Based on 191 opinions finded in 1 websites
Based on 191 opinions finded in 1 websites
Nº 197 in 1366 in Kensington and Chelsea
Nº 10 of 52 French in Kensington and Chelsea
Opinions
Also das Restaurant ist sehr edel eingerichtet und das Menü wird Gang für Gang sehr schön präsentiert aber aus was das Menü besteht ist mir persönlich etwas zu experimentiert worden.Geschmacklich interessant aber manchmal zu viel des Guten.
Smithim64 . 2016-02-06
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Tuvimos el 7 course menu de degustación, que era increíble. Muy creativa y visualmente genial. La frescura y el sabor de la comida era increíble y el servicio es excepcional. Con todos los otros pequeños platos cosas trae a la mesa acaba siendo un campo 10 menú de degustación. Una buena selección de vinos maridaje woo. Una gran experiencia.
dazzarapp . 2015-09-11
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Mi esposa asistieron a una despedida de soltero y tenía hambre.
vonlind . 2015-05-19
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В прошлом году мне удалось побывать в этом чудесном месте. Скажу честно я узнал о нем из интернета. Когда был в Лондоне этот ресторан был в моем списке номер один для посещения. Интерьер был для кого то может простым, но как по мне гармоничный и очень правильный. Обслуживание правильное, именно правильное ! Кухня от Тома это просто нечто ! Это не просто еда, это все таки творения ! Для всех кто имеет возможность побывать в ресторане шефа Тома ... Желаю действительно испытать гастрономический оргазм...
Gabriell S . 2014-09-26
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Esse restaurante é incrível! É dificil de conseguir reserva em um horário bom, mas insista pois vale a pena! Nem pense em ir sem reserva!! Ele é totalmente diferente de tudo o que já experimentei... são pouquíssimas mesas por noite, e os pratos são verdadeiras obras de arte. Você é constantemente surpreendido pelos sabores e texturas diferentes nos pratos... muito bacana!
Lali022 . 2014-08-08
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Really nice location situated in a quiet street. Fabulous cuisine and excellent wine list. Modern and comfortable interior with an easy, sophisticated ambience.
Tiger50_11 . 2014-04-29
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tuvimos una gran cena aquí antes de embarcarse en nuestras vacaciones de Navidad en diciembre. Lamentablemente, el restaurante tiene ahora cerrada, aunque unas nuevas Tom Aikens insignia se abrirán en Londres más adelante este año. Ver este espacio. No me catalogo en la primera de cocina global (Noma, Celler, etc. ) pero si viven en Londres es una opción sólida si no quieres comprar un vuelo a Copenhague con su comida.
OhBabyItsBen . 2014-02-14
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Tasting menu was good but not consistent, shame there was no flight of wines to accompany the menu. Went in the last week, a shame I hadn't discovered it before.
Ag1971 . 2014-02-08
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In short, my partner and i enjoyed a fantastic night at Tom Aikens, i had eaten here before the refurb and had to come back and try what i can only describe as a clean cut vision for a relaxed yet sophisticated experience of both the talents within the kitchen and the utmost professional and knowledgable service. The reincarnation from what was before suits not only my preferred dining experience but also very true unto itself. We both enjoyed 3 courses from the a la carte however the canapes, bread and petit fours made it great as an almost tasting menu experience. The breads were warm, fresh and different with great flavoured butters as an addition - you receive your own bowl/basket of breads that last you from pre starter to main, there was almost something to eat through our 2.5 hour experience. The scallop and crab fresh, clean and imaginative with then the cod and piglet perfectly executed with each acompinament adding different layers of rarely seen pairings. Chocolate dessert always a winner at toms, and the cheese selection with pickles, bread and crisps were a great way to finish - although so i thought... moments later came 12 different petit fours which when i had finished i was faced with the food wall ( could not eat another morsel)
callum l . 2014-01-23
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Esta es la tercera vez que voy en 18 meses y es perfecto. El crítico inconveniente podría ser que no todos los cambios en el menú de degustación.
leunamme . 2014-01-19
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Second visit to this restaurant. Since our last time, the restaurant has had a refurbishment and now looks lot less formal. Unfortunately the nice surprises we had the first time around and the 'wow' factor have gone - hence only 4/5. The warmth of the establishment has also disappeared. Whilst food and service was excellent it was not something unique - i.e. pretty much any of these types of restaurants offer similar dishes. Left satisfied but a little disappointed.
Samir S . 2014-01-08
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I booked the private dinning room for the team. 9 people and some very challenging requests all dealt with superbly. The tasting menu was spectacular and all agreed the whole experience was delicious, memorable and a lot of fun. The dishes were all beautifully presented and the flavours exceptionally well thought out. The whole team loved it which is especially difficult to achieve given that we run a London hotel so do know a limitless about food and hospitality.
ITC57 . 2013-12-31
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Simply splendid. Faultless a la carte selection in both taste and presentation. Not cheap but then where is at this quality in London.
david20051 . 2013-12-17
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My husband took me here for my birthday lunch this week. We had a nice table in the window, and I really liked the simplicity of the furniture and decoration. As others have mentioned, the bread board is really delicious and inventive, and I enjoyed a very tasty chestnut amuse bouche. My starter was the crab with horse radish & coconut snow. It looked beautiful and the taste was lovely, fresh and light, but I agree with other reviews that the crab flavour was rather overpowered by the coconut which was a shame. My main course was the cod which was disappointing. The dish lacked any real depth of flavour, and the best bit on the plate was the cripsy cod skin. My husband had the piglet belly which was delicious, and I had serious food envy. We didn't order pudding, and once we ordered a coffee and were given our petit fours we were glad we didn't. The petit fours were plentiful and absolutely delicious, and finished off our meal on a high note. I would definitely try this restaurant again as our overall experience for lunch was great, but I would expect more from my food next time.
RN80 . 2013-12-11
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The Restaurant is Scandinavia meets Zen & is dimly lit, which is fine. The tables are almost bare with a linen napkin and a glass . The menus come in a slip … Interesting but actually did not really grab me.The staff are like soldiers and the tension was high amongst them! It feels clean and minimal but I did not think the food was! We had some amuse bouche of venison served on half a bone , I am not squeamish but why would you do that ? The chestnut amuse bouche was interesting and served on a wooden square platter with chestnuts , lichen and leaves …oak ? Totally unsure what the third one was as our waitress unfortunately spoke quietly with a heavy Eastern European accent , when asked to repeat what some of the dishes were , we were none the wiser, jolly difficult to understand her ! Every dish was explained to us and we only managed to grab the odd word ! The bread platter is amazing with tomato butter and possibly mushroom butter. My starter was crab with coconut snow …the snow totally overpowered the delicate crab. We were told there were borage flowers but only found a slightly wilted blue flower , unsure if that was borage but the plate was dominated by pansies and nasturtium petals (?)My friend had a foam all over his starter which he did not like …why foam ? isn't that quite old hat ? The heritage carrots were OK but really nothing to write home about. I didn't like the presentation of the belly of pork with smoked aubergine and small coffee spoon size apple and thyme sauce. The taste again was Ok but I wasn't blown over about it . The servers stand with large trays waiting for the waiters to serve the dishes and our waitress pushed one of the servers back against the wall, more tension!We didn't order any puddings but a platter of cheese. Tiny morsels for a mouse ! Coffee and then the bill . The petit fours only came after the bill was ordered which was strange ! They were amazing ….though I do not understand the minimal granite cube that weighs a ton and then an old tin with more petit fours ? It's all too complicated for me …I actually did not even think it was clever…you are overloaded with tastes and flavours and all the portions are ridiculously small. I don't think it helped with all the tension front of house. Do not go there if you are hungry or have a large appetite. I will certainly not be returning! Mr Aitken, sort out your soldiers a smile wouldn't go amiss.
Serena-Antonia . 2013-12-08
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Food presentation is an absolute wow. The way it is put together creates a centrepiece attraction. it is almost certainly the most impressive I have experienced. The tastes were also rather clever. As usual with these types of restaurant,, the menu does not give too many clues as to what will arrive, but the surprise is certainly worth waiting for. I'm not sure I thought the scallops were an absolute wow, but the piglet belly main and almond cluster and green tea desserts certainly were. Quite outstanding. As were the hor d'oeuvres and petit fours. Very imaginative. This restaurant is not cheap (c £440 for 4 people incl pre-dinner drink, two modest bottles of wine and 3 courses) though for the quality it is pretty reasonable and I'd certainly return. It is probably best for a couple or a foodie interested four. The acoustics make for quite a high background noise so hearing what people are saying even for a four was not that easy (this seems to be a hazard of these modern restaurants). It would have ranked excellent with lower noise levels and every course a wow.
GBZASING . 2013-11-29
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Four of us ate at Tom Aikens restaurant on a wet Friday November night. We walked past the place once as the outside appears matt black with black letters - a sort of 'stealth' restaurant.However once inside I found the decor interesting and modern - unusual bare-topped round oak tables - the room may be a bit under-lit for some but I found it pleasantly different.The food was the best bit - sounds obvious - but so many top end restaurants seem to consider the surroundings and the presentation to be the main attraction. I had a short rib of beef with small balls of brisket and an accompaniment of a mealy starch with, I think, pine nuts. My description can't do justice to the taste which was outstandingly beefy and flavorsome - a triumph of tastes and textures.Other notable plusses - a lovely selection of fresh baked bread and various butters - brilliantly inventive puddings based on the main ingredient, e.g. 'milk', 'pineapple' 'chocolate and violet'. Petit-fours were outstanding and service generally informally friendly although the sommelier took exception to my view that the Italian red wine was served a little cool (apparently, I now know, it is best at 17-18 degrees - I'd say it wasn't more than 13 or 14 - bring a thermometer if you feel like pressing the point).The slightly disappointing courses for me were the starters, I had rabbit with various bits and pieces which didn't really shine, my wife had crab and coconut but the main flavour was coconut The cost - about £105 per head including one bottle of wine between us and a couple of very nice glasses of Gaillac dessert wine (this included an optional/compulsory USA-style 15% service change added for your convenience...)Amounts of food are quite small - keep hold of the bread - you can ask for some more.Overall I thought the fantastic tastes of the mains and desserts were worth the money - maybe we were unlucky with the starters. Not cheap but Aikens is certainly talented. If I went again I'd probably try the tasting menu at £90 a head - I wouldn't want to miss out on some more of the fantastic taste combinations.
fuseman . 2013-11-10
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The restaurant is a favorite that never disappoints and I've been long before it ever earned its Michelin star. The amuse bouche is a sensory feast that defies description and simply must be tried. We skipped starters but were treated to their house made warm breads and butters which made me sacrifice my gluten and dairy intolerance for the evening. The cod with wing meat and mussell and truffle sauce was the most delecate and divine meal I have had in a while. My friend had the piglet belly which was outstanding. Both the Chocolate and Violet and the Almond Cluster desserts we had were without a doubt the best we ever tasted anywhere, again a sensory feast further topped by petit fours which pushed me over the edge with their perfection.
MADHUR R . 2013-11-07
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I had visited Tom Aikens's restaurant before the makeover and the a la carte food I had that day was better than at Le Manoir Aux Quatre Saisons. I visited it again yesterday and can only say that the meal demonstrated, again, that Tom Aikens is simply one of the best chefs in the UK.I went for lunch and took advantage of the TopTable offer of a prix fixe menu (3 courses for £32 including a glass of wine). I had "Monkfish: marinated, cured, lemon puree". It was a clear homage to Michel Bras's "gargouillou"; a breathtakingly pretty assemblage (in this case) of finely sliced monkfish, edible flowers (nasturtium ?) and seeds on a beautiful custom made white dish. And here is precisely why Tom Aikens should be a destination restuarant for every serious diner. First, because he understands we eat first with our sight. Second, because there is true originality married to the final tastes on the tongue. Many other, worse chefs simply ignore whether the innovation they have thought of actually tastes delicious in the mouth. Aikens does not. Thus he knows that monkfish (a noticeably meaty fish) can withstand the curing process and strong enough in flavour to be married with the basil pestou that accompanies it. Aikens understands that the only dishes he should present to the diner are the rehearsed ones that have been worked out (and tweaked) behind the pass.My main course was "Grouse Sausage: ratte potato puree, parsnip, chanterelle". Again, this was absolutely delicious; the sausage was uncompromisingly gamey without being offputtingly so, the mash reminded me of the silky voluptuousness of Robuchon's signature truffled mash and the jus was so good I asked for some more (which I got). The dish was topped by tiny twigs of crispy parsnip to add thoughtful texture.The "free" glass of (presumably the House) Red wine that I had was a glorious mouthful and typically generous in terms of quality; unsurprising that the son of wine merchants would simply not allow any bad wine anywhere near his restuarant even if it was "just the House wine".My dessert was "Pears; confied and poached, pine, sorrel emulsion". Again, a stunning end to a beautifully thought-through menu. The poached pear came with little dabs of exquisitely balanced clove "jam", whilst the confied pear and the sorrel emulsion in a wafer tube demonstrated, without shouting, more of Aikens's care. By this I am referring to the contrast of textures from the sorrel foam to the soft poached pear to the firmer confied one. The level of pains-taking by Mr Aiken is perhaps best demonstrated not just by the differing crockery used for different dishes or the beautiful wood-turned boxes the petit fours come in but by the amuse-bouche and the breads. The amuse bouche was what these 'kisses to the mouth' should be. It was a salt cod brandade with a beetroot foam and sauce. It was an exquisitely beautiful thing to behold but also light, salty and an appetizer for the main events to come, not one of those lazy cloying fatty creamy soup/foams that have become so prevalent today.The breads were, again, stunning. One receives a selection of country, semolina, cep mushroom, buttermilk and bacon and onion. All were clearly fresh, warm and properly made. The care extends to the butters which included a room temperature salted butter, a cep mushroom butter and a bacon and onion one. When I asked for some extra semolina bread to mop up the delicious jus from the main, it was as hot and good as the first set.So why only a "very good" score ? There are a few quibbles and one problem. The quibble relates to the unevenness of the standard of petit fours (which numbered nine in total!). Most were very good, some were just average, none were poor but a few less would have been more. Even here though I would still want to note the generosity of spirit (and portions) that comes from Mr Aikens' idea of a good meal.The main problem was the service. Whilst it was highly efficient and smiling, it has failed to realise that the new more informal and casual atmosphere and dress code the restuarant has adopted have absolutely nothing to do with crossing a familiarity barrier with the customer. I do not want, nor expect, my French pronunciation to be corrected (particularly when it was clearly understood) when dining alone, never mind in front of a guest. Neither do I think it is appropriate to point out the small hole in a customer's coat lining no matter that it was clearly only intended as an amiable conversation piece. Finally the weird alpine, goat herd waistcoats the waiters are forced to wear and the casual dress code for the sommelier and maitre d' should also be ditched. It is crass to think that one cannot create an entirely relaxed and informal atmosphere whilst maintaining a smart dress code for the staff.That said I want to emphasise strongly that these criticisms are only there because I am only comparing Tom Aikens with the very best restuarants in the world which is the only benchmark his cooking should be judged against. Do not miss the opportunity to visit.
Martin D . 2013-11-07
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Is it me but I found the decor a bit bare and impersonal, there is lots and I mean lots , of wood but it all looks too minimal, more like a design canteen. The food did not disappoint. The ricotta and partridge were legendary, the crab and pork were very good.The service was a bit overpowering: friendly but too often.The bill was a present surprise: affordable for a restaurant in this category.
Leroy32 . 2013-11-01
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I was taken to this restuarant by some friends because they offer GF food. The service was fantastic and the food really really good. They handled my GF request without fuss.
Neil C . 2013-10-27
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We thought we would eat at here after seing Tom on the Great British menu.We had a fantastic meal. We had the three course menu and we were not disappointed. Every course was beautifully presented and the taste matched the presentation.It was a Saturday night and all the tables were not full until 9.30. This meant it was not too noisy as some restaurants can be. There was a nice relaxed non stuffy ambience. The service was also good.I am surprised that people have left the restaurant still hungry. We had three canapes when we arrived. Three courses, my husband chose the crab starter which was very different, in a good way, then belly pork and to finish almond cluster. They were all very tasty.I chose the scallops to start, followed by pollock which was cooked beautifully and then pistachio dessert.To finish we had the largest amount of petit fours I have ever seen! We certainly didn't leave hungry!We were very impressed. We have eaten at other Michelin star restaurants and this was on a par without a doubt.
Lisa S . 2013-10-16
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Firstly we had the tasting menu and the wines that went with it.1. Positives: Service good and the staff were very accommodating with the dietary requests we had2. The canapes were very good3. Home made bread very good4. Nice big tables, spaced well and did not feel like a sardine.5. All courses presented beautifully.6. Petit fours with coffee excellent.so why 3 stars ?1. Portions very small2. A lot of the courses were very average. Other than the fish and rabbitt course, none of the dishes were wows. There was nothing that we would order again. Some dishes had foam on which looked like spit and again jellies making an appearance which really did not add anything.3. The scallops were over cooked, we did complain but nothing happened.4. The cheese course is ridiculous and not worth ordering. We were presented with cheeses no bigger than my thumb nail. The bread and chutneys were excellent but there was hardly any cheese and no choice offered.We did complain and were told that the tasting menu is more about the art rather than the quantity of food. 5. The worst were the wines, other than the Rully, most of the wines offered were very average and obscure. The waiter managed to fill our glasses slightly so that he could get about 6/7 glasses of wine from the bottle - but we only got 1/3 glass each. We were offered a 30 year old sherry with the cheese course which was awful. A lot of the wines did not really match the food. At £65 a head i expected more with the sherry costing extra.6. The whole bill came to over £850 , yet we were sober and still hungry7. Although it was saturday night, the place was not full at all, considering it can take 4 months to get a bookingMaybe I am being too critical , if it was your first michelin star place then it is good. But when you pay so much money, I expect every dish to be a wow, and the wines to be excellent. The Rabbitt and fish course highly recommended and i would suggest you pick your own bottle of wine. The foams and jellies are cliches now ! But i am comparing this to other Michelin star places and compared to them it did not rate highly.
ashrafs44 . 2013-10-06
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Honestly one of the best meals we've ever had from start to finish. The sevice and the food are second to none. The combination of flavours in each course blows your mind away with its inventiveness. My starter of home made ricotta with pine nut ice cream and basil jelly was delicious and my main of ribs melted in the mouth! Too good to miss - but make sure to book.
Kersti K . 2013-10-05
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Just go there for an amazing food experience. Unlike hyped places this one really does deliver. It is expensive but you do feel like you are getting value for the prices. Service is very good too. Not a lively atmosphere, but all is forgiven for that food experience.
andrew d . 2013-09-18
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we loved the meal there for a family members birthday! we had the taster menu, consisting of 6-7 courses. Every meal that came out was arty and delicious. Tom also came out and spoke to some customers which was also nice. The atmosphere was nice but the feel than other stuffy high end restaurants! The evening was expensive but entirely worth it and was high quality food. It will not disappoint! The a la carte menu also looked good but for something a little different try the taster!
Luke D . 2013-09-05
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I went to this restaurant last month for a birthday and have just got round to reviewing this wonderful establishment.I went here with my family for a birthday meal which was booked a few weeks in advance. From the minute you step in the door the service is impeccable. We were shown to a lovely table which had a view over the rest of the dining area. The decor is subtle, understated and perfect for a refined evening meal. After choosing our food (which was hard giving the delicious selection) we were presented with the most beautiful appetizer with the most incredible flavours. I won't go on to give away all the secrets of what you can experience at this restuarant as it will ruin the suprise. Also to mention is the extensive wine list, I would be mystified if you can't find the wine you are looking for.I have been to many restaurants in London and this is by far the best meal I have had.
Samphire16 . 2013-08-28
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With prices this restaurant a customer would like to be pampered, instead ..... Being in the bathroom and find your scope and already served mostly cold and really sad. Dinner lasted nearly five hours, leaving the restaurant, to satisfy our sense of satiety had to go to dinner at a pizzeria. Negative experience for the fame that has the chef
Macobio . 2013-08-15
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Second time visiting this place. And it is great still.I suppose this restaurant is not far in my top three ever and the foie gras course (3rd in the tasting menu with beetroot and cherry) is maybe the best I have ever tasted.Service is good. Room is great, without table cloth but I love the informal setting.All the courses are a surprise and not one was bot perfectly delivered.I'll go back!
leunamme . 2013-08-11
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This evening my fiancée and I dined here. We had the tasting menu and from the very first dish we were extremely underwhelmed by the dishes on offer. The bread that arrived was absolutely second to none but the following 7 courses left a lot to be desired. Having worked as a chef for most of my life I fully expected food at this level to set my taste buds alight and blow me away. However, although the presentation was absolutely impeccable the actual construction and cooking involved in the dishes seemed to demonstrate a desire to include every single modern gastronomic technique with very little allowance for flavour and texture combinations. This is to say that we both believed the dishes lacked greatly in their actual consumption enjoyability. For the money we spent I would much rather have enjoyed a week on a Spanish island and cooked paella every night.
Garry1206 . 2013-08-03
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I’ve wanted to try out this restaurant for some time, as everyone raves about the brilliance of Tom Aikens. As “Star Chasers” my wife and I love the Michelin star experience. But not, I’m afraid, this time. I would agree that what we ate on the day was a technical masterpiece, but the words of many TV critics kept ringing in my ear…..he puts too much on the plate/he doesn’t know when to stop/far out flavours and so on.First off though, the bread. Absolutely stunning, especially the savoury brioche which remains the best brioche we’ve had by far. So we thought what a great start! 10/10 for the bread.This continued into our first course of the 7 course taster menu with eel, which was wonderful. 8/10.The 2nd course, the fois gras should be sued under the Trades Description Act as it wasn’t fois gras at all. It was described as such but all you got were fois gras shavings on top of some white asparagus and white asparagus sorbet. This sorbet was stunning, beautifully realized and strong in flavour. But I love fois gras and when a dish is described as such then I expect to taste of fois gras and not be raving about the accompaniment. I thought this dish was very mean. 5/10.After that though, things got worse. Our dish of scallop and yeasted potato was one flavour too far with the potato tasting like blue cheese and totally overpowering the scallop. 3/10.However I thought the next dish, ricotta, very good and for a change a reasonable helping. 7/10.The nest course - monkfish, was very nice and the white strawberries within it were a taste sensation. Overall though this dish was a tad bland. 7/10. And then the main courses. I had the lamb, my wife the piglet. The lamb was good, although a touch over cooked and very little meat. The worse bit was the 10 odd other flavours on the dish! Too much Tom, too much! This was just overkill and the flavour blended into one rendering the whole dish bland. Yet there was some awesome cooking behind it, which I can and do appreciate but someone needs to rein the ideas in. 5/10But now my wife’s piglet. Oh dear oh dear. First off as the main course it was tiny, about the size of my thumb and on the outside of the dish was a smoked apple concoction, which was awful. Not only that but it totally overtook all other flavours and was too smoky so the whole dish tasted of smoke. It was, I’m afraid to report, thoroughly unpleasant and woefully small. 2/10Finally the dessert, aa strawberry dish which was quite good, but let’s be honest it was only strawberries. I have to say the white strawberry in the monkfish were better tasting but in this dessert the flavours were varying from excellent to bland. Again, a technical triumph but the technicality did not bring out the best in the whole dish. 5/10.So what can I say? Desperately disappointing yet somehow I still admire the technical achievement of the cooking. It’s a real shame as the restaurant is beautiful, the bread was lovely and the little extras were brilliant, it just missed the flavour spot by a country mile.We won’t be returning.
Teamtango . 2013-07-17
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The dining room was lacking in sparkle and gave the impression of having once perhaps been a bar, a nod to which might have been the clothless tables. We were brought a very good selection of breads, including a super bacon and onion brioche, but there were no bread plates. The amuse-bouches, pork rillettes and pork crackling were very acceptable, following which I chose the beef tartare which came with smoked eel in celeriac tubes, oxtail cubes, toast soup and a couple of foams. Quite enjoyable, but a spoon to finish off the soup would have been nice. My wife had a pickled beetroot salad which was as pretty as a picture with a cold beetroot mousse, pickled cherries, smoked beetroot jelly and a taste of amaranth. For our main course we opted for the good, fresh John Dory served with (too much) cucumber, Jersey royals done three ways, not all of which suited this type of potato - boiled (underdone), mashed (overseasoned), and roast (overcooked), and quinoa with roast quinoa seed, potentially interesting but in practice superfluous, and we would much rather have had more quinoa and done without the potato. The doughnut peach dessert also comprised a number of elements, including lavender panna cotta balls in poppy seeds and almond pieces, honeycomb, and peach liquor on peach jelly, to make a good combination of tastes, temperatures and textures. But it did beg the question, where was the doughnut? To go with our coffee we had a generous round of petits fours, which, with the bread, were just about the best things about this meal. Overall, and mention must be made of the slightly off-hand service, we found this unconvincing.
acko_10 . 2013-07-17
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We chose this restaurant for a family celebration where we wanted something better and different to anything we had eaten before. We were not disappointed. The flavours were quite literally amazing with even the bread arriving in many different types with 3 different butters. Each course was a visual treat and tasted even better than it looked. The variety of flavours and textures on each and every plate were testiment to the amount of care that must go in to the cooking here. There is clearly a drive for excellence in everything that is served. The service is understated but excellent with knowledgeable staff and outstanding wine advice.It is expensive but worth the money. We all agreed that it was the best meal we had ever eaten!
Susan K . 2013-07-16
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Fantastic meal at Tom Aikens for Saturday dinner -The restaurant itself is fairly dark but warm, with a more informal atmosphere than most restaurants in its league. Nice touches like wine list being pages stuck into a encylopedia of wine book etc. Amuse bouche was varied with 3 or 4 little bits to each have, each packed with flavour. For starters we had the crab and the scallop dishes, both tasty and well designed. We both had the piglet belly for main - one of the best mains I've ever had, with the succulent belly complemented with smokey aubergine! Warning before you order dessert though - the amount of petit fours is so large, that its almost a dessert for each of you already. Great moursels of chocolate and other sweet bites. 100% recommended. Simply you must try
Phil A . 2013-07-13
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The change made was good here gone with the table cloths and fine bone china in with the relaxed oak tables. The food very different too smoked eel and apple for a starter which was very good the main course was my highlight chicken with langoustines and a consommé to die for truly exceptional cooking. Pistachio dessert for me was too sweet but the petit fours made up for this nearly 8 different! Bill presented in a quirky old cook book - nice touch overall a very good meal.
TJ318 . 2013-06-30
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I like this restaurant. Everything is just right. I like the atmosphere, the decor of the restaurant is beautiful. But this is not about plates and chairs, this is all about food. I can tell you for sure that food is delicious, the meals presentation is gorgeous and service is immaculate.Very enjoyable dinner with beloved one.
Maria G . 2013-06-24
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Go for a special meal. Very unusual creative dishes. Great tastes.... Not every day food but great meal... Only negative was the price... Very expensive....
NTGF . 2013-06-24
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Visited this restaurant on a Saturday night for a 9.00 pm table & the place was pretty busy. The restaurant is dark, with pools of light over your table which illuminates the food & gives you a feeling of intimacy.Chose the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings at £155 per head. Had a pre dinner cocktail & my wife a glass of champagne. Regarding general feedback on the dishes -Amuse Bouche- consisted of tempura smoked eel, grenade of cod & a pea & mint gazpacho to cleanse the pallet. All presented beautifully & very tasty.Breads & Butter- 5 varieties of delicious, warm breads with 3 accompanying butter to include egg & bacon & mushroom butter. Very nice indeed.1) Smoked Eel- delicately assembled dish that tasted nice, but very little eel. Wine accompaniment was average.2) Foie Gras - came with a white asparagus ice cream & grated Foie Gras & was delicious. The wine accompaniment was ok.3) Baked Scallop - was presented in its shell with Osso Bucco & was very good, I also liked the red wine that came with it, although I would have preferred at room temperature.4) Housemade Ricotta - came with green olive juice, honey jelly & pine nuts & was tasty, although I thought the portion was a little big as very rich. The wine accompaniment was excellent.5) Poached Tail of Monkfish - which came with a confit of squid, piglet beely & white strawberries, was unusual, but really worked. Again the wine was good with this course.6) Piglet belly -braised & roast, baked aubergine & smoked apple. We both hated this dish. It was nothing but fat, the skin was soft & the smoke overpowered everything & tasted vile. The red wine was again chilled & not to my liking.7) Wild Strawberries - was one of the best sweets I have ever eaten & the work tat must have gone into this plate of food was outstanding. The pudding wine that came with it was nectar.Petit Four - was an impressive array of chocolate bits, but was difficult to share & confusing.Believe me I really wanted to thing this place was mega, especially with a £200 per head final price tag. Lots of it was superb, but was let down in places with average wines & a terrible main dish. It would also have been nice to be given a list of the wines, so i could avoid some of them!! Overall, very good, but I am unlikely to return, with so many other London Michelin Starred restaurant to try.
Leedsaway67 . 2013-06-23
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Very enjoyable dinner with a good friend. Beautifully inspired by the then ongoing RHS Chelsea flower show.The service was impeccable. You could taste and feel the amount of effort it took to put each dish together. I especially love how each dish was finished at the table.
garygraphy . 2013-06-20
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The rather bare surroundings make a refreshing change from the stuffiness of some high-end restaurants. As other reviewers have said, it is a relaxing place to be. The staff are friendly and efficient, although not always knowledgeable (for example, not knowing the names and origins of my cheeses). Their unconventional "uniforms" are confusing and are trying too hard to be different. The wine list is very interesting, and the sommellier very helpful and knowledgeable, but markups are substantial.We ate a la carte and were presented with many beautiful things. Presentation is intricate, complex and a joy to see. Flavours, on the other hand, were a disappointment throughout. My smoked eel, for example, contained very little eel and the flavours were clever, but way too subtle.The same was true of other dishes. Beautiful but too delicate.The cheese course exemplified the problem for me: I was presented with a small plate of four cheeses (unexplained) and then the whole table was filled with chutneys and breads. It was as though the cheeses were a bit of a sideshow to the other clever bits.When I eat at a restaurant of this quality, I expect to be wowed. Both of us left somewhat underwhelmed.
JR4763 . 2013-06-18
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Tuesday 14th May.Both being chefs, me and my friend decided to visit aikens after seeing such flare and uniqueness from him after GBM.. ultimately we weren't let down!Amuse and bread courses were exceptional, as we're the 'doggy style' lagers.. The smoked eel wasn't to die for, but certainly packs the flavour to set the tone for the rest of the meal.. The foie gras, scallops, pork, and lamb dishes were all of a two star standard- the foie gras being the best foie dish I have experienced to date. The rhubarb and petit fours were great too- apart from the smoked orange pastels which were.. Interesting. We had two extra desserts, one being the milk based dish, and the other the strawberry- I'm not sure if the milk dish was good or not, but that the strawberry was phenomenal and needs to replace the rhubarb on the taster. The wine was great, particularly the sommeliers suggested dessert glass.. The sommelier himself was straight talking and unpretentious- spot on.. The (who I assume was) the maitre d was a great bloke, down to earth, with great passion and easily approachable. Ultimately the service faultless, however we were disappointed to not see Tom himself! we were looking forward to chatting to him- like we have with many other star chefs- kerridge, roux's, freeman etc... But maybe next time! Overall the two of us spent £430, and you'd struggle to spend more- so this place is expensive, but I PROMISE you the food is almost faultless, as is the service- . Let's just hope his new grill chain hasn't made him too busy to provide personal touches, or forget what Tom Aikens is all about: inventive, powerful cookery.
George B . 2013-06-17
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Auch unser diesmaliger Besuch bei T. Aikens war ein ganz besonderes Erlebnis. Mittlerweile haben wir uns auch auf die für uns passende Quantität an Gerichten eingestellt (2 x Vorgericht, 1 x Hauptgericht). Ricotta und Spargel/Gänsestopfleber als Vorspeisen, das Lamm als Main Course grandios, dazu ein schöner Portugiese. Die nunmehr klare Gestaltung der Räume gibt die Idee des Essens perfekt wieder und gibt allem den zeitgemäß passenden Rahmen. Wir kommen wieder und wieder und wieder...
Mauswiesel . 2013-06-16
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We arrived on a Tuesday for dinner at 7:30pm as a party of four. The Service was impeccable, shown straight to our table,left to chat for a few minutes before water order and wine list produced for selection. We received free appetisers fairly quickly at the table. The appetisers consisted of grenade of cod, pea and mint oil gazpacho and tempura smoked eel with parsley mayo . These were presented to the table in a quirky manner and there was a portion of each of the appetisers per person. There was not a huge choice on the menu, which is to be expected at a fine dining restaurant. However, as a fussy eater ( I don't eat meat and only like non-meaty fish) there was no vegetarian choice for main and the only option I could see myself trying to eat was Turbot, with green and white asparagus. It was delightful!!!! However, I would have liked a choice! Our party of four all chose different starters and each starter was amazing however, I believe the scallop starter with caramelised bread sauce was the best presented.... I had homemade ricotta cheese which was lovely. Desert menu did not grab me as exciting at all. Three of our party had cheese and biscuits. The cheese was enjoyable with attention paid to which type if cheese you preferred (hard, blue, soft etc). There was not a lot of the cheese once presented.... But..... You do get 2 wafer thin slices of walnut bread and various types of crispbreads. A nice touch was the 4 different fruit chutneys brought to the table to compliment the cheese. The other member of our party had the chocolate desert. This desert was huge!!! It was nearly as big as the main course!!!!! The chocolate desert was presented and explained to be various textures of chocolate. There was frozen mouse, chocolate soil, chocolate ice cream, chocolate chunks and chocolate tubes filled with jasmine. The coffee was ordered to finish the meal and we all confirmed the food was nice but not extraordinary. The setting was comfortable with very comfortable chairs and a relaxed atmosphere. Midweek this restaurant was full by 8pm. We were then presented with Pettit Fours.... This was rather confusing as there were approx. 13 different individual morsels that we needed to share between 4 of us! Each pettit four was one of a kind (with an exception of there being 2 x caramel doughnuts), as these were quite a large size (for a Pettit four) these we could half and all taste..... The other items were individual and too small to share out between 2 let alone 4..... So we all had different pieces but could not compare with each other... I found this a bit bizarre! The bill was reasonable at £405, as we all had 3 courses, a £50 bottle of wine and 4 x bottles of water.... A lovely night out.... But I don't think we would rush back.
UpJacobsCreek . 2013-06-12
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Une visite merveilleuse du début à la fin!Superbe cadre, personnel très agrèable et professionnel! Trés bon conseils!Une explosion de saveur en bouche, des associations spectaculaires le tout merveilleusement présenté!A très vite
Viccentepolux . 2013-06-10
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The food was absolutely wonderful and beautifully presented and I had an amazing dinning experience. The staff were very professional and polite and the atmosphere was mellow and relaxing although i was in a very high quality restaurant. Other places of this quality have been a bit stuffy, not Tom Aikens.Highly reccommended for a wonderful evening.
Bob G . 2013-06-07
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We were fortunate to visit this restaurant on a Friday lunch time as part of my birthday celebrations. The experience was top notch, from start to finish. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. We ate off the lunch menu, the monk fish, piglet belly and squid were definitely the highlight. All 3 courses were fantastic and the petit fours were a great touch with our after meal coffees. My partner also arranged for me to get a menu signed by Tom, I was invited into the kitchen to meet him too which was a lovely touch by the restaurant. Overall great food, great experience and amazing value. Well definitely be booking a table on our next visit to London.
Nick T . 2013-06-01
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Had a quick two course lunch set menu for two, with a basic bottle of wine, at £160 in total.The ambience is quite stark - lots of browns and wood - but perhaps that is to help one focus on the food. We booked for 12 - odd that the booking lady clearly wanted us to think that we were being squeezed in, when in fact the restaurant was pretty much half empty.Anyway, lunch fully met expectations. Outstanding bonne bouche combining cucumber, cream cheese, salmon and dill in a startling nice and elegant arrangement. Starters were beautiful to look at, and presented a good variety of tastes. My main course (chicken with lemon risotto) looked better than it ate (the chicken was actually slightly underdone). We passed on pudding, but were presented with a miscellany of little sweety treats with our coffee. Service attentive throughout without being intrusive. Will definitely return.
Coltbridge . 2013-05-30
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I've wanted to go to this restaurant since seeing Tom Aitken on TV and was taken there last night as part of my birthday celebrations. The evening was absolutely fabulous. The service was outstanding - attentive but not in your face and the food was sublime. The extras were amazing from a wonderful selection of canapés (which were beautifully presented) to the mouth watering treats served with coffee. It was worth every penny - I can't wait to go back.
Jammydodgerlondon_13 . 2013-05-29
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Couldn't resist the taster menu, as I was keen to try as much of Tom Aikens' culinary genius on a plate (or slate, or block of wood) as I could, & the food itself did not disappoint; it was wonderful. The staff & atmosphere, however, failed to match the food. With all due respect to them (as I'm not implying they weren't friendly) the staff sadly weren't the warm, down-to-earth crew I'd hoped to encounter at this dinner, and this is super important to me - I want to have a rapport with the people helping me choose my food and wine, and telling me what wonderful taste sensation they've just put in front of me. The atmosphere wasn't formal, and I was really looking forward to this mix with such 'fine dining' food, but I actually left this place feeling like "just another customer", which wasn't the case with the other fine dining restaurants I've visited.
SMiles87 . 2013-05-29
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I was fortunate enough to enjoy spending my 50th birthday weekend with my wife and 2 children (16 and 14yrs) here.The entire experience, eagerly anticipated, did not disappoint. The combinations and bursts of unexpected flavour never ceased to amaze and delight.The food and service, were impeccable - altogether a very memorable experience that will stay with us for many years to come. Thank you.
RR_England . 2013-05-28
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This was a special meal for many reasons, my wife and I had never been to a top London restaurant like this before so a little worried we'd be fish out of water and not enjoy it or gobble our food and leave as quickly and quietly as possible.When we arrived we were met by a very warm reception and taken to our table.The room has a relaxed feel to it, simple tables and chairs and plenty of space between each so you are enjoying your meal with your dining guests not every other table.We chose from the 3 course al a carte menu and this was wow, not having eaten this quality and delivery of food before it was an education, you watch all the food programmes and scream at the chefs on telly "green sauce, beetroot jelly film, 15 chocolate textures!! what are they on about", well I've now been educated on all of this and more. Each of the 3 courses I had were amazing, I know I have said I had not eaten this type of food before so nothing to compare it to but it was wow and sublime, the trouble I had was, with every plate I wanted to eat each component of the plate individually but also wanted to eat them together to discover their magic together. I know menus change but for reference I had the eggs and bacon, sea bass and the chocolate plate. After our starter we were brought a selection of 5 small bread loaves, I love bread baking and each of these were heaven.Also at the end of the meal we were presented with a selection of sweets, fun and delicious and nice touch.The waiters we efficient and not intrusive at all, they did spend time describing what was on each plate, but as this was all new to us we lapped it up, water and wine were topped at as required and when leaving all staff we passed said good evening to us.OK here's the gold star for the restaurant, my wife had won this as a competition prize from some website, 3 courses and bottle of champagne for two. Now they could have put us on the worst table, given us the trainee waiters rushed us in and out and charged us for extras like bottle water and breads, but no we were treated no different to any other paying customer, the reservation was there, table was ready with champagne glasses, the whole experience was wonderful, the only difficult bit was our whispered discussion " do we tip? we're not paying for it ? I know but we should tip" (we did tip).We came away happy, full,educated and stating we would save up to come back again for a special occasion.
Simonc0801 . 2013-05-28
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I went with friends few days ago and the experience has been really nice overall. To be frank a find the place a bit stuffy: choosing a dish take forever because everything need to be explained and depicted and illustrated. But a part that the food was lovely (I think a bit overpriced though) and the experience has been lovely. Will go back anyway but the best thing for me was the table setting... Really sharp!
Travelaround59 . 2013-05-26
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Took my husband for his birthday and wasn't disappointed . Great service and fabulous food. From the very first mouth full to the last drop of wine, all superb. We hope to return to try the taster menu. We had the lunch menu and it did not disappoint , great flavours. One of the best lunches we've had.
Moggie12 . 2013-05-25
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Quel plaisir du début du repas à la fin. Tout était délicieux, jeux réussis "saveur-consistance-couleurs". Des découvertes, Des accords inattendus. La cuisine n´est peut-etre pas très anglaise- du reste qu´est-ce que c´est la cuisine anglaise? autre chose que le shepperd pie et les rognons? Excellent service dans une atmosphère plaisante. Nous y reviendrons et nous recommendons vivement
elmiri . 2013-05-24
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Our first (but not last) visit to this remarkable restaurant. Many many choices in London but in reading reviews, chose this one. We were not disappointed. We arrived a little early but were greeted professionally and enjoyed a short conversation with one of the two receptionists before being seated. Tables are well spaced and comfortable, decor is ultra modern, subtle and enhances the dining experience. All staff we met were professional, friendly and knowledgable. The main event, dining, was excellent. You have to experience this to appreciate the full enjoyment of creative cuisine using in-season ingredients which are top quality. Everything offered made you smile even before eating. We will certainly return when in London.
GillWYorkshire . 2013-05-24
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I chose this restaurant as a birthday treat for 2 of us and was really pleased. It was fine dining with lots of little extras. We chose one of the set lunch options each so had a taste of everything. The amuse bouche was interesting with brandade and a crispy cod skin, which I liked but my friend did not (the skin). Food was excellent with lots of little tastes from exquisitely crafted creations. Lovely choice of bread and butterand petit fours for afters. Wine choice suited me very well. Only downside was the Chelsea flower themed gin cocktail which was too heavy on the lime compared to the gin and elderflower. My friend did not like it and told the waiter. They took the price of hers off the bill and she was pleased that they recognised that. Quite fish and seafood heavy menu which I love. Would like to try a Tom's Kitchen next time.
PamelaG824 . 2013-05-23
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Taster MenuThe main dining area is large and well spaced. Huge industrial windows support an airy high ceiling and look out onto a fairly quiet London street. Floor to ceiling tinted mirrors are well placed to cleverly draw the eye back into the room. There are no tablecloths and there’s no frivolity or bling. I’ve named the décor Teak Chic because it reminded me of the style of the now uber retro 70’s oval shaped, teak dining sets you used to see for sale in charity shops. Of course it’s not teak - it’s solid, it’s Spartan but it’s also quality, comfortable, and it looks really good. We were warmly welcomed from the moment we stepped in the door. The over all ambience was warm, relaxed and friendly. We were quickly seated and asked if we had any dietary requirements, I explained mine but the server didn’t understand a word of what I said and made no accommodation for them.There is one 7 course taster menu with a main course choice of lamb or pork. Our party of two opted for one of each. We were quickly served a bread board with lovely, interesting flavoured breads and butter and equally swiftly came the first course of smoked eel. I hadn’t fancied this at all but it turned out to be my favourite dish of the evening. The next few courses are sadly only memorable for their disappointment. The dishes that followed the eel were an array and assortment of technical achievement that aggressively challenged the palate. They lacked the humour, theatre and confidence of masters like Blumenthal and we quickly became despondent and quite depressed in our mood.The fish in the fish course had the consistency of a welly boot and the lamb in the lamb course was sous-somethinged beyond recognition. I had to ask the server what I was eating which I think is an insult to the life that was taken to produce the plate. Other challenges included the current fetish for savoury ices, which nobody likes and generous helpings of gelatinous cubes and curlicues. If these marrow monsters had appeared just once I wouldn’t mind but they were all over the place, ruining anything nice on the plate. There was a dish with a rip tide of avocado paste that must share dna with marmite, it was foul, and another with a random drizzle of honey that had no culinary reason to be there but wouldn’t be avoided. The final assault was the dandelion leaf…Dandelion leafs are medicinal and extremely bitter. I thought the leaf must have been doctored in some way in order to justify its presence on my plate so I tried it but no - just plain ol’ pee-the-bed bitter, nasty dandelion leaf! Through out this menu, the sweet sour balance just clashed, crashed and collided with itself - and all for no good reason! There was none of the finesse of Asian cuisine which it clearly aspires to, no subtle (apart from the smoked eel) blends, just a lot of weird and sometimes nasty tasting food. My advice though is to hang in there because if you make it through the initial assault courses, the desserts are divine! I’m not a dessert person but I had plenty room and the smorgasbord of individual bite sized desserts were a delight. They were artistic, tasty, very well presented, good fun and a great way to end an otherwise unhappy meal. After Ramsay and Blumenthal, Tom Aitken was my favourite celebrity chef… not so much now that I’ve been to his restaurant. On TV we see and hear celebrity chefs endlessly bleating on about ‘passion’… sadly in the UK this passion is directed into a fevered game of technical trumps. The obsession with technical triumph has turned our kitchens into soulless laboratories of which Tom Aitkens is a classic example. We were served a menu of machinated food that came straight from a febrile head and not from anybody’s heart. It’s insulting to both the source and the recipient; it’s not big, it’s not clever, it’s just boys with toys and waste at every juncture and level. I wish more so-called celebrity chefs would have the b*lls to ditch this gastronomic garbage and just serve us decent food! I have to make an extra mention about the staff who were mostly fantastic. As we left the Maitre de asked if we enjoyed our meal and we said ‘not really’… he was visibly upset by our comments however, in the moment he remained courteous, affable and the epitome of professionalism so he and our main server get TA an extra point.
portopunter . 2013-05-21
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I went to Tom Aikens for a birthday meal with my wife last weekend I have to say it was a disappointing experience. Firstly the waiter persisted in talking to my deaf ear despite having been asked to change position twice as I couldn't understand anything that was being said with the ambient background noise. We ordered some wine not mentioning a half bottle but were presented with a half bottle which was opened before we could question it (an expensive decision on the part of the waiter). Then another waiter came to take our order, I again explained that I would not be able to understand them as they were talking to my deaf ear but again this was ignored. I guessed when we were served a large portion of breads that the meal would be supplemented with cheap fillers. The waiter came to clear the crumbs but left a swathe on the table which I had to remove with my neatly folded napkin. We ordered our food which when arrived bore no resemblance to anything we had seen pictured on the restaurant website. The pork belly portion was tasty but tiny and as a result amounted to nothing particularly special, the aubergine accompaniment again was bland and a tiny portion. The waiter attentively re-folded our napkins at every opportunity but neglected to actually remove the stray greenery that had been dropped onto the table when our pea soup nest and was removed at the beginning of the meal, in fact it stayed on the table until dessert despite the table being visited many times by the staff. The pastachio dessert was also disappointing as the cake base tasted slightly stale and was a bit dry. I am not particularly keen on sweet things so was a bit annoyed at being served a generous portion of petit fours at the end of the meal, would have preferred something a bit more substantial with the savoury part of the meal! The ambience was nice but spoiled by being just a bit echoey and a few shades too dark. Overall it was a disappointing end to a great day. I felt they just tried too hard and delivered too little.
Tailoy . 2013-05-21
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Visited with a friend for a joint birthday lunch. We were not disappointed. We decided to go a la carte, rather than the special. For a treat it was well worth it. Every course, and the extras in between, were do to perfection.I'll definitely be back, but will probably for the the special next time...as perfection was not cheap!!!
David-John H . 2013-05-19
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We really, really enjoyed our meal here. The food is so good, really imaginative both with flavours and with the visuals.I had Eggs and Bacon to start, followed by the Beef Short Rib and tailed by the Wild Strawberries. My partner went for the Foie Gras to start, with the Lamb Loin as main and a Pistachio dessert.Each dish was a joy to behold and devour, really, really clever stuff. The amuse bouche, bread and petits-fours were all to die for, as well.Service was friendly if a little disorganised. It's not great when the bussing staff are stood by your table nodding at the relevant person with the waiter to get your plate down. Just a little bit of polish needed, to go with the flair of the food.I cannot wait to come back.
JohnRPearson . 2013-05-17
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I'm a fan and keep coming back again and again. And keep leaving happy again and again... After a hard day of work I arrive to TA's and immedietely relax - the interieur is perfectly my taste (dark and rather minimal, but warm and welcoming). The lovely warm bread with soft comforting butter make me relax even more. The french sommelier brings the first glass of wine, which is perfectly fitted to my starter - I have 100% trust in him, I've had some of the best wines there and every time looking forward to some new surprise. I shouldn't mention Aikens' feeling for textures, I've done it often enough : but his asparagus with goose liver is a dream. And you should try the Coconut & Mango dessert - a bliss of lightness.
lin23 . 2013-05-12
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We are devout admirers of Tom Aikens style and have visited his restaurant since the times it was a much more formal venue. We like the new restaurant, we have been there already on several occasions and enjoy the lay back, relaxed atmosphere, the darkness and the causal feeling. On our last visit, the experience was a bit of a roller coaster. The amous-bouche were so so while the bread basket is absolutely delicious, despite this time the brioche felt a bit dry. Starters were a disappointment. In fact, my crab was a close miss to be labelled as revolting. Nothing fit with anything, it was a disastrous combination, with the powering lardo completely masquerading the subtle crab. Horrendous. Fortunately the main dishes were a completely different story. Both my husband beef, including tendons and other excesses, and my turbot were a display of the best imaginative cooking. We shared the pistachio parfait for dessert, which is always good and enjoyed the very generous and delicious petit fours. Beyond the food, we found the somellier to be on a bit of a rush and none of the wines we sampled impressed us very much. Service is generally impeccable, specially the front man, and with the only exception of a most unfriendly, grumpy looking, red haired lady whom should perhaps be moved to a role with no direct relation with the public. When she took us to the table we almost felt like escaping through the emergency exit ....In any case, we will be back ;-o)
Susana F . 2013-05-12
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Very much enjoyed the set lunch at Tom Aikens last week. Haven't been here for a couple of years for no particular reason, but after enjoying the food and service so much again I will surely return for dinner soon. A salmon confit starter with violas and endive was delicious; a scallop and cucumber dish slightly less so. The salmon trout main course was exceptional, as was a poached chicken and lemon risotto. A couple of mistakes (cling film left around the circle of mushroom butter, and the inclusion of goats cheese on the plate when specifically asked not to) resulted in a complimentary glass of dessert wine and coffees. Small issues they handled professionally and with grace. The coffees and petit fours are a dessert in their own right - and were lovely. This is confident and creative cooking that uses both subtlety and delicious flavours. The wine list is very strong. The room is scandinavian is style with very comfortable chairs and plenty of room between tables.
UKtraveller143 . 2013-05-11
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Went for dinner and chose from a la carte menu. One out of the three dishes was very good so I will start with the positive. Had the piglet belly with aubergine - the meat was cooked to perfection and the accompanying sauce and jelly (think it was smoked apple) all worked together very well. I also enjoyed the bread that came with the meal - although wasn't quite sure why they supplied so much!The starter was crab with various other things on the plate - I know that sounds a bit damming but it was a range of flavours that did not work together - it felt like they were all in competition with each other - I wanted the overall experience to feel like I had the most delicious crab ever but ended up with a taste of burnt bacon. Same with the pud - a concoction of strawberry which again was too much - although one flavour this time it felt like a dish were the chef had said to himself how many clever ways can I meddle with strawberry rather than does all this on one plate actually work? Coffee was accompanied by a vast array of chocolates, doughnuts and other such treats - they were nice but again way too many flavours going on - 4 good ones would have sufficed.Service was a little mixed a strange woman started off serving us and when she described the first course she spoke so softly and with quite a thick accent I had to ask her to repeat herself to which she said "you are so funny". Not sure if I offended her but she did not come back to our table and as a consequence I think service got a little mixed up so that we then had to summon the sommelier to take our wine order during our starter - not very impressive!From then on our waiter changed and service was a lot better - I only hoped he got the tip and not the first one.If I was to sum up this restaurant I would say that it is trying to be too clever - I know that is the point and indeed it is why I chose it but it has been taken too far. First time a restaurant of this type has left me a little disappointed.To end on a positive I quite liked the layout and design of the restaurant - it was relaxed and the tables were well spaced.
blakeholiday . 2013-05-07
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After being released earlier than expected from a hospital appointment I called the restaurant to see if they could take me and my partner for lunch - which they could. We ate from the set lunch menu, plus an extra cheese course before dessert. Canapes were some raddishes and delicious crispy cod skin, with a smooth cod brandade. A very unusual and interesting way to start the meal! Then came a delicious selection of home made breads and butters (cep butter was outstanding, onion and bacon brioche delicious) which really pleased me because I was starving, having only been allowed still water since getting up 7 hours earlier, because of the tests I was having in hospital.My starter of marinated scallop with cucumber and astursium leaves was so fresh in the palate I really felt my mouth was enjoying the beauty of spring, which the weather has mostly denied us. My main of poached chicken with lemon risotto was the moistest piece of chicken I have ever eaten, made all the more joyful by a truly sublime, citrusy risotto. Dessert was a lovely dish based on strawberries, featuring a super-light aerated sorbet, a smooth parfait, meringue, jelly and poached strawberries. This was wonderfully executed, bang up to date cookery, offering great flavours and combinations which I hadn't encountered before. My partner sometimes feels intimidated by high end restaurants and their staff, but he found the team here very warm, friendly and welcoming.I shall definitely return on one of my future hospital visits to London (it's only 10 mins walk from the Royal Marsden).
Mark M . 2013-05-07
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A friend and I booked the restaurant last night on a spur of the moment decision and had the place to ourselves for the first half hour. The menu was slightly limited; my friend had to ask about the vegetarian option of which there were only two from which to choose. The meal began with with some amuses-bouche of pea and mint puree served in empty egg shells in a bird's nest, foie gras popcorn and sorbet. The warm mini bread rolls were also delicious, especially the one with smoked ham - almost a meal in itself! As starter we ordered the housemade ricotta with green olive juice, honey jelly and pine nuts (£15) which was absolutely delicious. I could happily have eaten this again.For main course my friend ordered the vegetarian dish of baked onion which she really enjoyed. I had the Beef Short Rib which was beautifully presented but fell short of expectation, especially considering the price (£35) and michelin star reputation. The beef rib itself was slightly dry and a little too tough and fatty for my taste. There were also a few small rectangles of what I thought might be a sweet jelly to complement the beef but actually tasted and felt in texture like slimy fat jelly. I had one and couldn't face the other two. Although a lot of effort had gone into presenting the dish I was actually quite disappointed with it overall, just too fatty and overcooked. The desserts were possibly the best course of the meal. We had the Pistachio Parfait and the Coconut & Mango Parfait and they were both amazing. Beautifully delicate flavours and deconstructed very artfully on the rustic plate. Finally we had coffee, then some time after we had finished the coffee and were about to ask for the bill our petits fours arrived (would have preferred to have them with the coffee if we had known they were coming!). Again, beautifully crafted single petits fours, including a mini doughnut each. However, it would have been a nice touch to have 2 of each of the petits fours for both of us to taste, not share a bite each.Finally - and just a small gripe (now that I'm on a roll - sorry) the ladies bathroom was a little plain. I normally love going into very decadent bathrooms when at a nice restaurant, but was quite underwhelmed here. I only include this as the decor of the bathroom is usually a reliable indicator of the restaurant itself. It's just the little things that make the difference but the door hook on the back of the door had come off and nobody had bothered to replace it or fill in the holes it left. Also, the decor and paintwork looked like it had been rushed. Nothing to do with the food I know but it still detracted to the overall experience.I enjoyed the overall experience but it just didn't live up to the expectation. Style over substance.
Annabananafanana . 2013-05-04
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We went to Tom Aiken's restaurant after watching the Great British Menu and we weren't disappointed! We love fine dining and will definitely be going back to this restaurant again! We had the four courses he made on the Great British Menu and the food was superb - it was light yet filling and perfectly balanced! The service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was lovely. We also thought the prices were reasonable for a Michelin star restaurant. We loved it!!
londoncalling081 . 2013-05-02
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W keep returning to Tom Aikens because of the combinations of textures, flavours and incredible technique in the cooking. The 7 course tasting menu (£90 per head) was outstanding with only one dish which neither of us were sure about which was smoked eel. No worries, the flavours and balance were truly brilliant, finely chopped eel with a cucumber consommé wow. I could talk for hours about each course, the asparagus ice cream with foie gras and the toasted bread soup with the scallop absolute perfection. For main I took the lamb loin which was full of flavour with an assortment of flavours dotted around the plate. My wife had pork belly beautifully cooked though the smoked apple was slightly stronger than expected, but nothing remained on the plate. Potions were perfect as by desert it would of been easy to miss but many years of practised gluttony saw me through to the end. The sommelier was excellent, it was my wife's birthday and we asked for his thoughts on 2 bottles of burgundy and the producers. Excellent choice to our taste and perfectly timed service. Don't agree with some reviews as to small portions, the decor is a bit dark but as for ambiance I couldn't care less its what's on the plate that interests me. Tom Aikens food is genius on a plate and how his cooking only gets one Michelin Star as does the cooking joke I visited in Reading last week makes the system a complete mockery.
qprgary . 2013-05-02
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We visited Tom Aikens as it had been highly recommended to me by a friend.The first thing that hits you is the sombre and dark exterior - completely black. Obviously you never judge a book by it's cover, but then when you enter and take your seat you think someone has forgotten to turn on the lights. It was so dark I couldn't read my menu. Really. I had to move my menu towards another table where there was more light, very strange.The food was good, maybe very good, but it lacked something. My wife & I both felt some dishes were trying to be too fancy, for the sake of it, rather than to promote taste, which should surely be the ultimate aim? The monkfish was lovely, but I could have eaten two of them. I have eaten at many nice restaurants and I know the portion size is sometimes small, but overall this is acceptable as the dishes are often rich and sumptuous and it's all forgiven by how the dish tastes. Not so here, the portions were miniscule, tasty, but left me wanting, needing, a bit more.All of the extras such as amuse bouche, bread and petit fours etc. were sublime, especially the breads on offer. This made up for the tiny portions and overall we were satisifed with what we ate, albeit sometimes misled by the fancy descriptions or overpowering flavours on some dishes (sea bass with olive pasta).One dish of note was the beetroot dessert - it sounded strange but was the star attraction of the evening, I just wish there had been a little more light to I could have appreciated it even more.
DavidGerrish . 2013-04-30
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Having heard good reviews about this restaurant, perhaps my expectations for this restaurant were too high. The atmosphere was good, it wasn't too over the top, elegant and relaxing. The service was great, the waiters and waitresses that I remember were very good looking. Most of them were french, I don't know if that was intentional, made me feel like I was abroad. They were really friendly and in casual uniform, this gives a nice touch. I feel when they are dressed in fine dining uniform I am a little intimated and can't relax as much. The free appetisers were really good, there was a cepe meringue, cepe mayo with crispy chicken skin that was especially tasty and the frozen foie gras spiced popcorn, sweetcorn purée and mixed spice was really cute and yummy too. I would say the pea & mint custard was my least favorite in taste and texture as it was cold and slimy. The presentation was really cute, it was in egg shells cut in half and then put onto a nest. Now we only had main course, as we were eating quite late, I had the Piglet Belly with braised & roasted, baked aubergine and smoked apple. The presentation was as you would expect with a Michelin star restaurant, small portions all dotted around the plate. The food wasn't very hot, this might of been due to the waiters standing for a few minutes waiting for the other plates to come out before they served. The sauce had a skin on top, the skin on the pork wasn't very crispy. The taste was fine, it was just disappointing if only the food was hot and the skin on the pork was crispy then it wouldn't have felt like I was eating really good baby food. All my friends I was with also complained that the food was too cold, I tried my friends asparagus and that was cooked really well, kudos to that! I would say for the price of the food they should of at least had hot food, that was one of the key things I learnt when I studied my basic course at Le Cordon Bleu. Hot plate with hot food! Maybe it was because we were eating at 10pm and the chefs were tired, but I don't think I will pay to eat here again (obvi if it was free!!).
vanillachance . 2013-04-27
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If you eat at restaurants regularly but always thought that a Michelin starred experience was beyond your means then look again. You may need to take a day off work to get the lunch deal but it is absolutely worth it! Our family group of 4 had the seasonal set lunch; three courses (all superb), drinks, coffee and service all for under £60 per head. I shall not try to describe the food as I cannot do it justice but it was quite simply exceptional in every detail. The wines were also excellent so, with a good selection available by the glass, everybody can get what they enjoy. The service was informative and attentive without being oppressive and a special thanks to the reception team who rearranged our booking because of travel problems.
Paul1810Mk . 2013-04-20
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Visiting on a Saturday evening, we opted for the tasting menu. Had high hopes for the experience and were not disappointed. Loved the lack of unnecessary formality and elegant but relaxed décor. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and very exciting / inventive. All courses had an array of flavours, textures and elements. Some dishes stood out more than others, seeming more evolved, but this is largely subjective…there is no question as to the overall calibre. Highlights included: the Baked scallop with osso buco; Marinated foie gras mousse and granules, compressed pear, Gewürztraminer jelly; Ricotta with green olive juice, honey jelly, pine nuts and the White Chocolate & Black Olive dessert. The pace of courses with a tasting menu is critical…needs to be neither too long nor rushed. The first three courses did come in rather rapid succession, but after asking to slow down we were able to enjoy the food at a more leisurely pace. Would absolutely recommend eating here and tasting Tom’s food…we hope to be back before too long.
charlie_mouse . 2013-04-19
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Beautiful decor / Great comms. pre-visit . My wife is vegetarian and can't abide mushrooms and wasn't run out of town ; in fact was met with patient understanding and a brilliant menu . The staff were diligent with incredible attention to detail without leaving a feeling of fussiness . The detail that has gone into selection of table hardwear is on a level few match . Each course of wonderful fare was in tandem with incredible theatre and props in a way that simply elevated the experience to ethereal levels of food grandness . I now understand the point of the efforts these people go to in order to unravel dining as a conundrum .
OxfordBlue92 . 2013-04-18
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Having been to many good restaurants I can only agree with all the hype about this place. Food was brilliant and the service was second to none. Only thing I didn't like too much was the background music - just wasn't my cup of tea. However this certainly won't put me off from returning. I highly recommend you give this place a go!
MHM-32 . 2013-04-17
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From the moment you open the door of the restaurant you know you are in for something special. The restaurant it's self is very simple but stylishly designed. We ordered the tasting menu, with cheese board and petit fours. ALL done to a very high standard. Every dish was balanced and seasoned to perfection. The flavours and hint notes of smoke, sweetness ad sharpness were very well executed. All in all a fantastic experience. Definitely will be remembering this place for a while.
Eoin S . 2013-04-08
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my fiance took me here for my birthday and took the 7 course tasting menu.the bread and butter: the best ive ever had, the brioche and mushroom butter and bacon butter are to die for.canapes: 1/3 was amazing other 2 not so much, beetroot meringue with foiegras mousse and cep powder was melt in the mouththe best dishes werescallops with dill and cucumberbaked celeriac with truffle, grapes and applelamb, leeks, goats curd, roasted potatoescheese course good selection of cheeses and comes with a peice of poached pear 4 different chutneys and breads/ crispspetit fours was a great supprise the amount of selection given was incrediablethe courses not so much enjoyedrabbit with peas, the food was served cold i woud have prefered warm to enjoy the flavours morecod with endive, ham hock peach and orange sauce, for me it was way too sweet but the ham hock was fantasticdefinatly worth a try
Taffyell . 2013-04-08
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Went to celebrate an anniversary. Really picked the right place to go to. Went for a seven course tasting menu, with the petit fours, bread and amuse Bouche was really like 10. Service was great, food was varied and full of interesting combinations, fantastic flavours and best meal I have ever had. Can't wait to go again. Full experience was over 3 hours - there was no rush to get us out and it was well worth the money. Great if you are worried about great food needing to come with a stuffy atmosphere. The lighting was really romantic. Well worth a trip.
Fieldyandfordy . 2013-04-06
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I have not been to this restaurant for several years and having seen wonderful food being produced from Tom dusting The Great British Menu programme on the television I decided it was timely to try it once again. The Ambience was great and staff were very helpful and accommodating . There was a reasonable choice on the menu and it was sensibly priced. The breadbasket was exceptional and well worth the trip alone. However I did not enjoy the food served and it could be that I chose badly but my companions who had different choices also felt the same .this style of cooking will not suit everyone and I couldn't help but feel that I had eaten a meal of puree, and mushed up food and was longing for texture as well as carbohydrate. Over strong flavours which did not enhance the dish. An olive ice cream as part of a desert was one example where the strength and flavours of the olives did battle with the rest of the food. By the time it came for the wonderful looking array of chocolates and sweet eats, my taste buds had been damaged. Sorry if this causes some of you to be offended but it is only our opinion here.
fussyknickersLeeds . 2013-04-03
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Me lo aconsejaron como algo excepcional, pero me ha defraudado profundamente. Del menú de degustación de 75£, tan sólo se salva un plato: el conejo con zanahorias y morcillitas, el pan y el postre. El resto lo encuentro pretencioso.A destacar, únicamente su servicio, muy servicial, educado y atento.Hemos ido 4 personas y hemos pagado 468£.
Jinjolero . 2013-03-20
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I had been anticipating this evening for soome time. The restaurant has a stupendous reputation and, in my experience, it is richly deserved. Initially, I was put off by the ambience – it's very dark with each table illuminated by its own lamp. Eventually however I became used to this and it did have the advantage of not making you feel as though your space was encroached upon by other diners. My wife and I chose the tasting menu – £90. There were seven courses and we were able to vary the main course (this was a good thing because I thought that one option was much better than the other). Service was outstanding and, unlike some of the comments on this website, we did not feel at all rushed and were able to take our time and enjoy the experience. The wine list is expensive, so you have to be prepared to pay a considerable additional amount if you wish to enjoy wine with your meal. The food however was outstanding and memorable. The flavours blend superbly well together and the presentation of all of the courses is beautiful. Our bill overall came to just over £330 and this included a fairly hefty service charge which, to be fair, is optional. There are many fine restaurants in London but I have to say this is one which I would recommend and certainly intend to return to.
Westyorkshireman_10 . 2013-03-18
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I went to Tom Aikens last month with buyers. I go there sometimes with my boyfriend and we love the restaurant. Fresh ingredients, good service, excellent taste! I especially love the beetroot desert. We all had 8 course meals ( course menu has to be made for the whole table) and people were satisfied with good food. I recommend Tom Aikens to everybody!
Lisa C . 2013-03-11
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The food, the service, the wine and the dining room make this a must visit restaurant. The lighting is very clever, you feel almost as if you are in a private room when you are in the main dining room. The tasting menu was fantastic, each course delicious and produced with a lot of skill. The wine list was extensive with good range of affordable to mortgageable! Immaculate service ... we were there almost 5 hours although it seemed less, no one rushed us at all. Great location just off kings road. Will certainly be going back.
Kerry M . 2013-03-05
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A family Xmas treat with an unforgettable experience on culinary art and taste with excitement and surprise with every course more delicious one from the other. Service was impeccable. Ambiance was relax with an air of casual elegance. Can not wait to go back!
laclou . 2013-02-28
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I arrived in chealse and found the restaurant particularly easily to find as it was only one story high and painted black all over! Very different to its surroundings. I was welcomed by the staff and seated on a cramped bare table tightly wedged in-between two large mirrors either side of me. I found the decor and the overall feel of the surroundings uncomfortable and similar to that of a bistro. Not what you expect when eating in a michelin star restaurant! The menus were proffered to me all tied in ribbon like a scroll, as if they were sacred. I read through the set lunch menu to find there were only two choices for the starter and main and only one dessert to chose from, also there was no vegetarian alternative for the main. I know i could of eaten off the al la carte menu but i thought that the price was too high for what i would of got. The breads weren't great; the brioche was delicious but a few if the others were so doughy they were inedible. But the flavoured butters were very good. My starter was decent, but nothing special. My main arrived almost immediately after the starter plates were taken away, what was rather disappointing. But what was even more disappointing was that i found a hair in my food. The staff were appolegelic and took the main and dessert of the bill, what was very kind of them! The cheese and chutneys were excelent as was the coffe and petit fours. My over all reflection of the whole experience was that the restaurant was being different for the sake of being different. That i didn't feel was necessary. I think that the dishes didn't have enough vegetables and no potatoes at all!I wouldn't recommend anyone to visit this restaurant, especially if this is your first time visiting a restaurant with a michelin star. I would recommend going to petrus or pied a terre as i have had much better experiences with them and they were cheaper too!
Matt S . 2013-02-25
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Had the tasting menu and matching wines, I thought it was excellent value considering the very high quality of pretty much everything. What has stuck with me though was the bread, there were about 7 different types and 3 different butters and they were all incredible. I would have foregone the tasting menu for a bit of cheese to go with my lovely bread!!!The staff were great by the way.
james I . 2013-02-25
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Very hard to find any fault - lovely inventive three course lunch with petit fours, amuse bouche and selection of breads for £34. A very nice glass of house white for £6 and glass of champagne for £12. Staff were great - attentive and well informed but also relaxed and friendly. The restaurant design is stunning and the layout gives a great balance between privacy and atmosphere. Hope to return again soon.
Travel_Lion_10 . 2013-02-21
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Had an very exciting tasting meny at Tom Aikens. We arrived 15 minutes early but got seated right away at our table. The restaurant had a real nice atmosphere and feel to it. We all went for the tasting menu (4 pax) but never got presented a matching wine pairing. When I asked the somelier for a wine pairing to the tasting menu he looked a bit baffeled(?), but he came up with seven really nice wines. The food was excellent and really nice and original in both form and tast.I will only give 4 of 5 stars, because we had to wait 30 minutes for dessert, with no explanation as to why. Recommended for a "different" dining experience.
Trond A A . 2013-02-19
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Michelin stars, rave reviews, and a special occasion were enough for me to give up my credit card details to secure our booking. Nothing on the menu was jumping out at me, but for the prices offered, it must be fantastic, right??The above-par service, elegant surrounds, and the presentation of our dishes were the high points of the visit. We were also treated to nice extras - canapés and a lovely bread and flavoured butter assortment, and a grand assortment of petit fours. The pleasantness ended there, however. Both our starters and mains (crab and scallops, monkfish and seabass), though absolutely stunning in appearance, just had too much going on to be tastefully appealing. Too many exotic ingredients crammed together in a single mouthful made for a very underwhelming tasting experience, and we both left food on our plates because continuing to be hungry was less unpleasant than cleaning off our plates. This is not to say the food was revolting, just that it was not anywhere near as amazing as the hype led us to believe. All ingredients were fresh and of the highest quality... just a bit too much of everything smashed together into tiny bites. Most unpleasant was the bill, because though we don't mind spending on nice food, nice-looking food was alone not enough to justify the final damage.I think we'd have been much happier going to one of the neighbourhood's more modest tapas or modern British mainstays, and planning a nice holiday with the savings. Your mileage may vary.
berk67 . 2013-02-17
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Loved the ambience and style of the restaurant- really stylish furniture, very comfortable too! Great service as expected. Tasting course menu is definitely worth it for the variety. Highlights include the scallop and lamb. And the dessert is interesting and tasty.Best bread i've ever had in a London! So hot and fresh.
aroundtheworld0624 . 2013-02-17
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Love the revamp on every front. Laid back but sophisticated decor, mouth watering menu, gorgeous food presentation and attentive service. Tom Aikens has a special way of blending unexpected flavours with classic dishes that modernises in a truly harmonious and delicious way. Original and memorably fantastic food, definitely one of the UK's top chefs today - a must try on London's culinary map.
D K . 2013-02-04
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As i'm sure a lot of diners will agree, a visit to a Michelin Stared resturant is a rare treat, that can add a small but considered dint to the wallet. As a result the table i booked for tomorrow night was a considered booking.Having looked at the menu over the last few weeks, I have been getting increasing excited about the meal and changing my course choice several times. Having a look again a short time ago I was shocked and disappointed to see a sharp hike in the prices on the al a carte menu! Despite recieving a call from the restaurant yesterday to confirm the table I was not informed or made aware of this pending change.Not happy.......
Mystery D . 2013-01-25
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Booked for lunch with a friend on a quiet January mid-week lunchtime. The ambiance and decor are good and don't suffer from the cramped tables and bad acoustics that can ruin the experience of other similar places. Opted for the 3 course set lunch, which was superb. A range of different breads and flavoured butters are served first and were exceptional, as was the cucumber and salt cod starter. My dining partner wasn't keen on the 'variations' of carrot dessert (pictured), but I throughout enjoyed it, if only for the originality. The wine list was varied, spanning the globe and all price ranges. Overall with a 3 course meal with bread, amuse bouche, petit fours, a bottle of wine and coffee, we thought just shy of £100 represented exceptional value for cooking of this calibre.
AtlasUK . 2013-01-24
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Tom Aikens was amazing. The food was inventive and fun, the service was incredible -- we were attended to by no less than 5 people, and the manager made a point to stop by as well. They took great care of my husband for his birthday, and the sommelier was one of the most intuitive and helpful we've ever had.
Jenny S . 2013-01-24
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On arrival the staff instantly made you feel as if you were the most important clients they had that evening. I booked the meal for a recent trip to London or myself and my girlfriend, as we had wanted to try it for a while. We were offered the wine menu to start which was an experience in itself ( a hard back book converted to a wine menu) the sommelier helped us pick a wine to start. The menu was small but perfectly formed with something to suit all pallets with aperitifs before and after the meal. Starters we ordered were juniper infused salmon which was a show in itself and venison tartare. Both starters were an experience which have to be tried. Mains were pigeon, an halibut. The halibut was probably the best halibut I had tasted accompanied with a confit of chicken. I have eaten in various two and three star restaurants and this was by far the best halibut I have tasted in a long time. Deserts were perfectly form providing a surprise in every mouthful u ate white chocolate and black olive, whilst my girlfriend had coconut and mango. The coffees an chocolates after the meal were sublime with such tastes as earl grey and inner fruits pavlova! In all the meal was outstanding and service second to none. The atmosphere is very relaxed with staff who you wouldn't know we're there but are able to assist at any time. Yes the wines are a little over priced, but you don't mind when the rest is so reasonable. Starters approx £10 mains approx £30 and deserts approx £10 for Michelin food it is very reasonable. The experience was completed when asked for a taxi they provided us with a luxury merc rather than a black cab. All I can say is thank you very much to all the staff and chefs at Tom aikens as the whole food experience and service was second to none and just as good as la gavrouche and ramsays on hospital road. Intact so good we went back for lunch the next day! We will certainly make the place a regular on our visits to London.
joe m . 2012-12-31
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Before our visit to the restaurant I had some questions about the menu and prices etc. and both Lauren and Irene were very swift and helpful in their responses!On the website the only time slot available was 22:00, not a big problem for me but i would prefer 21:00. I sent Irene an email and she immediately booked us for a table at 20:30, very friendly and hospitable!The moment we came in we were welcomed by a friendly girl who took our coats and showed us to our table. We were offered a great gin and tonic alongside some fantastic canapes where the foie gras mousse was the star of the plate.We ordered the tasting menu with the matching wines and an extra cheese course.Before we could finish our aperitif the first wine and first course was on the table already. A bit to quick in my opinion, but we were hungry and eager to start the meal anyway so I was okay with it!The first dish was a great earthy combination of celeriac, apple and truffle, matched with a great wine. I liked the adding of the apple consomme added to the dish table side.The second dish was probably one of the most exciting ones! The plate was immaculately dressed with cucumber, violets and apple jelly and one second later a glass box with two pieces of jasmine cured and smoked salmon arrived. When the box opened a heavenly smell of smoke filled the room. The smoke did not overpower the dish at all and added an amazing complexity to the dish!The marinated foie gras with plums and beetroot afterwards was surprising and very well balanced!The dish I was not very much looking forward to was the housemade ricotta, but I couldnt be more wrong! This was an amazing combination of creamy and acidic ricotta, sweet honey jelly, textures of pine nuts and parmesan snow. Delicious! And again paired with a great wine!The pan fried cod was next. It smelled great in the first place. Carrots and vanilla were complimenting the fish and the ground hog bacon! The main course, for me, was not too great. My friend on the other hand loved it!It was braised lamb shoulder with a lamb-bolognaise and fried salsify. Taste-wise all the components were great, but I did not like the soft texture of the lamb shoulder.The Cheeses were well chosen, and my request for no blue cheese was granted and replaced with a nice old manchego! Fergus, our sommelier was very VERY knowledgable and friendly and chose a nice dry and nutty sherry instead of a Port. Great choice! Port did come with the dessert, since I am not a port lover, the sommelier replaced it with a jurancon that was out of this world. He honestly admitted that it did not go well with the dish but that it just simply was a great wine and he was not lying! I tasted the port together with the dish and it was a great combo! But i was very happy with my wine! The dish itself was an amazing ending to a great night! The combination of the dark and smoked chocolate was well balanced and tasted delicious.Long story short. The ambiance was much better than I expected, not as minimalistic as described in other reviews and a perfect canvas for the creations of Tom Aikens.The service is amazing! Every single one of the staff that served us was friendly, talkative and knowledgeable! Especially Fergus and the restaurant manager! The dishes were served in a perfect sequence. Sometimes a little too fast but that was no problem at all!The food is exciting, surprising, tasty and full of perfect combinations!All in all one of the best dining experiences in London! Good Job!
Tvdburger . 2012-12-29
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It was within walking distance to the apartment we rented. So we tried.The food were presented very artistically. I do think £29 for three course set lunch was very well priced, especially in central london. Although, I was not fan of the crab dish for the appetizer. It was off the track. The foie gras dish was okay. Sea bass and lamb shank for the main course were executed very well.Overall, it was a pleasant lunch experience since the personnel were very attendative and well mannered. Fresh squeezed cranberry juice was refreshing and having a well balanced taste of sourness and sweetness.
Xiafei C . 2012-12-24
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very overrated restaurant, as usual, in restaurants without history they serve artefact food.really good food with no depht.very nice ambience and perfect service. price too high.one more thing...english people in restaurants are VERY noisy.
Riccardo G . 2012-12-19
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per lavoro sono a Londra tutti i mesi e vista la mia vita da pendolare degli anni 2000 mi piace trattarmi bene e conosco molti dei ristoranti di alto livello di Londra ......questo è veramente uno dei migliori .......nonostante la location non sia eccezionale , il ristorante è molto ben curato ed elegante nonstanti non sia particolarmente formale ...per cui si può cebare rilassati ma la cucina , la presntazione e la professionalità dello staff è veramente di alto livello .....una vera e propria esperianza culinaria .....
Davide C . 2012-12-18
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Having had two enjoyable meals at this restaurant I was looking forward to a company Christmas lunch that we had booked there. First to say the standard of food was excellent and delivery of food to a group of over 50 very well managed. However having understood we had booked the restaurant until around 5pm we requested water on our table at around 4.15. After the third request and stil no water we were told the service had stopped and the restaurant was being cleared up for the evening meal (this at around 4.30). Even pleading with the waiter didn't help as he apologetically said these were his instructions . In the end I had to go to the front desk to get the lady there to go to the kitchen to get a glass. given the group had spent over £4k on the meal we expected better service that that and it left a very bad impression, will not be going back sadly.
r0bertb . 2012-12-14
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I took some clients for dinner and we had the most wonderful evening. The service and the food was fantastic and I love gettin off the busy high streets, for a quiet dinner. I had the pork trotters (excellent) and the cod. Wine list was excellent and creatively presented. One of my better dining experiences in London. I will return.
Crazyteamtravel . 2012-12-13
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Très bonne pâtisserie située sur la petite place piétonne d'Exhibition place. Le personnel est très souriant et prêt à vous conseiller car le plus difficile est de choisir !!!
450 Opinions
Reservamos una mesa para la noche del 27 de septiembre 24 y el restaurante estaba lleno de clientes. Entradas compuestas de pulpo carpaccio salpicado por un aderezo zumquat zingy. La pechuga de pato con miel y lavanda. Mi voluntad de probar algunos sabores nuevos dio sus frutos, ya que las notas florales fueron suaves. Mi postre era un fondant de leche e higo. Fue durante el transcurso de la comida que el personal de servicio dijo que era el último servicio de Bandol, y que estaba cerrando esa noche. Queremos desear al personal de Bandol lo mejor en sus esfuerzos futuros. Gracias por hacer su último servicio con panache. Deseando que revoir con notas de lavanda.
2917 Opinions
I Had dinner at this restaurant on 21st of Nov. Location is beautiful The food was delicious, especially the steak frites calamari were awesome. MANISHA was so attentive and friendly Big thanks giving to her. If you looking for variety and taste I Would highly recommend this restaurant for you.
716 Opinions
Wonderful in every sense of the word. I wish I could take him with me to Saudi Arabia every day and have breakfast and dinner with them