Tag: Restaurant Reviews

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.

 

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brasserie Zedel Set Menu is the star of the show. Brasserie Zedel has to be one of my favourite venues in London. Hidden away in a Piccadilly basement, it has the feel of a luxury Art Deco transatlantic liner with beautifully remodelled 1930s interiors. For such splendour and luxury, it’s amazing to find that it has a couple of fixed priced set menus that are surprisingly good value.

 

Brasserie Zedel Set Menu is Surprisingly Good Value

The first thing to say is don’t be suspicious…I have studied the Brasserie Zedel staffing and the chef is a fully trained expert in those unctuous cream and wine sauces and crispy, slender frites that epitomise French cuisine. Each member of the waiting staff has a full week of training and embodies all the service values of luxury hotels and dining establishments. And the small details of authentic Parisian glasses and bespoke linens transport the diner to another place and age.

Corbin and King, who own many upmarket restaurants including Colbert in Chelsea and The Wolseley in Mayfair, have kept true to the history of Brasserie Zedel with very democratic pricing.

And now on to the menus…

The Brasserie Zedel Set Menu Options

Brasserie Zedel has a three course Menu Formule which at £27.95 includes a glass of wine, or bottled water, and the Prix Fixe at £16.95 or £19.75 which is a two or three course menu and doesn’t include a drink. Note that ordering tap water here raises no eye brows. If you were thinking of a glass of house red or white with your meal you will find that both of the Brasserie Zedel set menus work out at about the same price.

French Bread and Butter

This is arguably the best part of the meal! I have friends who are on strict low carb diets who devour the entire bread basket and are on their second basket before the starter arrives. The French bread has a deep, slightly sour crust and a soft spongy interior. I defy anyone to find better bread in the whole of London and it comes with a small porcelain dish of butter with a paper seal. And the best part of it is that the restaurant does not charge extra for bread and butter on either of the Brasserie Zedel Set Menus.

 

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If you are looking to read about another French Restaurant at the other end of the price spectrum read our review of Les 110 de Taillevent.

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The Formule

Celeriac Remoulade
Celeriac Remoulade is a big hit with the French and hardly known over here. The grated root of the celery tasting like a cross between fresh celery stalk and turnip or swede, is mixed with a mustard mayonnaise. I like it and sometimes make it at home using a Jamie Oliver recipe. Some may find this an acquired taste but on the occasions when I have asked for a swap for something else on the menu it has been refused.

Blanquette of Lamb or Fillet of Sea Bream

I am hugely impressed with the main course of the Formule. The sea bream in is nicely cooked and seasoned prior to pan frying.

Tarte au Citron

Forget those bland English lemon meringue pies that taste of cornflour or worse still Green’s packet mix, this generous portion transports you to the finest of French patisseries. It has a delicate, lemon cream custard filling on a pastry base with an oozing soft meringue topping with just the right degree of caramelisation.

My Verdict on the Brasserie Zedel Set Menu – Formule

I have to give this 9.5 stars as I can’t really see how it could be bettered…although I personally would prefer the pea soup for a starter. It represents astonishing value for money.

The Prix Fixe

Carrot Salad

Many people expect a mound of raw grated carrots and are surprised by the flavour imparted by the dijon mustard dressing.

I am personally delighted that they have added the Minted Pea Soup with Creme Fraiche as an alternative starter option.

Chopped Steak Américain
The hamburger of minced steak comes with the option of having it cooked either slightly pink (medium) or well done, served in a cream peppercorn sauce with a side serving of a cone of finely cut, hot salted, crispy, French fries.

Absolutely delicious!

Brasserie Zedel has now added a vegetarian main course to its set menu. This is Butter Dhal.

Chocolate and Caramel Tart
The Manjari tart has a crisp biscuit base with a chocolate ganache filling. It is very rich and chocolatey and the perfect end to the meal.

My Verdict on the Brasserie Zedel Set Menu – Prix Fixe
Whenever, I am in Piccadilly I find myself on autopilot heading for the brasserie to have this set menu. So this menu also gets a 9 star rating from me! Maybe it could do with a green salad but this can be purchased separately for £4.75.

If this food was purchased individually on the A La Carte Menu it would cost in the region of £18.

The one thing that used to amuse me at Brasserie Zedel is that they offered the French menu to everyone regardless. The French speaking staff probably entertained themselves with the hilarious, customer mispronunciations. I now see that the menu is in English and no translations are required. To see the full menu online click this link Brasserie Zedel Menu

If you have enjoyed this blog post on the Brasserie Set Menu you may want to look at our piece on The Swan at the Globe which is a Modern British restaurant.

 

 

We sauntered in to the Swan at the Globe  late, thirsty and ravenous, after a socially distanced performance of As You Like It which lacked an interval in these Covid times. And within minutes we were ensconced on a velvet sofa sipping Bloody Marys and tucking into the very best of English fayre. Hot tasty, crispy, succulent – all foodie adjectives could be employed here to excess.

Perfect British Cuisine at the Swan at the Globe

The Swan at the Globe has a Modern British Menu – so think Fish and Chips, Shepherds Pie, Scotch Eggs, Sausage Rolls, Welsh Rarebit and Sticky Toffee Pudding…all scrumptious and uniquely English things – the stuff of nursery rhymes and fairy tales.

The Swan at the Globe is moderately priced when compared with the very average meals that you could have in the nearby chain restaurants on London’s Bankside.

Restaurant Setting

There are few places in London that are in such a grand setting overlooking the Thames and Saint Paul’s and bang next to The Globe and The Tate Modern. The rear terrace overlooks the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre courtyard with its thatched half-timbered playhouse.

Dress Code

So why am I dressed in sequins? And what does this tell us about the the Swan dress code? I am of the view that you can never be too smart! The Swan at the Globe gets a lot of people coming in from the theatre next door. So my advice is to dress up but leave your tiara, floor length ball gown or a tuxedo at home. And if you are wearing street casual wear, no one will bat an eyelid. It’s hard to feel out of place in this welcoming restaurant.

The Swan at the Globe Drinks Menu

As a “real drinker” and a connoisseur of Bloody Marys, this one was the cat’s whiskers and pyjamas. Nicely and delicately spiced and garnished with an emperor of an olive. It had a real kick to it…no stinting on the vodka.

The cocktail menu is fairly extensive with most mixed drinks falling squarely in the London average of £11 – £14.

Restaurant Menu

It didn’t sound like the most exciting of choices – fish and chips and shepherds pie but the joy was in their culinary execution.

Many is the time that I have walked past their basement kitchens and seen giant pieces of battered cod waiting to be taken to the dining room and large vats of oil frying chips. And my companions declared that this was perfectly cooked, white, moist and flakey with a crispy batter.

My shepherds pie would have delighted any shepherd from any Shakespeare play. It was filling and meaty, with a perfectly piped creamed mashed potato topping and the beans were drenched in butter, cooked al dente with a sprinkling of shallots.

Service

Fantastic…attentive but not too much!

Tears fell from our eyes when we considered the solitary hardships of lockdown, the nights spent on the sofa watching Netflix and the missed dining opportunities. And then we shed a few more tears as we congratulated ourselves on discovering such a comfortable and enveloping venue. I see that we are going to be eating and drinking and theatre going here to excess.

If you enjoyed this post you may also like our review of the Brasserie Zedel in Piccadilly.

To book a visit to the Swan at the Globe Restaurant visit their website.