Celebratory meal out?

rick_chasey

I'm looking for a nice (if a little fancy) place to celebrate some good news with the girlfriend in London.

I'm keen on food, though, as someone's who's quite young a) my knowledge isn't great and b) I have no interest in wine.

Anyway, I had river cafe in the back of my mind but I've read reviews saying it's not worth it.

We're looking for European, but it needs to be special and unusual.

Any ideas?

ketsbaia

I can recommend Roussillon in SW1. Fantastic food and not over-priced for what you get. If you're after something special, try the Menu Degustation.

sketchley

Why don't you take her up the Oxo Tower?

bails87

Sketchley wrote:

Why don't you take her up the Oxo Tower?

Well he's already looking for tips on eating out....

rick_chasey

bails87 wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Why don't you take her up the Oxo Tower?

Well he's already looking for tips on eating out....

Not a fan of chocolate...

Thanks Ketsbaia - will look into those. That tasting menu at Degustation looks really quite special...

sketchley

Oxo is not chocolate. Just saying!

Clever Pun

Sketchley wrote:

Why don't you take her up the Oxo Tower?

over priced and not that great

---

Arbutus is very nice
J Sheeky (fish restaurant)

How fancy are we talking about here?

artaxerxes

+1 on Arbutus, had a great meal there last weekend.
Heard good things about Petrus.

If you like flash restaurants with a view, try Aqua Kyoto off Regents St.

Clank

I would recommend St Johns Bread and Wine in Spittalfields or the St Johns Restaurant in Smithfield.

Friendly price and spectacular food.

http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/menu/lunch/

mese13

http://www.closmaggiore.com/

here

rick_chasey

Clank wrote:

I would recommend St Johns Bread and Wine in Spittalfields or the St Johns Restaurant in Smithfield.

Friendly price and spectacular food.

http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/menu/lunch/

That was voted in the top 50 restaurants in the world only today!

rick_chasey

Cheers guys - i've read good things about arbartus > looks like that'll be first choice.

asprilla

artaxerxes wrote:

+1 on Arbutus, had a great meal there last weekend.
Heard good things about Petrus.

If you like flash restaurants with a view, try Aqua Kyoto off Regents St.

Surely you mean Marcus Wearing? It's not been Petrus for a while now. I've got a table there next month, but it was booked in February.

Mrs A was organising this for someone the otherday:

http://www.the-connaught.co.uk/page.aspx?id=8488

I SO want to do that. Perhaps if I start saving now I can to it for my 40th.........
(price quoted doesn't include the expensive bit; the wine).

Stevo_666

My usual rec for taking your laydee...
http://www.galvinatwindows.com/

Clever Pun

Rick Chasey wrote:

Clank wrote:

I would recommend St Johns Bread and Wine in Spittalfields or the St Johns Restaurant in Smithfield.

Friendly price and spectacular food.

http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/menu/lunch/

That was voted in the top 50 restaurants in the world only today!

and this is where I say the Ledbury
http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/1-50-winners/the-ledbury

I've also been to Hibiscus which is rather nice and has great service and lovely tasting menu

St Johns been on it for quite a few years now, I'm not sure if that's cause they host it a fair bit..

It's great but maybe not so much a romantic meal though

----
I'm off to Dinner at Hestons on Saturday and then Noma the following friday... yey
Next month I'll mostly be poor

lost_in_thought

I have to say, I really don't think St John's food lives up to the hype. It's also definitely not a romantic venue.

Clever Pun

lost_in_thought wrote:

I have to say, I really don't think St John's food lives up to the hype. It's also definitely not a romantic venue.

it's not top 50 imo like I said, they host the awards a fair bit...

DonDaddyD

Shalamar in Clapham



It's an institution. It's been around since the 80s/90s.

itboffin

DonDaddyD wrote:

Shalamar in Clapham



It's an institution. It's been around since the 80s/90s.

Hmmm now do I need to point you back to one of your own previous threads ...?

Step-away from the tasty chicken

fatherted

Corrigans.

You'll get 5 courses if you include the amuse bouche and petit fours.

He might be in there as well if you're lucky ( was when I went - got a signed menu ! )

We sat at the bar ( not as bad or as big an issue as it sounds ) using a lastminute offer - 30pds titled "Homage to Briish Beef"

I see they're doing a 25pds 3 course ( which will include the other 2 "courses" ) with champagne at the moment. Check london-eating.

btw , like a lot of places in London you might find better/more attentive service if you go mon-fri

Low Centre of Gravity

Clever Pun wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Clank wrote:

I would recommend St Johns Bread and Wine in Spittalfields or the St Johns Restaurant in Smithfield.

Friendly price and spectacular food.

http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/menu/lunch/

That was voted in the top 50 restaurants in the world only today!

and this is where I say the Ledbury
http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/1-50-winners/the-ledbury

I've also been to Hibiscus which is rather nice and has great service and lovely tasting menu

St Johns been on it for quite a few years now, I'm not sure if that's cause they host it a fair bit..

It's great but maybe not so much a romantic meal though

----
I'm off to Dinner at Hestons on Saturday and then Noma the following friday... yey
Next month I'll mostly be poor

Chapeau Asprilla! Gourmet! Dinner and Noma in succession... Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.

+1 to Hibiscus. Ate there several years ago and did a few days in the kitchen (am in the cooking game) and he's very very good. One or 2 things I hated but thats out of hundreds. Wild and wonderful. The room's a bit blah but now am just being fussy.

So that's HIGH end- 2* Michelin. At least £150 without fancy wine.

My favourites of the last year or so: Boca di Lupo- super, funky, reasonably priced Italian; L'Autre Pied- sh*t hot fancy fine dining in casual environment, 2/3 the price of the starred places it compares to; Joel Rebuchon was great- and very good value at lunch time, lots of the best places are a fraction of the price for lunch. And finally, Yauatcha... I lurrrrrve dim sum... Hakkasan's little sister. 2 of us can pig out in a super cool Michelin starred Chinese for under £60 (although we drink green tea- cocktails will push a bill skywards).

Anybody tried Viajante?

Have now made myself hungry.

Enjoy!

Low Centre of Gravity

Regarding other suggestions- St John IS apparently still on Restaurant magazine's world top 50 last thing I read; not really romantic unless your other half has some quite outré tastes (bone marrow salad, trotter pie, pig's head to share...)

I liked Arbutus but it's quite simple for me- smart modern bistro more than event destination.

Petrus was run a couple of years ago by Marcus Waring who's now taken it over and is running it eponymously; the restaurant now going by that name is Gordon Ramsey sticking 2 fingers up at the former. Marcus Waring is said to be one of the very best in London; Petrus is not spoken of quite so highly.

Me and Mrs LCoG tried it up the Oxo Tower a couple of years ago but didn't like it at all. Friends were having a party and all the company didn't make it any better.



What about Bistrot Bruno Loubet? (Haven't been there- anyone vouch for it one way or the other?)

Clever Pun

Hibiscus does a lunch tasting menu that's pretty reasonably priced

Also is you're not afraid to travel a little way... got to Bray and stay the night at the Waterside

obviously this sky rockets the price but it's really worth it.

rick_chasey

Cheers guys - booked Hibiscus in the end, for dinner.

Looking forward to the tasting menu. < Like I said I've eaten at fancy places avec the family on holiday once or twice but this is all a bit new to me. Really very excited.

Smart casual right? Shirt, smart jeans, smart shoes?

Stevo_666

Some good top tips here.

I went to Alain Ducacasse at the Dorchester a few weeks back and the food there was very good (as it should be for a Ducasse).

Also if you fancy tasting menus then The Square, Pied a Terre and Maze all do good ones. A glass of wine with each course (about 8 or 9 courses) is very good but you do stop appreciating the finer points of the food after about course number 6

Clever Pun

Rick Chasey wrote:

Cheers guys - booked Hibiscus in the end, for dinner.

Looking forward to the tasting menu. < Like I said I've eaten at fancy places avec the family on holiday once or twice but this is all a bit new to me. Really very excited.

Smart casual right? Shirt, smart jeans, smart shoes?

yeah that should be fine, I went in flip flops I think. check the website just in case though.

you'll enjoy the food and ask/listen to the sommelier about what wine to choose

Low Centre of Gravity

Rick Chasey wrote:

Cheers guys - booked Hibiscus in the end, for dinner.

Looking forward to the tasting menu. < Like I said I've eaten at fancy places avec the family on holiday once or twice but this is all a bit new to me. Really very excited.

Smart casual right? Shirt, smart jeans, smart shoes?

An excellent choice sir.

As long as you don't look like a builder just off a site you should be fine. Actually... probably best no lycra either. There are only a few places open to the public that still insist on jacket and tie (Waterside Inn being one of them Clever Pun?).

Stevo 666 wrote:

Also if you fancy tasting menus then The Square, Pied a Terre and Maze all do good ones. A glass of wine with each course (about 8 or 9 courses) is very good but you do stop appreciating the finer points of the food after about course number 6

Maze was terrific when we went; very much made in the image of the head chef, Jason Atherton, who's left and is just opening his own gaff this week, with seperate dessert bar. Cake stop!?


I go on food forums too, to talk about cycling.

Clever Pun

nope Waterside was smart casual.. I didn't have a jacket.. I loved the way they all knew our names and there was a hand written note on the bed with chocolate covered almonds in a gift bag.. absolutely out of the top draw in every respect

I got asked to change out of flip flops at Nathan Outlaws but that's surf country and doesn't consider them shoes in anyway (it was amazing btw)

chadders81

Low Centre of Gravity wrote:

Regarding other suggestions- St John IS apparently still on Restaurant magazine's world top 50 last thing I read; not really romantic unless your other half has some quite outré tastes (bone marrow salad, trotter pie, pig's head to share...)

I liked Arbutus but it's quite simple for me- smart modern bistro more than event destination.

Petrus was run a couple of years ago by Marcus Waring who's now taken it over and is running it eponymously; the restaurant now going by that name is Gordon Ramsey sticking 2 fingers up at the former. Marcus Waring is said to be one of the very best in London; Petrus is not spoken of quite so highly.

Me and Mrs LCoG tried it up the Oxo Tower a couple of years ago but didn't like it at all. Friends were having a party and all the company didn't make it any better.



What about Bistrot Bruno Loubet? (Haven't been there- anyone vouch for it one way or the other?)

Bruno Loubet is very good. Very much a bistro rather than anything fancy but the food was spot on.

I'm also a massive fan of Terroirs near Charing Cross.

Making me hungry.

cjcp

Top tips, chaps. Cheers!