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Rupert's Reviews

RupertMale, United Kingdom

Member since August 2006

Reviews written: 4 (3 voted helpful)

Hasn’t rated any restaurants this year.

Hasn't posted in the forum yet

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London, London, W1K 1QA)

Editor's pick

This is not a meal I will forget in a hurry.

The whole Ducasse experience is a fantastic, and the only disappointment is the money you have to part with for this enjoyment. Ducasse has worked out the way to make money at a restaurant is to ramp up the wine list to insane levels. I have been lucky enough to eat in some very good restaurants over the years and have always found a good selection of wines at the £50-100 mark. At Alain Ducasse you will struggle to find anything under £100 – even a St Aubin 1er cru is over that – a similar wine is £65 at Chez Bruce.

This left me with a slightly sour after taste from this meal – which is irritating since everything else was incredible. The menu is so full of appealing dishes that we actually didn't go for the taster menu because there were specific items we all wanted on the a la carte menu. The starters are especially good – it was a struggle to choose just one – the chicken and lobster signature dish didnt disappoint, rich and a great combination. The halibut fish course seemed a little bland, but this was in comparison to my rich starter and also having tried the lobster main course which was again full on. The venison main was cooked to perfection and the portion size ideal after the two previous courses. The souffle was beautifully light, whilst the Crispy Chocolate and Earl Grey wasn't just visually appealing. After 4 impressive courses I did not feel overly full, always a good sign after such fine food.

As I said before – not a meal I will forget – the meal was fantastic, you are made to feel very special and it is so refreshing to be allowed to arrive at 7.30pm and not hurried to leave. Then again for £770 for 3 people it is no wonder they don't need to force another seating!

I am very pleased to have had the chance to eat at such a wonderful restaurant, but I would never go there and pay my own money, unless they introduce a BYOB policy!!

March 2010

Overall:8
Food and Drink:10
Service:9
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:3
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Corrigan's Mayfair (28 Upper Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 7EH)

When asked about my meal at Corrigan's last week, I replied the menu was “interesting”, This brought a worried look, “interesting” doesn't sound too positive. But it was “interesting” in a good way. The menu was varied and imaginative. It wasn't trying too hard, but there were no average looking dishes, everything had appeal.
The lobster risotto was light and an ideal starter. The vension looked excellent, but I opted for the John Dory with a razor clam, beautifully prepared and delicious. The Venezuelan Chocolate & Tonka Bean pudding was rich, but not too much too handle!

All in all a very fine meal in a nice setting – its a very smartly designed, well lit dining room. The service was good and the Sommelier was particularly helpful. I'd happily return as there were many other options I'd like to try on the menu and I'd like to see what the Chef's Table is like.

February 2010

Overall:9
Food and Drink:9
Service:9
Atmosphere:8
Value for Money:8
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Scott's (20 Mount Street, London, W1K 2HE)

Having been here a few years ago and enjoyed a wonderful meal I have always had it in my head that Scott's is the best fish restuarant in London. I returned this Saturday for lunch and again was impressed, but not dazzled.

The setting is slick and the service impressive, admitedly there wasn't a big crowd in at 12.30, but by 1pm there was hardly a spare seat to be seen. The selection of starters is impressive – from oysters (try with wild boar sausages), to smoked fish to a number of excellent others including the octopus carpaccio. Their main courses are the obvious array of delicious sounding fish, but also some interesting meat dishes for those who need a break. My halibut was good and beautifully presented but nothing on the halibut I had at The Square before Christmas. I think this summed it up for me – the food was very good, but I know I have had better.

It doesn't come cheap clearly either – £210 for 2 people! Is it worth it? I don't think I would race back to pay with my own money, but for good fish you always have to pay top whack. Its a fun restaurant with a good atmostphere, backed up with good quality cooking, but as I walked home contemplating if it was the best for fish in London, I passed a sign outside another famous fish restaurant, it read “The best fish restaurant in London”… Well there is only one way to find out – will be booking up One-O-One very soon!

February 2010

Overall:8
Food and Drink:8
Service:8
Atmosphere:9
Value for Money:6
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The Ivy (1-5 West Street, London, WC2H 9NQ)

I took a friend here this week – he'd never been and had a few pre-conceptions “its very expensive, with flashy food and its so posh”. How wonderful it was to change his mind on this.

We turned up without a booking at 8pm on a Wednesday night, we were seated within 5minutes! Lucky to get in between the pre and post theatre crowds no doubt.

The menu is wonderfully simple – every comfort food you can imagine plus a few more refined options. Where else can you start with a tuna sashimi followed by a chicken curry!? Everything on the menu is so appealing. It is not a culinary experience, but more of a whole package experience – good food and a great atmosphere, with some celebrity spotting if that is your thing.

The bill was very reasonable: 2 aperitifs, 1 bottle wine, 1 half pudding wine and 3 courses for 2 was easily under £200.

A fun place for dinner, though don't go expecting to be knocked over by complicated pretentious food (there are plenty of places to do that in London) – more a place to sit back and enjoy a fun meal!

February 2010

Overall:9
Food and Drink:8
Service:9
Atmosphere:10
Value for Money:9
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