Gordon Ramsay a theatre of food and wine.

[Bazza]

I went to Gordon Ramsay (London) in a party of four on a very wet and windy Bank Holiday Monday for lunch. My friend’s wife has wheat intolerance, does not eat red meat (except duck) and does not do dairy (except butter) blah blah blah. We arrived at about 1pm, half an hour early, and thought that we might go somewhere less expensive for a drink first, but due to the appalling weather we decided to go straight in.

Our early arrival was not a problem and we were greeted by very warm and gracious staff, they could not do enough to make us feel welcome. It is not at all like any restaurant I have been to, rather like going into a grand London house. The dining room is modern, elegant and very tastefully decorated. We settled at the table and had pre dinner drinks while browsing the menu. Set lunch was 3-courses for £45.00, a la carte was 3-courses for £90.00 and the menu prestige was 6-courses for £120.00 we opted for the set lunch.

Having taken in the ambience and enjoyed a drink it was almost an hour before we ordered our food, not that this was a problem at all, who wants to rush an experience like this? We were offered bread, well three of us were, and butter rounds were placed on the table, unsalted and salted. Everything was described by the waiters in a running commentary of soft Gallic tones and a real desire for you to be informed and most of all, happy. “And for Madame, chef has baked some bread for you last night, from rice flour it is your own special bread” Obviously well briefed, as was everyone who approached our table fully aware of the special dietary needs.

Amuse bouché was a spring vegetable consomme served at room temperature, a clear reddish amber broth with wafer thin spring onion slices, perfect tiny tomato brunoise, parsley and chives. Each ingredient was a tiny burst of flavour in a beautiful light but slightly smoky tomato soup; it really did “entertain the mouth” and left you craving for more as it was only the size of a double espresso. For our first courses, three of us had a pithivier of quail, mushroom and spinach, with celeriac remoulade and confit quail’s leg, this blew us away, it was absolutely delicious and for me, the best dish of the day. The fourth starter was yellow fin tuna and roasted cep tartar with caviar, basil puree, spring onions and cep vinaigrette, my friend’s wife said that this too was delicious.

The main courses we ordered were fillet of royal dourade with artichokes barigoule, navet, carrot and radish in baby gem lettuce and chervil butter sauce. The little lettuce parcel was fantastic and a perfect accompaniment to the sea bream. The others had roasted sirloin of beef, I can’t remember the details of that dish (medium rare); well it came up so rare, it was virtually seared, it looked really good though. They did a special sauce for our “allergic” friend’s fish, I think a pea puree of some kind, with absolutely no fuss at all; it was as if it were a pleasure for them to do it.


The wines we had were Côtes du Rhône Viognier ‘Les Gendrines’, Pierre Gaillard 2006 and Gigondas Clos du Joncuas, F. Chastan 2001. Meanwhile the waiting staff are describing each dish and pouring sauces, the wine glasses are charged and they are making us feel very spoilt indeed. At this point I catch a whiff of the cheese trolley gliding by and already decide what my dessert will be. Other desserts on our table were Gianduja chocolate parfait with passion fruit and guava coulis for my chocoholic wife, and they prepared a wonderful friut platter for our “allergic” friend accompanied with a raspberry sorbet.



Apart from the superb food of course, the thing that really impressed me was the outstanding service, so friendly and not at all pretentious as some top restaurants are. They even escort you to the bathroom… yep, sounds weird but they do wait outside, the door is magically opened for you on your exit and you are escorted back to your table. This really was a day to remember and as expected was a fantastic experience, the total bill for four was £465.00 and worth every penny.

[food-macro]

Wow sounds very luxurious that is offically on my list of resturants to go to before 30 hehe, thanks for sharing the service sounds almost to good to be true and if its that good i must be true no faking like that. But what would you expect from a resturant owned by Gordon Ramsay! hehe...

[Ishbel]

I love Ramsay's restaurants. I've never had a bad meal at any of them, although I am not so keen on Maze - the food is less 'Ramsay' style, but the service etc is great!

[Mapiva]

I've only been to Maze and the food was so superb along with the service that I can't imagine his other restaurants are even better! By far the best dining experiences we've ever had.

Thanks for sharing.

[renhoek]

Regradless of what anyone says about the man, I'd love to try his food

[Ishbel]

Jason Atherton, the Chef at Maze, London won a recent competition TV competition to cook for celebrity chefs from around the world. His dishes won two of the four courses - he is a great chef - another Ramsay 'product', like Marcus Mainwairing (who has recently had a spectacular falling-out with GR, if tabloid rumours are to be believed).

Jason Atherton - Executive chef at the Maze restaurant.

Anyone who inspires such loyalty from these gifted chefs can't be all bad, despite what some say.

[Nicko]

Has anyone eaten at any of his PUB? My wife and I have hopes of going to London in the near future to try one of his restaurants. We were also thinking to visit some of the pubs they look lovely.

[Ishbel]

I haven't tried any of his gastropubs. My daughter has eaten at the pub in Maida Vale, (can't remember its name, offhand!) and said the food was good - not exceptional, but certainly good!

[Bazza]

Ishbel I think you might be referring to The Warrington. I found a web page for Ramsays Pubs.

Gordon Ramsay Pubs

Nicko have a great trip.

[Ishbel]

Thanks, Bazza
That's the one! I'm going to try it when next in London.