but in a pretty town 10 mins from coast and delicious!

don't forget to have drinks in the blue bar afterwards!

arbutus in soho or galvin bistro deluxe on baker street....

i ate there - io the MAZE last month and had a fantastic time. tHe room had a great buzz and vibe despite the fact we were there at 7 on a friday night. Highlights included (with aplogies for the cut and paste from the website...) White onion velouté with duck ragoût and shaved Pèrigord truffle $12.00 , Apple cured duck breast, smoked foie gras with amaranth $14.00 Roasted sablefish with creamed parsnip, onion bhaji and ginger velouté $16.00 Twice cooked poussin, roast - Coq au Vin with prune purée and foie gras velouté $16.00. We had a great German waiter (with a sense of humour!!!) and were offered the chance to view the kitchens too.

Re hydrate them and sautee with parsley, garlic olive oil and a splash of brandy before blitzing and spreading over a joint of beef which is then wrapped in puff pastry - a variation on beef wellington mmmmm

We ate at the boxwood cafe for a friends 30th recently and had a great time, their private dining room opens onto the restaurant and would fit 14. Service was very friendly and not remotely stuffy.

oops!! I seem to have problems with recalling prices for meals dion't i! Yup you were right, an extra "0" on there £200 was the actual amount! Oh well, one day.....

As always, another great meal at Racine last month. The only low point was my starter of baby leeks with poached egg, not the most inspired choice on my behalf anyway but it just lacked flavour and the leeks where stringy and tough to eat. I was thinking of the great meat jus braised leeks with lentils i had at Toms Kitchen when i ordered it which was infinitely better. The rest of the meal was flawless, plaice fillets with a crab butter sauce and more leeks was delicious and perfectly cooked, as were the steak au poivre and the rabbit. My cheese course was as expected in a french restaurant fantastic - bleu d'auvergne, beaufort, pouligny st pierre and ami du chambertin all perfectly aged and served with caramelised walnuts, shallots (to cleanse the palate between cheeses?) and baguette. We had a great bottle of Alsace Riesling served in hock glasses ( when was the last time you saw that?) withn the bill for 3 courses for 4 coming to just over £2000. We will be back soon!

If you are in the west end - Mela is fantastic

The Head Chef at The Savoy Grill is called Lee Bennett, recently named The Guilds Restaurant Chef of the Year, formerly worked at RHR and for Jason Atherton in Dubai according to Toptable...

Thanks oakapple, am booked in next week and $150 was pretty much what i had in mind..Will let you know how I get on!