best restaurant in London - is it Gordon Ramsey's?

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

have a large debt to pay to my dh, and I want to take him out for the seriously best meal London can provide. He's a big fan of food. He's been to Pied a Terre, the Glass House and a number of others with stars (whose names escape me at the momemt) but not Gordon Ramsey's. Is that the one I should go for?

I'm going on Monday to Gordon Ramsay's at Hospital Road (someone else is paying. It's only only 3 start restaurant in London.

I'll let you know if it's worth it. They are however closing in July for 3 months of refurbishment.

Don;t know where you live but Wandsworth's Chez Bruce is very nice.

what kind of food does he like? i've been to le gavroche (classic french) & club gascon (foie gras heaven) both were very good (& obviously pricey )

I had a fantastic meal at Claridge's although reviews always seem to place Hospital Road ahead of it. Ate at Chez Bruce a couple of weeks back. Much less formal but food was very good - simple but brilliantly done. Think I will remember the experience of Claridge's more (lots of inbetween yummies) although you can get a table which is removed from the main dining area so you feel rather peripheral.

I suppose it depends what you're after.

I think so

BUGGER to it closing I wanted to go for dh's bday 1 Aug

(hospital rd that is)

Le Rousillon is fab too

Can recommend Claridge's.

CD - we have booked the mini-gastronome experience there in August. Has had fab reviews but Jay Rayner (I think it was) absolutely slated it. My three children and seven courses with linen cloths.. Needless to say it was DH who booked it.

arrrrrrgh. wanted to book it for July, and have already told dh to keep the date free. pants

Locanda Locatelli is fab. Just the best Italian you will ever eat. Great decor, too.

Claridges or Petrus

ok. plan B. Fat Duck - is there somewhere nice to stay close by? I could drive back, but seems a waste to have to worry about how much I drink

there's a sister establishment to the fat duck, a pub, do they have rooms? bound to be loads of shishi places round there. notquitecockney ate there recently...

The waterside Inn is also in Bray

Think I will book Le Manoir instead

GR closes on 20 June til 4 Sept FYI

YY there is a pub, don't think you can stay there. DH went there with clients recently I think it is the White Hart or something similare

also we went to Ballymaloe house (hotel and fab food, plus do cookery courses) near Cork if you fancy something further afield. gorgeous food in lovely setting.

I've stayed at Oakley Court Hotel - between Bray and Windsor, so a cab ride. It was lovely, right on the river. If you can get a room in the original building (it also has a large new wing where rooms are boring) they are lovely, most with 4 posters I think.

Fat Duck booked for lunch on the day I wanted. would have preferred dinner at Gordon's but in actual fact there's something nice about treating yourself to lunch. feels more lazy and luxurious

I know it's a one off but just read a review that included the price of the Fat Duck. think I'll drive back! otherwise it starts getting a wee bit silly.

I'm taking dh to Le Rousillon for his birthday - PPH also recommended it.

Have been a couple of times

they are quite odd

The sommelier is fab

Ledbury - my greedy senior colleague's report is that second time he went was (even) better than the first. But wine mark-up is appalling.

Dh took me to Tom Aiken's for my birthday, which was seriously serious, but I can't quite work out whether it was nice. It was other-planetary, a parallel universe.

I think you've done the right thing with lunch at Fat Duck, by the way.

Yes I've heard it's amazing

CD - can you expand on quite odd? The deal is so good I can't believe they will be able to keep it up for long. Just hope my children are on their best behaviour. Was going to combine it with Shakespeare in Regent's Park but that might be pushing it I think.

Have never heard of anyone having a bad experience at Le Manoir. You could always fly down to Newquay and try out JO's new place (or Stein's - had a fab meal there).

I loved Rousillion too!