Maze

Having saved Maze for a special occasion, I cannot lie and say that I was bowled over upon arrival. Perhaps it was our fault having visited the day before Valentine's, but the tables are very close together (one imagines to ensure as many people as possible get to experience the delights of the menu) and we were unfortunately placed next to the most unpleasant couple that could possibly squeeze their egos and lack of decorum through the door. The service was also initially confusing as we waited 8 minutes before we were even handed a menu.

Yet Maze has become my number two favourite restaurant in London. Why? Because the food is outstanding. We chose to eat from the Chef's Menu, and each course was an absolute delight. The onion and chicken liver soup to start was amazingly rich and succulent. The pork belly dish was undoubtedly the best meat I have ever been treated to in my whole life. The tonka bean and dehydrated peanut butter sandwich was also a stunner. None of the dishes put a foot wrong, and the ‘tasting’ size of each one is perfect so that you just have room to move onto the next. I'm ravenous just thinking about… More

Maze was a brilliant lunchtime experience from my foie gras & smoked eel starter to the excellent Portuguese wine recommended. For me the star of the show was undoubtedly the Daurade with shrimp & lobster risotto. My partner’s iron bark pumpkin latte with duck was in the super yummy class too. Staff were efficient, friendly and helpful. My only gripe was that one dish was too cool because it had been waiting to be served before we’d finished starters. However, we had been warned that the dishes are served in quick succession (a bit like Amaya), and we were admittedly rather slow munching through the scrumptious bread and starters, but thankfully the last two dishes arrived at a much more leisurely pace. Also liked the clean modern setting. Dined first time mid Jan 09 and can’t wait to return.

I agree with another reviewer: The Chef's Dining Experience at Maze was by far the best dining experience I've had the pleasure to encounter. It was probably one the most expensive meals I've had, but it was also the best value for money. It wasn't a meal, it was 5+ hours of gastronique entertainment!
The Chef's table is separate from the main restaurant, and has windows and a door onto the (suprisingly calm and quiet) kitchen. For one course the ‘birthday boy ’ dons a chef's outfit and everyone else wears aprons, and we were given a tour of the kitchen followed by the ‘birthday boy’ cooking the scallops we were about to eat.
As each of the 10 courses was served the chef who cooked it (different chef for each course) described what were about to eat.
It's changed my attitude to going out for meals: no longer will I regularly go for a local pizza or curry, but instead will save my money for occasionally going somewhere as exceptional as this.
If you've got 10 or so people and a special occasion I wholeheartedly recommend that you go.

I was lucky enough to be invited to join a colleague to sample the Chef's Table experience at Maze and have to say without a doubt it was the most amazing dining experience I have ever had. The entire experience is meticulously put together and the selection of dishes is fantastic. We were asked for any likes or dislikes prior to the meal and let the Kitchen team, supervised by Jason Atherton come up with 10 dishes of pure heaven. With a matching selection of wines with every 2 courses a tour of the Kitchen and one of our table press-ganged into cooking one of the courses for us, it was a mixture of dining and theatricals. The price for this experience doesn't come cheap but after trying this culinary delight I think for a special occasion (and considering the excellence of the meal all round) it's well worth it. The atmosphere has been marked very high because of the company I was with and be warned it's a long long meal so go with your best friends and if lunching cancel all your afternoon appointments.