Hibiscus

Remarkable that Mr Bosi continues to innovate. Irrespective of how frequently you eat here you are likely to be confronted by new and unusual flavours and textures. A truly gifted chef, supported by excellent service.

One of the worst meals I have ever eaten. No menu is offered- just a list of raw materials from which is concocted a series of dishes without further consultation or elucidation.

The combinations chosen indicate that a small child has been let loose in the pantry and thrown in a bit of this and a bit of that no matter how incompatible with the basic food. I had John Dory which was baked solid and surmounted by a crust of indeterminate origin with a very slimy slice of something covered in girolles and sausage. The topping and this item had no connection with the fish. I started with a ‘ragout of king prawns, paimpol beans’, tomato and frozen raspberry bits. It was, frankly, nasty and very odd tasting with uncomfortable texture.The dessert was a very rich chocolate fondant with ‘Indonesian basil ice cream’- which tasted of nothing.

The inter-course items were a ‘Hibiscus kedgeree’ served in an eggshell. It tasted of smoke and little else, the egg yolk being raw and a Melilot panna cotta was unpleasant, only made palatable by the ‘delicious’ apple puree- which it was. All through the meal, we were bombarded by odd flavours and textures which were often unpleasant.

We were all given different meals. At least the portions were small (except the chocolate fondant) and we had the three course meal at £85. No bargain. That's a lot of money to spend without being given a choice. ‘Just eat what we give you’ is the attitude.

I was grateful that we hadn't gone for a larger menu (which isn't) as I was kept awake most of the night with horrendous acid reflux- from which I do not normally suffer.

What could have been a very nice meal was ruined for us by poor service. We were kept waiting for half an hour before any service arrived. The wine water appeared to be too busy with other tables to pay us any attention. Both red and white wine was kept away from our table and poured in tiny quantiities meanig that for most of the meal we sat with empty glasses waiting for service (although I have to say I hate overfilled glasses even more). It was more than noticable that other tables nearby received considerably more attention.

That said the food is creative and of high quality but with prices this high the service needs to improve. On a final point, the wine list is very pricey – interesting to note how quickly wine prices increased when Sterling depreciated against the Euro and how the opposite has not happened desipte a 20% increase over recent months.

I did one of those things you do when you have time in London – booked lunch for one in January on a week day, and loved it.
I thought the restaurant was lovely, and Claude Bosi popped in during service to check that all the guests were happy – nice touch. Service was friendly and excellent, although I suppose it had to be (I think I was the first guest to arrive for lunch!).
To start – pork scratchings cooked with vinegar – great accompaniment to my glass of prosecco. Amuse bouche was some sort of carrot and apple soda I seem to recall. It was lovely, and had me really looking forward to lunch.
Starter was a Berkswell cheese royale with a buckwheat veloute (at least I think that was what the veloute was of) – having not eaten a royale before I didn't really know what to expect. It was a surprise, and a very pleasant one – the royale was very creamy and smoooth. I'm not sure it appealed to everyone however – I noticed a lady on the table next to mine who really didn't seem to think much of hers at all. I think the concept however must be very Claude Bosi? – I've noticed his latest lunch menu includes a crozier blue cheese royale.
Main was pheasant – all I can see is it that it was beautiful, a total delight. I think it was cooked 3 different ways.
Dessert was a lemon givre – had to ask what a givre was, but there you go. Very nice lemon curd topped with a lemon sorbet in a hollowed out lemon. Probably not a ‘wow’ dessert by itself, but it was made special by the accompanying madeleines, served warm.
I thought the bill of £40 was pretty good value – 3 courses plus a glass of presecco. A wonderful way to start your afternoon. I'm looking forward to trying out dinner one day soon…(with friends this time).

How could anyone resist a dish which came with “pork pie sauce”? Sod the rest of the ingredients (scallop may have taken top billing on the menu, but not for me), pork pie is one of Britain’s finest contributions to world cuisine and here it comes in liquid form. Bloody marvellous.

This was our first time in the downstairs private room, and it is never going to win any awards for décor or warmth: it is small and private, but adorned in muted browns (at great expense no doubt), and just big enough for a table, but not big enough for drinks and nibbles beforehand (although they did try).

As for the food, as well as the pork pie sauce, the scallop that accompanied it was a big, solid just cooked example, topped with a mustard crumble and accompanied by a grapefruit jelly, the sweetness of which contrasted perfectly with the salty sauce. The ravioli of smoked spud with egg yolk and the risotto also got big thumbs up. Mains too were very good, although the cod with black truffle, whilst a meaty fellow, was a little bland, contrasting with the guinea fowl which can often be bland, but here was not.

Deserts too were perfectly fine: the chocolate tart was certainly chocolaty (although the basil ice cream was a bit tame), and the whiskey cream millefeuille was so fine, that I didn’t get a look in of a try.

Dissatisfaction from other reviewers seems mainly to be focused on the service: whilst there was nothing actually wrong with the service, it is definitely on the sniffy side of formal; arrogant from the first to the last. Now I don’t really want the “Hello, have you ever been to Hibiscus before” approach, but geez guys, you could lighten up just a little bit. Maybe a smile? Too much: how about cracking a little grin then?

So don’t go to be amazed at the décor or the service, and do remember that this is Mayfair, so prices are on the high side of stratospheric, but do go for the light, often brilliant, and never less than very good, food.

Very disappointed. Had read such good reviews and heard really good things about this restaurant…perhaps we went on an off day?! Had a very arrogant feel about the place. Perhaps too much praise has gone to it's head! My Husband and I dined there on our anniversary. We both had the tasting menu.
Very poor service, on more than one occassion we had to ask for a refill on our wine. We also sat with empty plates in front of us for quite some time inbetween a couple of courses. At the end of the meal we asked for the bill 5 separate times to 5 different memebers of staff. None of which brought it. I had to get up out of my seat and ask the maitre'D in the end. The Somelier equally was not particularly helpful.
The food although good, was not anything to rave about by any means. I honestly don't think it worthy of 2 michelin stars. Had the service been better, we probably would have been more impressed with the food.

Wonderful.

Set lunch for three courses plus glass of wine plus coffee & petits fours at £42 is fantastic value for food of this quality. Immaculately prepared and presented food, with a range of superb intense flavours. Dessert was perhaps slightly less polished than the previous two courses but I was distracted by the amazing chocolate madeleines brought straight from the oven.

Menu options are very limited: you choose from menus of three, six or eight courses; there's no a la carte menu as such. However nobody in my party complained as the options all looked good. Vegetarians might have a problem.

At first I was concerned about the small portion sizes – the starter of blue cheese ‘royale’ with pumpkin veloute seemed to weigh about 35g – but by the end of the meal I realised they had judged it absolutely perfectly.

Service wasn't flawless: one of our diners never got a menu, at this kind of place you expect to have water glasses constantly refreshed and they weren't, we waited ages for coffee, but there were certainly plenty of staff and they were all v professional.

The room itself is not particularly interesting; a few little bits of art dotted about the place; and some of the tables are very near the entrance which is open to the front door. However it's understated rather than bland or styleless.

Hmm sounds like more negatives than positives but I really really enjoyed the meal! Overall a brilliant food experience; highly recommended.

“Crystalline dining experience in the hands of a great contemporary chef”

It had been a while since we had last dined at the great Hibiscus. And so when an old buddy from Asia suggested we go for a special night out together with our wives given we had missed doing so the last few times, I was more than happy to find, perhaps due to the slight Summer lull, that Hibiscus could accomodate with a table for the 4 of us!

Familiarity does not breed contempt when it is such succinct excellence one is faced with, and Hibiscus charms not merely with pizzaz or showmanship but comes through with subtle assuredness which has never failed to succeed in previous visits, nor on this occassion. Entering the restaurant one is perhaps surprised by the relatively intimate ambience and size of the single dining room which accomodates probably no more than 50 covers. There is no music; just gentle whisperings from guests' exclamations (of enjoyment !), and occasionally the quiet awareness of the well oiled staff as they go about expertly attending to every whim and fancy of the diners.

One has to go, to appreciate chef Claude Bosi's inspired compositions which change each time we have been, as he sometimes daringly blends bold ingredients and flavours to create culinary masterpieces. Perhaps once or twice have these compositions been so unusual in their inspiration that one stops to wonder, but on most occasions it is the realisation of a master at work, continually surprising and delighting our taste buds.

One has to try it for oneself as it is a journey to experience and savour each time, like luxury travel around the globe.

Hibiscus never fails. The food never ceases to amaze me, and the staff is never to be faulted. Time is taken to explain dishes, great attention to detail and also that little bit more! The different sommeliers we asked for suggestions were always extremely helpful and I am definitely looking forward to returning soon, it has been a while since my sea bass and earl grey gel, as well as the astonishing purple carrot amuse bouche! Recommend x 10!

Soggy, Wet London found me luckily in Mayfair at Lunchtime yesterday. I had heard of Hibiscus from its Shropshire days and had booked previously but had to cancel twice. By chance I went in at the end of lunchtime today and the delightful receptionist was more than accomodating and a table that had already finished and left was relayed for myself and business partner.
Having spent a long time (and too much money) in the past dining in many restaurants, including most of the great French ones, my expectations were met and then exceeded today. The food was delicious, seasonal and unique in style. I had head that M. Bosi spent a long time working for the maverick Alain Passard from l'arpege. There are a number of similarities. M. Bosi is apparant at the restaurant, he made a few appearances during lunch to talk about food to other diners, and once to cover the reception for a minute! The service, again similar to his mentors, was relaxed, knowledgeable and approachable. Not stuffy, just really nice. Even though we were pressed for time and had to have two quick espresso, the waitress boxed up our petit fours which we had later on at the desk. A special mention has to be made for the wine service team. One chatty wine waiter told us that the list is now 100% natural. The list can seem a little complex for those who dont know much about wine but they are very happy to guide you to the right selection. We had a lovely Malvasia. Not a grape I had had before but was perfect with our lunch choices.
At £30 for a three course lunch menu and £59 for the wine, I found the prices a little on the higher end of the spectrum. But quality comes at a price. Personally, I cant wait to go back.