Sketch: Lecture Room & Library

What a disappointment. It was our anniversary dinner (which they were told, so you think they'd make a bit of an effort) but the service was dreadful. We waited 45 minutes for a fish dish, as part of the tasting menu, only to be told that “the kitchen was busy” when we complained. No one came to apologise, and the fish eventually arrived after an hours wait. By then we weren't in the mood for the remaining courses – goodness knows how long they would have made us wait again! The waiters then avoided eye contact and we had to ask the sommelier to get the manager and the bill. After another 15 minute wait, the bill arrived with a different explanation for the delay. The discount offered didn't really reflect the fact that we hadn't been served most of the meal, let alone the bad experience. We weren't the only table to complain about slow service, so there seems to be a wider problem… It was a real shame, as we had been really looking forward to the evening.

Ate here for the first time recently on recommendation from a friend. Wow. I now understand why he has raved on about this place for so long. Difficult to describe really, but from the moment you are greeted by the maitre d and he flings the doors open to reveal the restaurant, you know you are going to be in for a treat. Theatrical, eccentric, dramatic. Its a whole new dining experience. Food was good and the service excellent, this place really delivered the whole package. Can't say too much more, just try it for yourself!

Good food, but I was expecting more after reading all critiques.

There can be no doubt about it, this is a culinary journey worth trying! More of a dining experience than just a meal out, this is the place to devote a whole evening to.

The Lecture Room is beautiful, with ornate gold walls, very high ceilings and a Moroccan/French feel. This apparently was Christian Dior's home before it became Sketch and you can see that it is truly a stunning building with his influence showing.

The menu intially appears slightly confusing, however, the very attentive waiter will talk you through the menu and advise you. It essentially consists of many mini dishes making up each course. These are to be savoured slowly as each taste complements the other. For example I had Langoustine 5 ways for my starter and this was made up of 5 gorgeous dishes of langoustine cooked in varying ways. There are amuse bouche between the courses which again, are delicious. There is amazing variety of flavours, textures and colours within each dish. I am very daring with what I eat and would say that almost nothing is off limitis to me (within reason!) but if you are less daring then maybe you would not enjoy this experience as much as I did. It really is a phenomenal experience and I had sampled flavours there that my palette had never before experienced, all complimented by a delicious Hungarian…yes Hungarian…wine chosen by the sommelier.

This is a fabulous experience that I shall repeat again soon I hope!

Sketch has never ceased to amaze me, from appetizing cocktails in the futuristic and mesmerising gallery to beautifully flavoured tea and innovative pastries (the green tea and passion fruit éclair is a personal favourite). So this latest venture into the upstairs lecture room and library was filled with ample expectation.

Without disappointment I was delivered with three courses of lunchtime indulgence, with consistency and grace. The starter of lamb cassoulette served with spinach and ewe cheese veloute was beautifully balanced with a sable paste which rounded the dish perfectly and brought all the ingredients together, as diverse and seemingly contrary as they were.

In a defiant attempt to see if the vegetarian option was executed in equal fashion (I’m often sceptical of this and believe a good mark of a restaurant is one which shows equal reverence to all dietary requirements), I opted for the gratinated polenta with parmesan and pan fried vegetables, curried butter and a side of cauliflower & coconut soup – including aloe vera and green apple. My eyebrow was just as raised as yours is now. However, call it alchemy, call it a stroke of luck, the dish worked to perfection and reinstated my belief that vegetarian cooking can and should be just as creative and innovative.

An aesthetically pleasing dessert of coffee parfait, plum wine paste and mascarpone cream served to further enhance the experience and brought the lunch to a delightful end. Service was equally exceptional and together with the light contemporary yet richly decorated surroundings proved a good combination for an afternoon of food indulgence.

Proof that those Michelin star inspectors were right on the nose giving this worthy establishment one of their prestigious stars. Go see for yourself.

Wow – what an experience, excellent from arrival to finish. Service was impeccable but not stuffy, food was exceptional and creative. Expensive but worth every penny. A truly theatrical culinary experience, in a good way!

I dined at the Lecture Room last week with my parents for an anniversary present.
This is not somewhere I would usually have chosen but I pleasantly surprised right from the moment we arrived.
The menu was varied and when we asked for recommendations the staff were so helpful in advising on complimentary dishes. I am so pleased still with the experience I had at sketch and I would definately tell friends to visit here.