Alex Webb on Park Lane

Alex Webb has gone on to do great things since winning MasterChef: The Professionals in 2020, including opening his own permanent restaurant following a successful pop-up residency at Number One Park Lane in Mayfair. All this happened, might we add, in two short years.

The dining room is seductive and expensive-looking thanks to strategic spotlighting and a huge rear-wall mirror which magnifies the space. It’s not without its cosy charm though. For one, there’s a bust of a peacock protruding from one of the sea blue walls, and the room is filled with the sort of antique, mahogany furniture you might expect to see in an old country home. These quirks have the calming effect of making one feel at ease despite its undeniably Mayfair-esque location.

Some of the dishes that led Alex to victory on MasterChef are on the menu - marked by a capital ‘M’ - which we ended up choosing for every course. A starter of beetroot and lime cured salmon was paired with a pale green fennel puree and small chunks of fresh orange. The fish was beautifully soft and undoubtedly high quality, but required something citrusy beyond the orange to lift those subtle flavours off the ground. For main course, perfectly-cooked chicken breast was doused liberally in a crisp chicken skin crumb and served alongside generous lashings of cauliflower puree, creamy coleslaw and a thick chicken jus. It was delicious, but again, needed a touch of acidity to cut through all that richness. The best dish came last: a smooth passion fruit parfait brought to life by tiny, intense splodges of passion fruit gel, and served with a refreshing champagne sorbet.

Well worth the £35 price tag is an expertly-chosen wine flight, which begins with a guzzlable 2019 Pinot Blanc and ends with a sweet Recioto di Soave bursting with notes of almond and toffee. Overall, Alex's unique take on seasonal British cooking is creative, competent and hugely promising. 

2020 MasterChef winner Alex Webb has opened his debut restaurant at the InterContinental Park Lane, and the food is just as elaborate as the venue. With a key focus on British produce, Alex takes inspiration from his travels throughout life and nostalgic flavours from his childhood.

The restaurant gives a contemporary feel that oozes class and sophistication. Far from the classic white table cloth and chandeliers that you’d usually find in a restaurant of this calibre, Alex Webb on Park Lane has followed the InterContinental down a more modern path. Think trendy bistrot meets refurbished warehouse, proving that less is more when the food is so capable of holding its own.

With a background at the likes of Dinner by Heston and The Frog, it’s no surprise that Alex Webb has learnt to incorporate so much finesse into his cooking. Both a four- and seven-course tasting menu are on offer throughout the week, so you can travel through Alex’s life in food one bite at a time. From some of his earliest memories in food with ‘Cheesy Chester Puffs’, which he first cooked in primary school, to a cod and white bean cassoulet based on one of his winning MasterChef dishes, there really is a whole spectrum of skill on show here. For dessert there’s a glimpse into the chef's playful side, including ‘Alex’s mystery box: can you get inside?’ which challenges you to unlock the incredible choux bun pudding.

Creative cocktails are available from the restaurant bar along with a carefully curated wine list. Perhaps one of the more impressive options though is a cider of Alex’s own signature blend from Sandford Orchards created especially for the restaurant. However, if all of this choice is overwhelming, wine and cider pairings are available alongside the menu for £25 per person.

With fine dining comes service to match, and this is no exception for Alex Webb on Park Lane. Staff are on hand to ensure you make it from start to finish without a single bump in the road.