I went to Gordon Ramsey at Claridge’s at Mayfair for my birthday and I had high expectations. It was my first Michelin Starred dining experience. Because I’m poor, I decided to go for the lunch service which included a £30 three course set lunch.
I got very excited when I saw the building, and went to the bathroom pretty much straight away (I always think that’s an important part of the dining experience). The building was old style and elegant and fresh flowers were everywhere.
This was in the bathroom
There was a bathroom attendant and when I came out of the toilet, she had turned on the tap for me, with a cloth ready for me to wipe my hands. Very impressive. I must admit I was a bit starry eyed.
We had booked for 4 but were one short. A chair and the fourth place setting were quickly whipped away and replace with a flower. Nice tough. We were led into a beautiful room, high ceiling. Even though it was a lunch, the room quickly filled up.
Water wasn’t free, we were only offered the choice of sparkling or still…could I really have said tap? It was Evian, and it came in a glass bottle. Posh.
Water even has a little 'place mat'
We all went for the set menu, which had quite a few nice selections.
Complimentary Amuse Bouche
Our first course was a really lovely, generously portioned Amuse Bouche which was a delightful green soup (can’t remember what vegetable) and had absolutely delicious tasty mushroomson the bottom. Was soooo delicious.
Complimentary bread
Yes...even the butter was worth a photo opportunity
Complimentary breads soon arrived, sour dough, onion and olive. Two lots of butter was also provided, salted and unsalted. I went for the onion and the olive bread. The onion bread was not strong in onion, the olive one was crusty and soft in the middle, yummy.
Smoked Burford Brown egg, morel and leek ragoût, toasted focaccia
My entree was absolutely delicious. I loved the strong taste of mushroom in the ragout and the egg was beautifully cooked, and deep orange yolk burst out when I cut into it.
Citrus-cured sea trout, cucumber sorbet
This was my friend’s favourite course (entree)…the cucumber sorbet really tasted like cucumber!!
Ceasar salad with maple bacon
This was a good Ceasar salad, and the egg was perfect but to me, it was just a Ceasar salad.
Fricassée of bass, sole and salmon, crab ravioli, shellfish bisque
This was my main, I was hoping that the shellfish bisque would be stronger in shellfish flavour, but it was quite light. The salmon was cooked beautifully (medium rare) although the crab ravioli was a little tough (still yummy thouhg).
Braised shoulder of rose veal, roasted pear with a Fourme d’Ambert crumble
I had a bit of my friend’s veal and I was having major food envy. The sauce was full of flavour.
Beef with Yorkshire pudding etc...
This wasn’t on the menu on the website so i can’t remeber the exact name of it. Beef was cooked medium rare, and very melt in your mouth and tender. The vegetables were really crisp and tender too.
Hot chocolate and pistachio fondant, rhubarb sorbet
I must admit the fondant was slightly dry and had a bit of a ginger taste but I really enjoyed the tart sorbet with it.
Passion fruit and coconut parfait, white chocolate ice cream
Another food envy…my friends’ dessert was really really yummy…they woudn’t stop going on about the coconut tuille. Jealous.
Petit Fours
My friend had actually ordered a birthday cake for me but I won’t show it here…but it was like a delicious, delectable slab of ganache…
We also got a tour of the HUGE kitchen and then were shown to a table where petit fours were served. Marshmellows and chocolates, yum, yum.
Would I go again? Definitely! I wanna try all his restaurants, I had such a good time!
It didn’t end up just being a cheap £30 lunch though, a 12.5% gratitudity was automatically added to the bill, the water wasn’t free, and we also ordered cocktails. I would say it was worth it though, you’d seriously get about less than that in Brisbane…and I must say the service was impeccable.
