I can not believe for one minute that this is a two star michelin restaurant. 04/02/12
We had reasonable expectations, having had the good fortune to dine at some of the worlds finest restaurants during our 18 year gastronomic affair.
We were seated at the bar overlooking the kitchen on the ground floor, we had booked a table for 5.30 hoping to enjoy a fabulous dinner before the theatre. i decided to go al carte and chose the langoustine fritters followed by the Scallops on Fregola with Black Truffle from the Perigord…and? At £47 for the starter and £34 for the main i waited with great anticipation as to what i would be served. I can only describe the starter as outrageous! nothing more than four (rather tiny) langoustine individually wrapped in wonton wrappers with a bit of basil and chilli deep fried with a basil Pistou which was over oily and lacked flavour. Oh and two deep fried basil leaves, all came confusingly constructed by cocktail sticks which made the whole thing difficult to eat and highlighted the pools of oil on the plate. I muddled my way through thoroughly disappointed. I wondered were the skill was in making this dish, after all isn't that part of what i am paying for?The second course arrived and looked promising four scallops nicely presented with what looked like black truffle on them. I have to say that i am rather a truffle queen, i absolutely love them, so after my first mouthful i could not believe there was no truffle flavour. Is it me have i missed something? I tried the second one and no nothing not an iota of truffle flavour at all. I called the waitress and said, “these scallops have no truffle flavour at all”, “yes madam look there is the black truffle it is with onion compote”. “It very well may be but it tastes nothing like it”, “i am sorry i don't want it”, “you want to send it back”? Yes i do! “Would madame like to try something else on the menu”? No not really, “how about the Egg Cocotte it is a speciality, it is a very lovely dish” Oh ok i… More