01/04/2019: This is a well oiled organisation but is the set lunch at £73, including wine, too good to miss? First of all the tables are released on Le Gavroche website 2 months in advance. If you want a Friday or week-end meal then be prepared to book at this time. Entering through the door (which strangely opens outwards), on Upper Brook Street, is a spiritual experience. The small but intimate ground floor bar is thick with fabric and resembles a beduin tent. Indeed what outside views are available, as well as light, are almost completely hidden. The cocktails are great and in particular I recommend the Jean Valjean accompanied by 2 memorable canapés served in the most professional manner possible. There is no rush and eventually you will be taken downstairs where your table and wine are waiting. This is haute cuisine par excellence with a swarm of formally dressed staff who seem to anticipate your needs as well as being ready to chat. Indeed their dress compares well with the diners of whom only 50% of men were wearing a tie. The decor downstairs can be described as traditional this is certainly not a minimalistic restaurant. Again there are few windows so you are aware of eating in a basement. As the room filled so did the noise level (no canned music here) and this busyness detracted from the experience. Everything is beautifully prepared and served including bread, amuse bouche and petits fours. You can choose from a small selection in the lunch menu which changes regularly. The starter of pork terrine was rather bland and a typical country French style pate which I found surprisingly disappointing. However celeriac soup tasted like it was made in heaven. Quail main was beautifully cooked and served in a large quantity. It did not have the wow factor of other similarly starred restaurants. The cheese trolley was exceptional and accompanied by chutney and nut bread - well worth ordering. My sweet dessert was attractively presented with flowers and tasted very good indeed. All of this was washed down with the included half bottle of wine per person which was chosen from a small but excellent list. Coffee is also included. Towards the end of the meal the restaurant manager came for a chat but we saw no sign of the great chef himself. Overall you can have memorable lunch here and do not need to pay more than £73 each unless you have a cocktail. The place does not have the magic of the previous Gavroche on Lower Sloane Street and maintains an old-fashioned atmosphere. For the true culinary experience you would need to chose from the a la carte or tasting menu but the latter is considerably more expensive. On the way out around 8 staff almost lined up to say goodbye - exceptional!

21/06/2019: Still one of the best restaurants ever.