Hannah's review of 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 it all.

Where they let themselves down a little is on the wine. Wine flights are in three's, 125ml glasses only. Our last visit to a similar establishment (L'Autre Pied) treated us to larger glasses and more of them, to match each item on the menu, so having been denied such an experience at Maze we were initally disappointed. Neither did the sommelier have any advice to give beyond telling us our choice of Viognier was a good one, which is a shame as I always enjoy the debate between diner and sommelier because I actually get to learn something new about wine matching. That said our bottle was deliciously fruity and the inclusion of white port on the menu went down well with us.

The final few top marks go to the staff. While as I stated earlier we were confused by their lack of care in introducing us to the menus (a 15 min wait just to read the list of wines?) they absolutely redeemed themselves and more when out from the kitchen popped a white place with ‘Happy Birthday’ written in chocolate and a square of mouthwateringly good chocolate gateau on the side. That such a fine dining establishment such as this could remember from one telephone conversation that it was my partner's birthday just blew me away. The little chats we had with the staff between each course were a definite bonus to the whole experience.

Overall I can't wait to save up the pennies and go back – now I know some of the bugbears I think it will be an even better experience. Forewarned is forearmed.