Tipped

Great ambience

May 08, 2008

The best place to go for Chinese food in luxurious surroundings. The bar faintly resembles the Orient Express and the dining room is all traditional Chinese architecture and bookshelves (which were a bit dusty on our last visit!) Don't forget to visit the loos - they are beautifully appointed and amusingly, poetry is read on a loop in there instead of traditional muzak. The food is fine if not spectacular, but fairly inexpensive dim sum can be had there at lunchtime. So all in all, a great place to go to enjoy the lush surroundings at a reasonable price as long as food doesn't have to be the main event.

Spectacular

May 08, 2008

Amongst the corporate uniformity of hotels nowadays, the Dorchester manages to feel special. The multiple Michelin star (for his restaurants in France) bearing Alain Ducasse is the perfect addition to this. The service is elegant and the room full of tasteful modern details that don't overpower. The main event is of course the food, which doesn't fail to disappoint. From the mini cheesy choux buns to the amuse bouches and the finale of dessert (you get to choose the rum for the rum baba from a selection!)- they look after every detail and every element deserves to be savoured. For a really special occasion, sit at the Table Lumiere which is screened off from the rest of the room behind a circular fibre optic curtain. One of the best meals I have had this year. The entire experience is an adventure from start to finish!

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!

Disappointing and overpriced

February 21, 2008

Impressive website and shop. Unfortunately instead of the flowers that were ordered, we received a vastly overpriced bunch of inexpensive flowers (and we normally embrace the whole designer flowers ethos) that wilted surprisingly quickly. Rang to inform Paul Thomas of the misunderstanding and was told the manager would get back to us the next working day - I'm still waiting for that call a week later. A friend who wanted to have them do her wedding flowers has since changed her mind. Sadly disappointing.