This storied site has seen many gifted chefs pass through its doors over the years, starting with its previous guise as legendary La Tante Claire before Gordon Ramsay bought it from Pierre Koffmann in 1998. Aubergine transposed as it were, in all but name. Wareing,…
The word is the great Pierre Koffmann craves the stoves still, and is searching for another bricks and mortar to continue his Tante Claire revival. He shut the Berkeley reboot at the end of 2016, the reason apparently is to do with the hotel’s need…
MAR17 NOTE: Prices have gone up by quite some margin since I visited. Best to call ahead to check, especially if you want to do the Menu Choisi. Other meals: Feb 2017, Jan 2017, Oct 2016 My first visit to this brilliant family-run restaurant was…
Shinobu Namae really has carved a piece of serenity right in the heart of Tokyo; A pressure relief valve for those predisposed against this great and greatly hectic urban jungle. Judging by hypespacez’ series of blog posts across the years, this city garden has recently…
I love Paris’ Japanese-run French restaurants (chiefly Neige d’ete), a melding of two heavyweight cuisines which seem perfect together. Both heavily codified, both with schools of gastronomy that seek a similar sort of perfection, in terms of product selection and cooking technique to draw out…
The civility starts right at the door after you buzz in, the closed door means that someone will give you a warm welcome, much like guests into their own homes. I used to frequent here a lot, have had wonderful meals and it has a…
My view of Big Sweary has softened, desensitised even, though it perhaps is because this styled TV persona has also mellowed over time. Cuddly Sweary now appearas to be the new Gordon Ramsay across the Atlantic. Every now and again when he shows flashes of…
24OCT16 UPDATE: I visited a 2nd time for dinner, and yes, love this brasserie. Classic and fantastic value for money considering the kitchen’s ability. For 2nd meal, scroll past the initial review for notes and pictures. Taillevent is a revered institution in Paris opened by…
I was left in a mini state of shock when I heard that he decided to sell The Square this year. Whilst I cannot claim to have eaten enough meals there to be a regular, I remain quite a fan of the great chef. Half…
I went along to a special lunch at this stalwart restaurant which is currently celebrating its 25th year. An achievement for sure, so much has happened in that time, five head chefs, the restaurant had even endured a fire in its quarter century of history.…
Joe and David, Happy 5 years. Sorry it took me a while to raise a glass to you, but here it is. Cheers fellas! You know I’ve been a huge Medlar fan since day one, although there is an even bigger fan and that’s Kian.…
Phil Howard is very present on my mind these days. He’s one of my favourite chefs and he’s very close to opening at has opened Elystan Street (the old Tom Aikens site). Last I checked, he remains a stakeholder in his protege’s celebrated West London…
