Square Meal Selections

 
 
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Felix's Guide40s, Male, United Kingdom

Member since April 2005

Silver reviewer since November 2009.

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Reviews written: 20 (10 voted helpful)

Restaurants rated: 3 (this year)

Posts written: 15

Favourited by: 7 members

Felix's Guide’s latest review

Novikov (50 Berkeley Street, London, W1J 8HA)

Editor's pick

Novikov is rammed to the hilt not with Euro Trash but with Global Trash. It heaves new money not old money, Non-dom not dom, second wife not first wife, 80s boom not 2012 recession, decadence not restraint.

Bucket loads of Russian money has been poured into the refit and it works. The route down to the basement bar with the view of the Italian restaurant and wine racks to the right is impressive.

We ate in the Asian restaurant and the food was a little below Nobu/Zuma but not by a lot. The Dim Sums were especially well executive and I enjoyed the Chilian Sea Bass cooked as chunks of fillets rather than on the bone. The classic ‘Black cod’ at £35 was pricy, a little small but excellent.

The waitress was too keen to take me up the list – she recommend Dim Sum at £45 rather than any of the others at £9 and pushed very hard for us to ‘go to the market’ and pick out fish we wanted to eat – a sure fast bill-expander (we declined).

The worst thing is the very load piped music. It is almost impossible to hear anything in the downstairs bar – rather a pity but with 2 beers, glass of wine and non-alcoholic cocktail costing £40 it was a good excuse to leave. Even the restaurant has excessively load music – they simply don’t need it but I suppose if you are in the mating game it helps when conversation falters.

In short I think this is a great fun place – if you don’t play dumb with your choices from the menu then the price is not as bad as it could have been. We were £70 per head for great food, moderate service but atmosphere that gives you a fill-good factor. Sadly you then walk out of the door and realise the recession has not gone away.

8 March 2012

Overall:7
Food and Drink:9
Service:5
Atmosphere:8
Value for Money:7
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Felix's Guide's latest forum post

Reply to “Square Meal 3 Stars – Accurate ?” (in Recommend me a restaurant or a bar)

I would certainly go to The Square before Le Gavroche and Corrigan's. Arbutus is a different price to the other 3 restaurants but certainly is worth 3 SM stars for the otherall package – my clients love it and it is sensibly priced. From what I believe SM stars are given to ‘overall package’ not just food – you can see this in the mix of pirces/types within each category.

Re Gordon Ramsey – it is still an iconic restaurant with exceptional food. To me a bit stiff/formal/traditional and not my first choice but I can see why it would get 3 SM stars.

I can't undersand Miss Sushi point – I use SM the whole time for Japanese/Indian suggestions. I agree that these are great cusine types to take clients to and that one must not be a ‘French cuisine style’ snob – very few people are now days.

I would hope that SM doesn't just take reader reviews in to consideration. Just as Miss Sushi does not like the over positive 10/10 one should also watch the over negative a la trip advisor. More

Read the thread December 2010

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Additional information about Felix's Guide

Personal description

I'm a director working in London and have been to nearly all the major restaurants. I like all types of cuisines.

Eating out habits

Once to twice a week for business and pleasure

Favourite restaurants

Zuma, Maze, Alloro, Mao Goa (Putney).

Last supper

Billinis with beluga caviar, fois gras mixed with french beans, fillet beef, french cheeses, rasberry souffle, 85% dark chocolate with an expresso – to drinks Vodka with the Billinis, Rielsing with the starter, then a big Bordeaux followed by Domain du Durban (Muscat). Then finish with a bottle of Krug to take me to my grave.

Interests

Eating, Cooking, Sport, Politics

Favourite book and film

Book: Raymond Blanc – Cooking for Friends
Film: The Day of the Jackel / All the Presidents Men / Great Escape
TV: Black Adder
CD: Woody Allen the nighclub years

Dream dinner companion

Federer, Elizabeth 1, Marquee de Sade, Newton, Darwin and God (but don't believe he would show up)

Favourite hotels in the UK and abroad

Saint Simone (Paris) Amam Resorts (Asia) La Bastide de Marie (Provence)

Favourite holiday destinations

France

Drives a…

Chrysler

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