Tipped

Stunning

June 08, 2009

Had a fabulous dinner here on Saturday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
The concept is this - you choose how many courses you want (4, 6 or 8) and they make up the food according to what's in the kitchen that day. Apparently no two tables get the exact same menu - so it's all dependent on what chef decides to make for you. I really like this idea, as the whole meal will be a surprise from beginning to end - you won't know what you are getting until it is in front of you We opted for the six courses (Despite the gluttons that we are, 8 just seemed a bit too much!), with matching wines. To start we were brought some hot cheesy biscuits to enjoy with our champagne, and waited for the show to begin. The meal began with some tangy onion ravioli served with a glass of zingy sauvignon that cut through the richness of the pasta. This was followed by a big chunk of lobster tail balanced atop some some delicate wild asparagus and accompanied by some deep fried mini lobster raviolis. This course was accompanied by a very slightly oaked chardonnay. Other delights included lamb paired with malbec, some foie gras, and a mystery dessert - we were given the choice of "Fact or Fun" meaning the waiter could either tell us what it was and we would then eat it, or the "fun" option which meant trying to guess what it was. So we went for the fun option and were presented with a small slither of what looked lemon tart, served with something creamy and a small pile of biscuit-like crumbs. But, this being Hibiscus, interesting flavours are order of the day, and the dish turned out to be a sweet asparagus tart, served with goats cheese cream and black olive dust. Truly amazing.
This was the most innovative meal I have had in a long time without verging on pretentiousness - waiting staff were extremely friendly and perfectly attuned to the speed we were eating at - I guess that's where the difference between an ordinary (good) restaurant and a Michelin starred place comes in. They definitely deserve the two stars they have. Highly recommended.

Keywords: Modern British, seasonal

Modern Cuisine at its Very Best

October 23, 2008

I normally like to go to a place a few times before I write a review, but Hibiscus is quite a splurge, so forgive me for reviewing it after just one visit. Luckily for me, this one visit was sublime; as close to perfection a I have had in quite a long time and one of my very top meals in London.

The dinner started with a bang when they brought an unexpected bowl of little hot Parmesan cheese pastries made with cream puff dough. I could have eaten a shoebox full of these and left a happy man, but there were more wonders to come. We got the Taste of Autumn menu, which had 5 or 6 courses of amazing seasonal foods. Even the most experimental dishes (e.g. iced Roquefort cheese with butternut squash fricassée and black truffle foam, or the hibiscus soda with pineapple bubbles) worked beautifully and, despite some of the odd sounding combinations of ingredients, tasted comforting and familiar. I hate it when chefs play with the food to the point that they forget to make things taste good and work as a real dish of food — this is not the case here at all: the food is experimental, playful, but incredibly delicious and well thought out.

The prices are certainly not cheap, especially if you choose to get wine, but the experience is worth the price especially considering the cordial and remarkably professional service and the lush ambiance. This is a place to be sought out, perfect for special occasion dinners for food lovers, and the chef is clearly at the top of his game.

Keywords: splurge, Michelin Stars, seasonal foods, special occasion

Deservedly Michelin

May 01, 2008

This Michelin 2 star restaurant relocated to London and was recently awarded a single star after it's move. It deserves to have the second one back! The food is spectacular - experimental but amazing play on flavours. Had a fabulous starter with Foie Gras ice cream and a wonderful chocolate tart with basil ice cream for dessert. Kid for mains was solid but maybe not as exciting as the other courses. Service was delightful, decor was unobtrusively elegant. The drawbacks - the location is just off Regent Street, but at the end of a lane that you wouldn't necessarily expect to find it. The acoustics are not great if the place is empty and you feel like you need to whisper. Don't let these details detract from the main event though, the food is worth it!

Keywords: restaurant, Michelin Stars, dining out, special occasion