Les 110 de Taillevent Lunch Review

Les 110 de Taillevent has one of the most exclusive lunch menus in London. Treat yourself to exquisite food accompanied by one of 110 wines served by the glass in a luxe gentleman’s club style setting. 

As one of a stout and portly disposition, I find myself visiting a Wimpole Street nutritionist on the regular. We spend an hour discussing the perils of eating French fries, bread and other evil carbs all the while taking measurements, body composition and blood pressure. At the end of my appointment, I find a nice restaurant to while away a few hours as I then have a full month before I subject myself to the same medical ordeal.

Les 110 de Taillevent

History

To be fully armed you need to have some understanding of Les 110 Taillevent history. It is the sister restaurant of the iconic Michelin starred restaurant Le Taillevent in Paris  which serves classical gastronomic French food. Les 110 Taillevent is famous for its wines and has won a procession of awards for fine wine, young sommelier and best restaurant. It is the very  antithesis of showy, gaudy and fashionista dining…it exudes classical and refined elegance in everything from decor to the froth on the coffee.

Location

So it was with some delight that I found Les 110 de Taillevent conveniently positioned nearby on the corner of Harley Street and overlooking Cavendish Square – a mere stone’s throw from the rear of John Lewis, Oxford Street and a convenient five-minute walk from the Elizabeth Line Hanover Square exit.

Ambiance

Les 110 de Taillevent has a reassuringly subdued stone exterior with gilded signage and neat outdoor seating under calico umbrellas.  The interior is a classy moss green reminiscent of a gentleman’s club.

On this occasion, I enticed my nutritionist to lunch where we imbibed and munched through the very dishes and beverages that she had just spent an hour advising me not to eat.

The Legendary Wine List

Les 110 Taillevent is noted for its cellar with 110 wines served by the glass. I left my doctor friend to ponder this extensive selection and she chose well. We had a leggy, full-bodied Côtes du Rhône, Le Clos du Caillou, 2016 which had smooth, smoke and pepper notes.

Lunch Hours

The Les 110 Taillevent Lunch Menu is served from 12.00 to 14.30  Monday to Friday and contains a la carte menu plates.

Service

The first thing that strikes you about Les 110 Taillevent is the service which is suited in monochrome, discreet and friendly. Despite arriving without a reservation, the manager was  keen to offer us his best available table with a view over Harley Street.

Bread

My doctor friend and I looked longingly at the hot bread and whipped salted butter which is on the diet verboten list. The waiter gave us a little nudge and told us it was amazing and we were like runners off a starting block. The bread was chewy and flavoursome and the sweet butter had a mousse consistency and which was offset by flaked sea salt.

Complimentary Canapes

The complimentary canapes of salmon and avocado and cheese puffs, precision arranged on a grey slate, were a tasty portend of things to come.

Starters

On the day that we visited Les 110 Taillevent there was a choice of a Cashew Nut Soup with marcona almonds, kohlrabi and seasonal fruits or Squid with bell pepper, chorizo, courgette in a butter sauce to start.

Our starter arrived in huge black rimmed saucers. There was nothing visually resembling squid on the plate. It looked like a bowl of gem stones garnished with black lace. The creamy broth was liberally spattered with red onion, courgette and flat parsley and garnished with delicate sheet seaweed. It was as delicious as it was visually stunning.

Mains

The menu choices were Welsh Lamb Saddle with aubergine, yoghurt, blackcurrant and a lamb jus or Cod with heritage tomatoes, basil in a tomato broth.

Our lamb was cooked to tender perfection- various lamb cuts were individually cooked some caramelised with slivers of fat, others stewed and rolled or pan fried to a perfect pink with a floral garnish and accompanied by a jug of hot jus.

If I am to criticise anything in this otherwise perfect meal, I would suggest that the mains could be served with a vegetable garnish.

We shared a side dish of glazed tenderstem broccoli with sesame seeds which was extra to the set lunch menu. This was neither chewy or al dente and the glaze and sesame seeds provided an interesting oriental flavour.

Desserts

I was delighted to see their signature chocolate mousse with a 70% hot chocolate sauce on the Les 110 Taillevant lunch menu. The other choice was their Cox apple terrine flavoured with cinnamon and a Granny Smith sorbet.

Recalling my doctor’s earlier advice, we discussed for a nano second sharing a dessert. Fortunately, we came quickly to our senses. Our waiter was most reassuring and agreed that when out at lunch we should eat exactly what we fancy.

When the plate of chocolate pudding topped with a quenelle of chocolate mousse and hot chocolate sauce arrived we knew we had made the right call. The distinct but complimentary chocolate textures were a tastebud operetta.

Coffee

Black Americanos were a final and ineffectual nod to our diets. These were smooth with a pleasing crema.

Complimentary Petit Fours

We were presented with delicate brioches topped with a piping of chocolate mousse and juicy jellies garnished with gold leaf…perfect mouthfuls.

Bill

The bill was in the region of £190 and included service. While it is not the cheapest lunch in the vicinity it is doubtless the most elegant.

Have you enjoyed our Les 110 Taillevent lunch review? You may also like our review of the Brasserie Zedel Set Menus. Brasserie Zedel is a beautiful Art Deco restaurant in the heart of Piccadilly.  It is at the other end of the lunch budget spectrum.

Walking Off the Les 110 de Taillevent Lunch

I parted company from my doctor who needed to get back to work. The Wallace Collections is a gentle stroll from here and houses delightful paintings. Browsing in Daunt Books may also be a fun post prandial activity.

We have more suggestions on how to spend a pleasant few hours in the nearby vicinity of Marylebone.  See our post on Marylebone on a Budget.

Our Verdict on the Les 110 de Taillevent Lunch

We had a lovely, un-rushed afternoon with all the attention that you would expect in private dining room.  While the set lunch is not cheap, it represents good value for such an elegant venue. The food presentation is exquisite. Delicate garnishes were tweezered and arranged into a veritable Monet work of art.

The Les 110 de Taillevent Lunch Menu is served from Monday to Saturday: 12pm to 2:30pm

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