anyone been to claridges (or somewhere equally flash?)

[nellieloula]

I'm looking for somewhere to take DH for his 40th - he'd love a fantastic meal somewhere, a special one, so looking to find a restaurant (in London). Had wanted to go to Scott's but can't get a table. Has anyone been to Claridges or could anyone reccomend somewhere???? thanks

When is the bday?
You have to book 2 months ahead now for Gordon Ramsay restaurants

How about

Fat Duck
Waterside Inn
Le Manoir
etc

Or does it have to be in London?

Wolseley

The Wolseley is very nice but a little old-schooly. If that's your thing, great. If you want something funkier, try checking out...

Pied a Terre on Charlotte Street... very expensive, very elegant, outstanding food.

L'Atelier Joel Robuchon near Covent Garden... quite stunningly expensive, but (seriously) a real gastronomic experience.

Nobu is still very nice: just off Park Lane, great staff, make you feel very welcome. Just make sure he likes Japanese food.

I've been to all three - Pied a Terre several times - and they're all wonderful. If you're pushing the bost out for a birthday that's great, but you probably won't make it out of any of these for less than £200 for the pair of you.

Just to append something to CountessDracula's post, I was at the Waterside Inn recently. The setting was lovely. The food much less so. Sorry, but I was rather disappointed.

Have a great time wherever you go. Enjoy.

thanks - ye,s has to be London, it's in July and claridges is all booked up already (till november ). We've been to the Wolsley a few times, and really wanted somewhere new. am wondering about Maze now, or one of the other ramsey ones......any thoughts??

satiyricon, can you book a table at l'atelier JR, or is it all at the bar??

Nobu for heavenly japanese food.
J Sheeky for divine seafood.
The Ivy for celeb spotting
Going to Le Gavroche tonight. I can let you know what it's like if you want. It's number 22 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list and has two Michelin stars.

Fat Duck is amazing but difficult to get into and VERY expensive - a once in a lifetime type experience. Claridges is good but maybe not the most exciting.

If you like Chinese Hakkasan is Michelin starred and funky decor, I preferred the food at Yauatcha though, another posh Chinese - everything was absolutely delicious.

Gordon Ramsay at Claridges offered us a table for tonight. At 11pm

Hakkassan is in the top 10 of that restaurants list.

J sheeky?

Skylon?

Harvey Nic's 5th floor restaurant?

Bleeding heart?

Club Gascon?

Gary Rhodes at the Cumberland Hotel?

Any of Gordo's gaffs?

The grill room at the Dorchester - great champagne bar for pre dinner drinks in the foyer, so you can celeb watch

China Tang at the Dorchester?

Christophers?

Lindsay House?

Langans?

Oops, Hakkassan is 19th.
The 2008 List

Worth looking at Zagat's as well zagat

thanks all so much. I love threads like this - restaurant porn! I had thought about Hakkasan and Yautcha, but they both have a 2 hr able turn around which I hate. Sheeky's I've been to at lunchtime and wasn't blown away.... had also looked at clubc gascon...anyone been there? and is skylon new?? haven't heard of that one....

Nellie, you can do either. I've been twice and sat at a table both times. I don't really go in for that "watch the kitchen while you eat" thing.

I think there's another room upstairs with no bar, but I haven't been up there.

If I were you, I'd go for the table. Bit more intimate.

Ah and I've just seen Club Gascon from sopabox's suggestion.

Another very good call. Top, top French cooking.

Skylon is the new restaurant in the Fesitval Hall which is seriously good - the female chef is ex Harvey Nic's 5th floor.

The setting is gorgeous - overlooking the London Eye and the food and decor are very sexy!

skylon

However, if does have a 2 hour turnaround too Although we booked for 8.30pm and didn't stagger out until 1am!

I'm going to Club Gascon tonight, so will let you know how it goes

Lucky thing.

Skylon used to be the People's Palace or something. The views are great if you get a window seat but the food's not brilliant.

lol at name Norksdrift.
V. funny

Locanda Locatelli?

A firm fav is St Martins Lane Hotel (covent garden) restaurant Asia de Cuba. Also has a cool bar with dj on the weekends. (not old school though if that's what you're after) Last time i ran into Usher in the lift!!

Norksdrift - I had a completely different experience - the food at skylon was awesome - it really blew me away. I eat at top London restaurants a lot, and have become a bit 'blah' about a lot of the food - but this one really made a huge impact on me!

Were you in the restaurant or the grill?

Sorry, we ate in the grill and thought the food was pretty ordinary. It was a Saturday night and they were v busy so maybe we'd have had a better time another day. (We eat out quite a lot as well )

yes - that did sound a bit pompous didn't it - but I meant it more along the lines that it seems to take a lot to make me take notice these days - and skylon certainly did.

We were in the restaurant not the grill - so perhaps that explains it. We were also pretty champagne fuelled so that might have influenced things