R.R.Gill's Reviews

Babbo is without doubt one of the best Italian restaurants in London at the moment. The entire team always seem to go well above and beyond to ensure that you have a fantastic experience whether it's a quick lunch or a long lazy dinner. The restaurant has a nice chic but relaxed feel to it and the rustic inspired menu is fantastic with plenty of traditional dishes given the special treatment by chef Doug Santi.

I've dined there several times over the past few months and still find it difficult to choose as the menu has so many highlights. As many of the previous reviews point out on top of the great food and wine you are made to feel so welcome – something that often seems to slip in restaurants nowadays. Babbo is definitely one for a special occasion and ideal to treat yourself. Prices are on the higher side but to be honest everything is so perfect it's impossible to fault the bill.

If Babbo doesn't have a star come January then there is something deeply wrong with the Michelin Guide! If I could find a bookie I'd stake my house on it!

Moti Mahal is a delightful restaurant for some interesting Indian cuisine. I'm glad to see that the design of the restaurant has expunged all traces of the previous owners venue. The menu holds great promise of a selection of rustic and traditional dishes from the grand Trunk Road and delivers perfectly – an example being the Sorpotel dish with intense and complex flavoured Wild Boar and the Sagar Rattan with it's fragrant flavours. Service is smooth and knowledgeable. Prices are on the steep side but reassuringly – these are some of the best Indian dishes you will taste in London. Chef Ani has done a great job in the kitchen and I look forward to visiting again soon.

So here am I thinking the Swallow Street branch was glitzy… As pointed out it seems that the Gaucho chain seem to go out of their way to do bigger and better each time. I was over at the O2 a few weeks back and had the rather dangerous idea of going a few hours early on the off chance I could find a walk in table at one of the many venues – being a fan of the Gaucho and all things meaty I was very happy to find that they could squeeze me in – perhaps the thousands of rock fans already at the 02 had turned vegan in their senior years?

The Gaucho O2 is incredibly sexy and seems to be the biggest and best yet. Food as always is nice and straight forward – I'd like something light to start with (ok that's a lie – I ordered the Sausage Platter), and for main I'd like a huge steak nice and tender and I'd like it how the chef wants to cook it (it was the 300g Fillet by the way). You simply cant go wrong for a carnivorous treat.Vegetarians of the non-fish kind will always be a little disappointed but to be honest in the same way you don't go to SAF looking for a steak, you don't go to the Gaucho looking for veggie options. Prices for the mains are reassuringly high although starters are a lot more economical.

Service is efficient – Presumably the staff understand that most of the patrons are there prior to an event so look after you swiftly and efficiently without compromising the standards. All in all a very fulfilling meal and I left very satisfied and rather glad that I had booked seats and not the standing area for the concert later. If you are off to the O2 I'd start the night here.

Looking at earlier reviews I was a little unsure as to what to expect on my recent trip to 1901. I'd been to it's earlier incarnation a few years ago so had a rough idea of what to expect. I did however find it a big improvement and certainly a lot better than reviews earlier in the year indicated. Granted it is a very large room and I can understand atmosphere may be affected but for a relaxing but formal lunch it suited me perfectly. I loved the British menu and was great to see so much regional produce in use. I'd opted for a starter of Home cured breast, pickled Scottish girolles, roasted plum and bittercress – The Duck was some of the most delicious I've ever had and mixed very well with the taste of the plum. My main came courtesy of the special of the day which happened to be one of my favourites – Leg of Lamb – wonderfully succulent. Dessert was Baked Apple sponge, lemon-caramel sauce and custard – so delicious and finished the meal off perfectly.

Wines were suggested by the glass from the sommelier who did an excellent job and impressed me by genuinely choosing what he thought would suit rather than what would suit his sales – Something you don't always seem to be able to count on. I'd definitely go back probably for a dinner as I'm curious as to how the atmosphere changes for the evening but in the meantime there is so many other choices in the Hotel I better make plenty of excuses to head to Liverpool Street.

Aqua as a whole venue is a place I've been eagerly anticipating all summer long, having come across some PR releases the concept and the design looked awesome and very similar to the Hong Kong branch. Well the wait is finally over and I took a trip to the Spanish restaurant Aqua Nueva as soon as the doors opened. From the warm greeting on the ground floor to the dining experience I have to say I'm very impressed – a lot of thought has obviously gone into the design and form of the kitchens and the result is a spectacular looking duo of restaurants. In contrast to the dark and sexy Aqua Kyoto the Spanish side is bright and airy and has a chic Mediterranean feel to it.

The food itself from Alberto Hernández is so good – presentation is excellent and taste is divine.Partridge with classic summer salad started me off well with beautiful light tastes and Iberian Pork Neck with peppercorn for main got a huge thumbs up from me also very tender and tasty – the portions large but no so much that I had no room left for the delicious chocolate dessert – very rich and smooth. Service was very friendly and smooth – perhaps a few opening night nerves but nothing to detract from the experience. Finishing off the evening with a couple of cocktails on the rooftop terrace enjoying the views over the west end seriously adds an extra level of enjoyment.

I'm planning on revisiting very soon to try Aqua Kyoto but Nueva will also be revisited very soon. I can see the restaurant being a huge hit in the coming months and I'm sure will be one of the hottest venues in town.

The Long Bar for me serves a purpose fairly well as somewhere to have a quick drink prior to dinner but as a destination seems to lack something – although something I can't quite put my finger on. It's buzzy and full of beautiful people (usually), great cocktails and good people watching, everything you need really so I'm at a loss as to why I don't really like it. Perhaps it feels to me as a watered down version of the Purple Bar at the Sanderson? Anyway I'll keep visiting as a springboard before moving on but if you are looking for somewhere to spend a longer time I'd recommend charming your way into the Purple Bar or heading elsewhere.

I've had a little bit of a Crazy Bear Marathon recently having quite by accident eaten in the Beaconsfield and Whitfield Street restaurants in the same week although it's been a very long time since I eat there. It's good to see the decor is still the same – very extravagant and not at all subtle (in a good way) and it was fun to see the reactions of my guests who had not been previously. The food was as good as I remember it – the Shanghai Hot and Sour soup particularly brought a big smile to my face as did the braised pork smoked ribs. Mains were excellent, Wok fried Lobster with red chillies and coriander an expensive and decadent choice but so good although the sample of my guests red duck curry also hot the spot. Back to my old habit I've again forgotten the wine we had with dinner – I must remember to keep the receipts although I'm sure I'll need an Enigma machine to work out the abbreviations. Prices are good for what you get, obviously some dishes are very expensive and could throw you off budget but go with an open mind and wallet. Overall it's a great place – very in your face and the downstairs bar excellent for after dinner. Would be ideal for a date or just for some fun with friends.

So the big one… London's only 3 Michelin Star restaurant, will it live up to all the expectations and the endless hype or would I leave disappointed? A little bit of a stupid question as I can safely say my meal at RHR was the best I've had in London – ever! From the moment you walk in to the friendly and charming greeting from the legendary Jean Claude you are put instantly at ease and know you are going to be hit with a very special experience. The venue itself is remarkably small compared to some venues – very intimate and bright. The food as you expect is out of this world – the taste, presentation and attention to detail was astounding. As for the food “Ravioli of lobster, langoustine and salmon poached in a light bisque with a lemongrass and chervil velouté” for starter “Confit milk-fed Suffolk pork belly, caramelised endive, apples, grelot onions and Madeira jus” for main and “Granny Smith parfait with blackberry foam, honeycomb and cider sorbet” for dessert – It's almost impossible to describe how fantastic these dishes were – certainly in this limited space. All I can say is get there as soon as you possibly can – if you are worried about overspending go for the bargain set lunch at £45 – It may be a reduced menu but certainly not a reduction of taste or quality.