R.R.Gill's Reviews

I had a lovely lunch at L'Anima last Monday and it was a great way to start the week. I'm a big fan of Francesco Mazzei and certainly was not let down. The interior is a clean and sharp contemporary design, the atmosphere was very city-boy orientated but being in the heart of the city you would expect this. Friends and clients have informed me however that the evenings are more relaxed and has a good buzz to it. I started with a delicious, Black Angus beef carpaccio with pickled wild mushrooms and parmigiano – the taste of the mushrooms contrasted nicely with the melt in the mouth beef, one of the best carpaccios I've had. I moved onto the slow roast black pork belly which was divine – tender enough to fall apart when probed and a lovely golden crackling. As I wasn't in a rush my dining partner and I went through a couple of desserts, the pistachio and chocolate iced truffle being a particular favourite – the type of dessert that gives a big smile on your face and an even bigger one in your tummy – for rich chocolate lovers this is a must. I'm planning on returning as soon as possible for dinner.

I've dined a couple of times recently at Sake No Hana and am glad for it. I first visited the venue not too long after it opened and it was pleasant then, but I wouldn't have rushed back. A year later and they seemed to have cured the previous issues – with service, some of the dishes and the non existent wine list. On my last visit I dined with a group of close colleagues and was blown away. We did slightly over-order but had decided to sample as much as possible and managed to get through a grand total of 24 dishes. The starters of King crab and cucumber sunomono, Chicken and kanpyo maki roll were particular favourites and mains of Miso Chilean seabass in houba leaf, Red king crab in ponzu and Wagyu beef with mountain yam were all dishes I'd quite happily mug my colleagues for. Prices can get astronomical for larger tables so while I personally can't afford to eat there as often as I'd like I will return as often as possible. Although they do now have a wine selection I'd urge diners to skip this and speak with the Sake sommelier who picked the perfect choices to go with our feast. Service was excellent and the grace and delicacy of the waitresses made the experience all the more authentic (In an uber-chic contemporary environment of course!).

I was quite nervous on my first trip to the Ritz. It is after all an institution and a benchmark for the best of British (although it's French food). While it is still ultra-formal and very old school I have to applaud the entire team for the dining experience they provide. The service is the finest I have ever seen – the waiters have an almost ESP-like ability and seem to know what you want before you do! As for the food it was presented with perfection the warm salad of native Lobster with duck egg & caviar was divine and the main of Sea bass with artichoke one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. Atmosphere wise I did find it a little too stuffy but that's purely a reflection on my tastes and not the restaurant itself. Prices are relatively high but reflect the standard of the food and service. One for a special occasion – perhaps with the olds.

I was lucky enough to be invited to join a colleague to sample the Chef's Table experience at Maze and have to say without a doubt it was the most amazing dining experience I have ever had. The entire experience is meticulously put together and the selection of dishes is fantastic. We were asked for any likes or dislikes prior to the meal and let the Kitchen team, supervised by Jason Atherton come up with 10 dishes of pure heaven. With a matching selection of wines with every 2 courses a tour of the Kitchen and one of our table press-ganged into cooking one of the courses for us, it was a mixture of dining and theatricals. The price for this experience doesn't come cheap but after trying this culinary delight I think for a special occasion (and considering the excellence of the meal all round) it's well worth it. The atmosphere has been marked very high because of the company I was with and be warned it's a long long meal so go with your best friends and if lunching cancel all your afternoon appointments.

Another of my particular favourites Le Caprice never lets me down – Slick service and welcoming staff instantly put you at ease and allow you to proceed with enjoying some of the best comfort food on offer. The crispy Duck salad is always a favourite for me as is the beer battered Haddock with minted mushy peas. Getting in can sometimes be difficult at short notice but if I'm wanting a casual but nice dinner then dining at the bar counter is always an option I'd keep in mind..

I'm probably one of the few who find the Ivy overrated – It's pleasant, has a good buzz and the food is pretty good however I feel compared to it's siblings in Caprice Holdings it doesn't deliver. 45 minute waits for my table don't help and neither does feeling rushed through the meal as they are obviously expecting another table. I want to like it but quite simply find it to be very average. (I'll get my coat…)

It may no longer be the coolest or hippest venue in town, but in the 30+ times I've dined here over the years I've never been let down. The atmosphere is always electric and loud and the food consistantly good. The Pot Roast Pork, Thai Beef Salad are particular favourites and tend to be repeated each time I go. The additional pull of the Light Bar as well makes it a great venue.