So funny story, we were looking to go somewhere fancy for a pricey but "reasonable" lunch and saw that Helena Darroze had a table for the £125 for 3 courses. This ticked all the boxes but when we turned up the 3 course menu wasn't offered so we sucked it up and went for the full tasting menu. When in Rome and luckily a decent bonus meant we could swallow it. In the end, everything was amazing except the price. I don't think the experience is so much better here to warrant the extra £££ over the 1 stars i have been to but incredible meal
Amuse-Bouches,
Can't remember what each one was but they all had different flavours, textures and spicing. Lovely. Had multiples throughout the whole meal (only 3 captured here). The mushroom soup drink was spectacular
Onion Soup
When you go to a 3 star you want to have a dish that blows you away (vegerable pie at Ducasse for example). This was mine. So much going on in such a simple dish, the cheese and bread were a glorious combo. Very memorable
Prawn/Beetroot
I can't eat the prawn but my wife said it was delicious, it looked amazing. The beetroot was really nice but didn't make me go ooo
Lobster
Signature from Helene, this was lovely. The spicing was magnificent, slow gentle warmth throughout but never overpowering. I can see why it's a signature
Hare
Really lovely textures here with the slow cooked hare in the middle, really unctious meal. Lots of butter
John Dory
Fish done well is nice. Fish done really well is very nice. Perfect fish with some punchy cauliflower was a great dish
Guinea Fowl
Everything cooked to perfection and a great combo but nothing to make you go think wow
Sea Buckthorn
Had no idea what of expect from this but it was full of flavour and refreshing. Really surprising and tasty desert
Chocolate
Rich indulgent chocolatey goodness, but too much by the end to finish it all off
Drinks
Had 2 very nice cocktails (the connaught in general does some of the best cocktails in london) and 2 very nice glasses of wine
Verdict
Everything here is of the highest quality. It was the most comfortable I have ever felt in a restaurant, the room and furnishings are lovely. Staff really engaging and fun. All the crockery was stunning, especially the wine glasses. The food was some of the best we've eaten, every dish tasted phenomenal and some had plenty of surprises. I will also say the portion sizes were much bigger than normal, we were stuffed by the end. But, would I recommend it? Only if you have money to splash. There aren't many better restaurants in London i imagine but the price is just too high to say it's good value for money.
by Nifefiend