THE STYLE LIST     FEBRUARY 

RESTAURANTS LONDON

With Valentines day fast approaching I thought I would share with you some recent tried and tested eateries in our wonderful Capital. One of the best cities for diverse great food and wonderful service it is hard to be disappointed these days although two places this month did manage it. The four that made it onto this month style list were all tried and tested in the last month and truly deserve their place.

Enjoy !

THE HOT LIST !!

Corrigans

CORRIGANS (Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair)I was treated to a wonderful Sunday lunch with a special gentleman (£29 for three courses). The best food straightforward and non fussy. The food along with the service was simply superb, indeed faultless. The ambience managed to be superior without being stuffy both in the restaurant and the bar ( a shout out to Sergei). Richard Corrigan well done. Old school done well. This restaurant has been around for several years can't believe this one passed me by !!! Try it ! Truly old school style.

The Library Room

SKETCH (Conduit Street , Mayfair)If you are going to eat here only select The Library room if you only wanted to be surrounded by beauty and tranquility. The Gourmet Rapide Menu represents real value for money and a true culinary experience. Unlike traditional Corrigans this menu is truly nouveau and the exquisite dishes really take you on a taste journey. The staff here too are excellent from the moment you enter the main entrance. They always make me feel like the most important person ever to have dined there ( although I do dine there often). They also remember the wines I drink and my favourite dishes I am sure they keep a file. A wonderful selection for Valentines dinner or a special occasion…or just lunch !

The bar at Cicchetti

CICCHETTI (Heddon Street) I was invited to the opening of the new basement bar in Piccolinos . This chain of restaurants  are a really strong brand and the new bar was inviting and smouldering. An ideal venue for a valentines rendezvous. Menu excellent and affordable. A sociable bar.

Zuma

ZUMA (Raphael street , Knightsbridge) I cannot do a restaurant blog without mentioning my perennial favourite Zuma managing to beat off all the competition after all these years.

THE NOT LIST !!!

THE DORCHESTER GRILL (Park Lane)            Alain Ducasse lends his name to this restaurant having eaten at The Hotel De Paris in Monaco we were expecting great things. This was shockingly bad. The restaurant completed a major refurbishment but managed to still look dated and shabby. I booked a special offer that they had since changed in that week but they didn't want to honour so the poor customer service immediately put me on edge and so NOT

The Grill

stylish Dorchester ! The leek veloute was like thick green sludge and the lobster ravioli was so stuffed with herbs I'm not sure where the lobster was. I can only presume many people thought this prior to my visit as the restaurant was empty. Unfortunately this establishment has not kept up with the fast changing pace of the London landscape. Will not be revisiting !!

HUSH (Lancashire Court)

Welcome to Hush

Now this hurts me to write this as I love to eat in the upstairs bar they really do have a great bar menu and I love the ambience but what I do not love is that the bar staff are all eastern European women who seem to think that men have precedence over women when it comes to being served! This has happened on several occasions its almost as though women without men with them are totally invisible. It must be a cultural thing a real need for training here as in London the sexes are very much equal and we don't always have to have men with us to buy the drinks  !! Have now raised this with Pedro who hopefully will address the issue to treat us on a more equal basis. Come on Hush not difficult ! Pull your socks up !! Will be putting this to the test and will report back in a future blog.

So Valentine style vamps enjoy these fabulously stylish restaurants (you know the ones to avoid ) but only to be enjoyed on any other night than the 14th ! So not stylish !!!!!!!! Stay in and cosy up xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tune in next time LIVE FROM LA reporting on the 'go go' and the 'no no' of the Oscar dresses.