chrisp

Yes quite agree. I had a "prix fixe" menu the other day when more than half of the main course options carried a supplement. I kept thinking of the recorded message when I'm on hold to BT - "We are experiencing unusually high call volumes at the moment", this after I'd been calling them regularly for 3 weeks. If you're experiencing "unusually" high call volumes for more than a week, it ceases to be unusual. Likewise, if you have to charge a supplement for more than half of your fixed-price menu, it ceases to be a fixed-price menu. It becomes a la carte.

And if you do Tooting do Kastoori.

Tayyabs! Not strictly Indian (it's Pakistani) but certainly the best I've had in London of that type of cuisine.

Sorry, do you mean that the prices were quoted without VAT on the menu? That makes you right to point it out, doesn't it, not an arse. ← Your efforts to undo my self-inflicted arse status are noble and kind. Alas, the prices on the menu included VAT. My bill had VAT separated out but, in the context of some disbelief at the final figure, I leapt wildly to the conclusion that VAT must have been added at this stage. ← Ah OK. Well it's still a rip-off anyway.

Sorry, do you mean that the prices were quoted without VAT on the menu? That makes you right to point it out, doesn't it, not an arse.

Had a stunning meal here on Saturday. Some of the most memorable dishes I've ever had, with special mention going to sweetbreads & polenta, and scallops. Was a birthday meal so it needed to be special, and thankfully definitely was. Front of house seemed a bit confused - one guy tried to top up my tapwater with bottled water and was reprimanded from the other side of the room - but as they were friendly enough I can forgive them. Overall a brilliant evening and one I can't wait to repeat. Read my full report here.

I've booked for Thursday. I'll let you know my report...

a la carte ← Ahh. Thanks.

Had lunch there today and was disappointed. The alc isn't available and the lunch menu was very uninspiring - only three mains on offer of which I had an average rib eye steak and Mrs Winot a below average chicken dish which was overcooked. Starters were a bit more imaginative - red mullet with artichokes and smoked haddock tortelleni. The fish was superb but the dish as a whole was let down by an overly vinegary dressing. The pasta was fine. Puddings were the best of the lot - an apple cake with apple sorbet and gingerbread, rhubarb and an excellent lemon grass pannacotta. Wines by the glass were quite interesting - viognier, picpoul de pinet, something from the Cahors area. Overall the impression was a kitchen punching below its weight. I've had better meals there in its earlier incarnations (Stepping Stone then the Food Room). I guess they have made a business decision to offer an accessible and cheap lunch menu and save the fireworks for the evening. Even so there was only one other table occupied there today. I'd be interested to hear reports of the alc, but I certainly won't be going back for its poor cousin. Edit to add - website here. ← Sorry to hear that - but then nobody else seemed to be that enthusiastic about the old Food Room other than me. Maybe I'll like it. And sorry to be incredibly thick, but what's the "alc"?

Timeout have just reviewed it: http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/11766.html They didn't seem particularly impressed with the food, but what caught my eye was a £24 glass of champagne that was offered on arrival, and they presumed was free. Perhaps a bit naive to assume it was totally complimentary, but £24 for house champagne is, again, a piss-take. Even the stuff served at Claridges isn't much over £10.

That just takes the piss. I don't know of anywhere else that doesn't include tax with the menu prices. So glad I cancelled.

Well this was only a couple of hours ago - I've actually only just got round to literally cancelling, even though I had booked the square already.

Hmm, well they didn't ask me. Maybe it depends who answers the phone.

There's nothing wrong with steak and chips, though I agree it's not really what I would order at a grand restaurant. I'd be glad, however, if you could point me to a place in London that does it properly. I know one or two addresses for good meat, but it's many years since I had a genuinely first class chip/french fry. ← Easy - there's only one place to go for great steak & chips in London, and that's Hawksmoor. Bloody amazing steaks and triple-cooked chips in goose fat. Great stuff.

Wow - well, this may be a mistake, but today I cancelled my reservation at the Dorchester for next month and booked the Square instead. I'm not paying £100+ a head if it's not going to be superb, and the Square always is.

It's gone now click here. ← Well this Tom Ilic guy'd better be good because I loved the Food Room. Mind you, whenever we went we were generally the only people in there, so I suppose I saw it coming.

Wait, the Food Room has closed?! I'm sure I walked past it just a week or two ago and it was still there...

HA! I knew this story was a lie - not because of the logistics of hauling your testicles over a hob, but because he claimed it happened at Claridges. And we all know he hasn't cooked there in years.

Great little review, and very interesting, thanks IndolentAgain. That bread you have there looks good too - where is it from?

Hang on, it's just the Connaught isn't it? Claridges, Petrus, Maze and The Savoy are all still doing pretty well aren't they? ← The Savoy closes in December for a 16 month refurbishment. Its been rumoured that Ramsay won't re-open there. San Francisco based chef Michael Mina'a name has been connected with the hotel here for example. ← Very interesting, thanks Andy. I decided his heart has never been in Claridges anyway when I reviewed it...

Hang on, it's just the Connaught isn't it? Claridges, Petrus, Maze and The Savoy are all still doing pretty well aren't they?

I go for the Clarence Court "Old Cotswold Legbar". They have a lovely deep orange yolk and are great boiled with soldiers. You can get them from ASDA!

Tapas recipes? 1. Slice ham 2. Put on plate 3. Serve Only kidding...

Wow - sounds great, you're so lucky. Out of interest, was the 30 minutes in the freezer to make them easier to handle or because you didn't want to boil them alive?

I find you always tend to look more favourably upon restaurants that are easy for you to get to. For example I loved my recent meal at Chez Bruce (just a short bus ride away from my house in Battersea) whereas friends who had struggled halfway across london from Islington found themselves too wound up to appreciate it all I think! Therefore my two favourite restaurants are at either end of my road - the Fox and Hounds gastropub on Latchmere Road, which serves market fresh mediterranean cooking with unfailing efficiency, and the Food Room, a French semi-fine-dining place on Queenstown Road which has a bargainous £21 three-course menu and is always a delight. Neither of which you will read about in the press!