6 stars in 3 days in London

In London for work and decided to make the most of it, visiting an old favorite and trying a few new spots. Disclaimer – I’m not an expert but I’ve eaten lots of stars on a few continents over the last 10ish years. Love food, please don’t call me a foodie!

Clove Club** – inviting space, service with connection, food that’s familiar but encourages contemplation. Highlights were the scallops and dessert courses. Good champagnes and sparkling wines at a reasonable price point. Still great food, and experience that leaves you feeling taken well care of

Core by Clare*** – the chorus of greetings on entry left me feeling excited that I had walked into an episode of the Bear. The space is both warm and cold, traditional, formal and a little surreal. Although service was mostly flawless, we did get a bit of attitude for asking to chill down our champagne, even after caveating we know it isn’t the done thing. We enjoyed the 2018 Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Brut instead of a pairing. High marks for the innovation and technical execution of the menu, definitely some inspired moments, but I didn’t feel the soul of the food. We ordered one of each so we could try everything. I did like the whimsy of the wine gums at the finish. Unfortunately the most memorable part of the evening was a rowdy table on the other side of the room that was so loud for the second half of our meal that I could barely hear myself speaking. That was a first for me. Still a good experience overall

Trishna* – I went back and forth on which starred Indian restaurant to visit and after researching the sub, settled on Trishna for lunch. Lovely bright space but a bit cramped. Food was flavorful, service was efficient. Lamb tandoori was excellent and even ordering a la carte we had leftovers for later

Other recommendations
FKABAM for something irreverent
Tayer and Bar With Shapes for a Name for cocktails
Plane Food for airport fish and chips
Dishoom if you need to plan a team dinner