Julie's Reviews

I had very high expectations of Nopi – but was slightly disappointed. We started on the wrong foot, as my dining companion and I were about 10 minutes early, and were simply sent away to come back at the right time – there was no room at the bar and, although some tables were free, we weren't offered a seat, even just to have a drink. The greeter was perfectly friendly, but it didn't exactly put me in the right frame of mind!

However, once we were seated, things got better. The bread, which came with a spiced broad bean dip, was gorgeous – as was our waiter. It is hard not to think that Nopi is following in the Abercrombie & bFirch footsteps of only putting the beautiful people on show. The service was as lovely as the man serving – very charming, friendly and winning.

The food was just downright delicious – they recommend 3 choices each, which I would heartily recommend, as the portions are not generous. But the flavours are spot on. We had an aubergine tart – the aubergines dried like tomatoes, with a very deep, almost sweet flavour, with some creamy mozzarella and fresh basil on a crisp pastry rectangle; broccoli with chilli (this was a revelation – the best, absolutely the best, broccoli I have ever eaten, with crispy chillies shredded on top); soft shell crab; trout; chicken with myrtle salt and a chilli dip; and braised pigs cheeks. The last was the least exciting – nothing wrong with the execution, taste or texture, but it was a bit like eating a large spoonful of casserole after a feast of much lighter, crisper textures and flavours.

For pud we shared doughnuts – which were small and scrumptious, with a vanilla cream and berry dip; and coffee financiers (albeit in the shape of madeleines, not ingots) with a maple syrup dip. Both were gorgeous. A glass of wine each, and tap water, and the bill was about £60 a head – if you splashed out on the wine, or ordered a couple more dishes, you would rack the bill up without even noticing.

The restaurant is a pleasant… More

I lunched at Murano on a Saturday with a friend, for his birthday. It’s a beautiful room, with well-spaced tables and fantastic lighting. We sat at the top of the restaurant, with a view of the kitchen through a large window – when we arrived, they apologised to us for sitting us there, but we thought it one of the best tables – not least because we could see that Angela Hartnett was cooking that day, which we got very over-excited about.

And we were right to be. It isn’t often you have a faultless dining experience, but this was truly it. The food was absolutely sublime – in particular the quail raviolo that I had as a starter. The little extra touches – the arancini and delicious salami that came before the first course; the intensely flavoured sorbets that came before pudding (special mention for the basil one); and the fantastic breads, all meant that this excelled any of the other Michelin starred restaurants I've eaten in in London – including the Square, which has been my favourite for some years.

The service was very charming and I'd also like to specially commend the Sommelier, who gave us a great recommendation for a white, which was exactly the same price as the one we told him we were thinking of – a very tactful response, we thought.

I’ll definitely be going back.

Les Deux Salons is rapidly becoming one of my favourite places to eat, not least because of the charming service. What started out as a very quiet Tuesday evening (only two other tables occupied at 6.45pm) rapidly became buzzy and energised as the restaurant filled up.

I started with a very well-made martini (dry, with a twist) and my friend with a margarita. She had my idea of food hell, a tomato and fennel salad (which she loved) and I had buttery and rich foie gras terrine, with a generous pile of toasted baguettines; then I had roast cod with peas, pea shoots, pancetta and cream (and chips – to cut the richness, you understand) and she had glazed duck and some of my chips. A carafe of wine each – viognier for me and rioja for her – and I do love the way that Les DS, and its sister restaurant Arbutus have almost all wines available by the carafe, solving the perennial white/red problem, when you don't want to sink a bottle each (it being a school night, you see) Then coffee and port for her and a rosewater and raspberry macaroon (which was a highlight, I have to say, being just sweet, tart, fragrant and melting enough) for me.

Add to that a smiling, charming waiter and maitre'd and you have a very enjoyable evening. Especially for a Tuesday.