NY Chowhound visiting London - Mayfair area recs please?

I had an excellent dinner at The Only Running Footman pub in Charles St. Mayfair
You have to reserve as it gets very busy, check out the menu on the website:

www.therunningfootman.biz

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

Lunch at the Hélène Darroze restaurant at the Connaught (Review) [London]

While on business in London last Thursday I reserved a table for the lunch menu at the Hélène Darroze restaurant.

The restaurant wasn't very full, probably around 9 tables were occupied.

As soon as I sat down I was asked if Madame would like a glass of champagne which I politely refused. I chose the menu with 2 glasses of wine and coffee included which at £42 was a very fair price.
I was immediately served a warm Asparagus veloute with hand made grissinis, this was very delicate but they served it in a very slim glass so that you had to drink it and when you were half way down the veloute was on the tip of your nose, I found this quite funny as everyone had the same problem.

I started with the Le Foie Gras des Landes, this was served with a Christmas chutney. The Foie Gras was a very generous portion but in my opinion the Christmas chutney overpowered the flavour of the pate, it was the same mixture that you find in mince pies so very spicy with cinnamon, the chutney should complement the pate which in this case didn't do.

For my second course I chose the Corn-fed chicken from Les Landes, this was cooked like a cottage pie with the chicken minced and flavoured with confit lemon, taggiasche olives and rosemary infused gravy topped with mashed potatoes. As opposed to the Foie Gras the portion was extremely small,; about 8cm sq but in the end this wasn't such a bad thing as for my tastes it was just on the verge of being too salty.

Dessert was definitely the highlight of the lunch I chose the La Noisette/Hazelnut this was a Hazelnut mousse topped with praline and chocolate crisps and a lemon and ginger foam, this was absolutely sublime and I could easily have eaten another one.

After dessert coffee and chocolates were served, they brought over a trolley with about 10 different chocolates and sweets including truffles, macaroons, nougat and turkish delight all hand made and delicious.

The wine that accompanied the meal was a German Riesling that had a hint of sweetness that was just perfect with the Foie Gras.
A New Zeland Pinot Noir was served with the chicken which was also a perfect choice, the wines were recommended by the Somelier.

Summing everything up I don't think I would return here again, not because the food wasn't as good as I was expecting, because I would be willing to give it another try, especially for the price but I found the atmosphere too stuffy and although people were talking it was all in very hushed tones. I prefer the easiness of Maze where in my opinion the food is better and the bistrolike atmoshpere is very relaxing.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

Lunch at the Hélène Darroze restaurant at the Connaught [London]

Thanks Limster, I have booked so will write a report in a couple of weeks.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

Lunch at the Hélène Darroze restaurant at the Connaught [London]

I'm looking for an alternative to La Gavroche for lunch as it's fully booked until the end of January. The Hélène Darroze restaurant at the connaught has an interesting lunch menu at £42 including 2 glasses of wine. Has anyone eaten here lately?

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

Ristorante Semplice, Mayfair, London

Here in Italy there are actually 2 types of Carpaccio, the very thinly sliced which is completely raw, then there's the other one that is sliced more thickly but quickly seared so that it's more flavoursome and is served lukewarm usually sitting on a little Aurora sauce.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

Bellagio and Lake Como...where to dine???

We ate at Silvio's at lunch time a few days ago and were disappointed. the fish was ok but nothing special, the side vegetables which were roast potatoes and Zucchine were overcooked and there were lipstick marks on the glasses.
Salice Blu for us is a better option.

CCScozia in Italy

Planning trip to Edinburgh in late spring-help

I second the Kings Wark, it's a little pub in Leith.We discovered it a few years ago & always eat there at least once when we're in Edinburgh. For more elaborate and expensive fare also in Leith is The Vintners rooms it's not on a par with Kichin or Wishart but still very good.
If you're going to do some shopping in Princes St. have lunch at Ricks we had the best Crème brulée i've ever tasted.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

London: Fish n Chips - Without the Fish?

I just tried googling the place & found that it does indeed have a name it's called "The Dining Plaice" and the address is 20 berwick st.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

London: Fish n Chips - Without the Fish?

I can confirm that the Golden Hynd only has fish which I also don't like. However on Berwick st there's a great fish & chip shop that serves other than fish home made pies, sausages etc. It's a greasy spoon type cafe with formica tables but the place is always full with a long line of people outside for the takeaway service. I don't think the place has a name as there's only Fish & chips written above the door. I also don't know if it's open at night as I've only ever eaten there at lunchtime.
There's another place which is new at the beginning of Poland St just off Oxford st. I've never eaten there but there was also a long line of people waiting outside at lunchtime. I do know that they close around 8pm. as I passed it as they were closing up. It also has pies etc. as I checked out the menu for a future visit.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

(London) Lunch at Maze

I posted a question regarding the lunch menu at Maze last week and said that I would post again after I had been.
Well I'm back & have to say that the set lunch menu was wonderful & great value for money.

We started with the Swede and truffle honey velouté, braised rabbit, cep brioche and cep butter.
Then:

Pressed Fois gras, ham hock and pork cheek with saturated quince, pickled onions and parsley mustard.
Then:

Scottish Partridge, date purée, Brussel sprout leaves with a Madeira and bay leaf sauce.
Last but not least:

A fabulous Pliable chocolate ganache with dehydrated lime curd and walnut ice cream.

All washed down with an excellent South african Sauvignon blanc

All the dishes were so good that if it hadn't been our last day in London we would've gone back again the next day & eaten the exact same menu.
When the waitress asked me if I had enjoyed my dessert I told her that if I had been at home I would've licked the plate, she then promptly brought us a double serving of to die for chocolates and turkish delight.

For anyone thinking of visiting London I think this is a restaurant that shouldn't be missed especially at lunch time where the four course menu at £28.50 or 6 course menu at £42.50
is great value for the quality of the food. Also the Maze is a very relaxed restaurant, more of a bistro type place and not at all stuffy.

I'm really looking forward to eating there again on my next visit to London.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland

Set Lunch Menu at Maze

4 courses cost £28.50 & 6 courses £42.50
From what you've said 4 courses will be enough. I can usually only manage a main course and maybe a small dessert in normal portion size restaurants. Anyway I'm going next week so I'll let you know when I get back what it was like.

CCScozia in U.K./Ireland