Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
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WOW! Show stopping cuisine in a warm and tasteful decor with exceptional service is a must have for anyone seeking a memorable fine dining experience in London.
Food was so fun and unique! Really good. The meat fruit and the tipsy fruit were the "must try" items. Service is great, they had a server and sommelier for the table. Ambiance was kinda basic, not super upscale. Such a good choice if you want a Michelin in London!
Last year at The Fat Duck, I had one of the best meals and drink pairings of my life, so I had high expectations for Dinner by Heston. We came here for the Luncheon menu, as well as a few a la carte add-ons including the signature meat fruit and triple cooked chips. I like the idea of reviving centuries old recipes, but sadly nothing really stood out as tasting great. Also, the service was a bit worse than that of other 2 Michelin star restaurants I've been to, although I'm not sure if their lunch and dinner service are comparable, as most others I've been to were for dinner.
My very favorite restaurant in London. I have been 5-6 times over the last 10 years and the meal is always superb and the attention from staff and waitpersons is phenomenal. They keep notes of previous visits, because they always remind me of things I ate or things I said from earlier meals. This time we had the tasting menu. I'll let the posted menu and photos do the talking. If you have nothing else, you have to try the Tipsy Cake for dessert.
In our ongoing quest to eat at every Michelin restaurant we can possibly afford, we had dinner at..... Dinner. We ordered the tasting menu, as one must, and I will admit to being a little fearful of what we'd be eating, since the menu is a riff on ancient English recipes. We all know England isn't known for its cuisine, now or at any point in history. The descriptions made me very nervous. Thankfully my fears were completely unfounded. Every course was an absolute delight. In particular, the pineapple dessert, was insanely delicious. We also ordered the wine pairing package, which was full of thoughtful and unique pairings. Unfortunately, the wine pairing is where they are losing a star from me. These had to have been the stingiest pours I've ever had from a Michelin-level wine pairing. The wines being served were not extremely expensive wines, so we felt like this pairing package was not worth the expense, which is probably the first time we have *ever* felt that way about a wine pairing at a Michelin dine. And that's saying something. Other than that, the interior was jaw-dropping gorgeous. They have a card system where you can indicate the level of interaction you want to have with the staff surrounding your dishes and wines, which I thought was a very nice touch. All in all, I do highly recommend this restaurant, but skip the skimpy wine pairing and just buy your own bottle--or-two-- and get what you actually pay for.
Overall a fine meal, food was pretty good-good, nothing really outstanding or over the top. The a la carte menu is nice, as are the stories about the dishes. The space is pretty dramatic with high ceilings and an "open" kitchen behind glass. Service is hit or miss, it can be slow and water cups weren't regularly filled. But once our food started coming the meal was pretty well paced. The cocktails and wine were decent. The experience is not on par with 2 star restaurants, but neither is the price (feels cheap!). This is closer to a 1 star michelin but I assume holds 2 because of the name and location. Not a bad meal, just not somewhere I'm itching to go back to.
Unanimously, our favorite meal this trip was lunch at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. The menu reads like a brief history of English food, with dishes dating back to the 14th century. For that signature H.B. whimsy, we were given cards, not unlike those you'd find in a tarot deck, that dictate how much engagement we'd like from the waitstaff. After this first flirtation, I'm jonesin' for more Heston Blumenthal in my life. The dishes I ordered came from the vegetarian menu; it had a version of Rice & Flesh (c. 1390) I could stomach, substituting artichoke (one of my favorite veggies) for the sweetbread & smoked eel in the original recipe. For starters, I had The Truffle (c. 1500), a mushroom parfait coated in truffles which spread like butter on a delicious piece of grilled toast. Like the Meat Fruit dish they're known for (chicken liver spread shaped into a mandarin), The Truffle is meant to look like something it isn't. We split three desserts: Tipsy Cake (c. 1858) which takes over an hour to prepare so order this pineapple & brioche dish upfront; Sambocade (c. 1390), a goat's milk cheesecake; & the one I now constantly yearn for, Chocolate Bar (c. 1730), which is filled with a decadent passionfruit jam & topped with gold flakes. Exquisite, every single one of 'em. It's easy to see how & why Dinner by Heston Blumenthal maintains their coveted two Michelin stars. Our waiter & those assisting him were all so lovely. The restaurant gives you a view of the kitchen on one side & a gorgeous English garden on the other. And, of course H.B.'s imagination & creativity is unparalleled. I'm planning my next London trip around when I can get a reservation to his other restaurants, & that's no hyperbole.
Yum! We were looking forward to different flavors while visiting London. We were able to get a late lunch reservation, so it was very quiet. Service started out great and everyone was attentive. After we finished our first glass of wine, we had to wave to get the attention of another server because our original server was now gone? Service after that was mediocre. The food was good, although I am not sure we would go back due to the price and service. You get to choose between the Adventurer, Guide and Maverick, however, we had a very difficult time understanding what they were saying. In the beginning we asked them to repeat the description of the course, and then gave up. Restaurant is inside the beautiful Mandarin Oriental.
A must try restaurant imo! The meat fruit and tipsy cake are both classics and must orders. Enough has been said about them so I'm not gonna pile on but let's just say I had really high expectations and they didn't disappoint. My sea bass main was perfectly cooked. The side of fries was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft inside. The dining experience can be customized as well depending on how much you want to learn about the food, it's history, or just have a quiet meal. Amazing. Definitely gonna try and come back again the next time I visit London.
We went for lunch service over the holidays and had a decent experience. The restaurant was empty when we entered and filled up about 70% by the time we left around two. We sat at a nice table facing Hyde Park. We ordered a la carte to try more variety of dishes between the two of us. The signature dishes were good (meat fruit and tipsy cake at the end). Tipsy cake is literally a bed of butter so probably a heart attack! The confit chicken and scallops were both good as starters. The ribeye was your typical ribeye with fries, nothing special at all. Expected more out of a Heston slab of steak. The squab was good but smaller pieces on the bone rather than cuts of just meat. Lastly, the service was just ok for a two Michelin star restaurant. Plenty of servers, but most were standing around trying (and failing) to look busy. The floor supervisors were busy. Would we come back? Yes. Would this be our first choice to eat? No.
Located in the opulent Mandarin hotel, this restaurant provided me with a memorable dining experience while visiting in London. Though the dishes are elegant and modern, they are rooted and inspired by historic British cuisines so be prepared for that. We elected for the tasting menu as opposed to the a la carte, and felt full by the end. When you were seated, you are given three large cards by the host, which allow you to A.) Sit in silence and enjoy the dishes, B.) Dive into the preparations and details of what you're eating, or C.) Learn the history behind the dish. You can obviously change the card throughout the dinning experience, but we found C to be the most fun in discovering the history behind each of these dishes that were brought back from the past with modern re-invention. In addition to the food, they have a great list of wines available, as well as three wine pairing options to choose from (Classic, Premium, Prestige). We chose the Premium and Classic, which had a nice variety of bubbles/wine to pair with the meals. Highly recommend you give this place a try at least once the next time you're in London!
A great 2 star michelin restaurant. Great food, very creative. Almost every dish had a twist. The bread was amazing. Wine pairing (premium) wss superb And the service was friendly and professional
10/10 recommend. This was our first time at a 2 star Michelin and it did not disappoint. Every bite was full of carefully crafted flavors. The experience was just magnifiqué. They boast meals from 13th century England and beyond with a twist. I had the duck and it melted in my mouth. It was so good I had to pause a moment and just savor it before swallowing. The atmosphere is a subtle nod to that old English time period and you can choose how you want your meal explained (if at all). If you ever have the chance you MUST visit.
10 years ago
Wow what an experience. Excellent fare and service, and certainly didn't feel like we broke the bank (maybe the weak pound and my American dollars are a contributor). But I think this comps very well to Michelin star completion. We started with the meatfruit and a seared scallop tartare. The meatfruit was quite special. It's thick cut toast served in essence with chicken liver mousse (they call it parfait), but the presentation is special. It's wrapped in the thin skin of a mandarin orange. I don't know how they do it... but hence meat fruit. Super hearty food and really hit the spot. In contrast the scallops were delicate. Roasted cauliflower and two scallops - thin seared and some raw tartare. Very clean and refreshing. I got the heritage pork chop. Prepared excellent in of itself, and also served with something that was vaguely reminiscent of dim sum (a rice paper covering some legumes and possibly meat). Just done excellently. The duck also excellent. I was left wondering if they sous vide. We also nabbed the twisty cake (if I remember correctly) which is a brioche in a cream/alcohol suave with a roasted caramelized pineapple. Wow what a meal read more
7 years ago
Featuring modern takes on historic dishes, some dating back to the 14th century, I'll admit I was a little intimidated by the menu. Frog leg porridge? Chicken liver parfait? Suffice it to say I had nothing to worry about! The food, atmosphere and service were all top notch. Thanks for the wonderful evening and hope to make it back next time we visit London. Oh, and for someone who thought they hated the taste of chicken liver, the parfait was amazing! read more
8 years ago
10 years ago
A delicious meal with exceptional service. I can't praise their staff enough! Even though my boyfriend and I were greatly underdressed we still were treated kindly and when we called to tell them we were running late, they were understanding. The seating was beautiful, whether looking out or looking into the kitchen staff. Now the important part. The food was divine. Though my boyfriend has his hmph and meh about certain dishes (his duck and octopus dish), he was enamored with mine (Cod and risotto). Never have I enjoyed Cod as much as I had! And the desserts were perfect to top the meal with! I must also add, the decaffeinated espresso... Smooth, bold, rich, and tastes just as good as regular espresso. Was a perfect meal to end our trip in London. read more
I've always admired Heston Blumenthal from the countless YouTube videos I've seen of him taking a scientific (literally) approach to food. On my most recent trip to London I had the pleasure of dining at Dinner... except I came for lunch... Lunch @ Dinner (hah)! Decor: The restaurant is located inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel which should be self explanatory in itself. For those of you who don't know the Mandarin Oriental, just think of the Ritz-Carlton, then take it up a notch. There were two things that really stood out about the interior of the restaurant: 1. The glass walls which surrounded the kitchen allowing you to take a glimpse inside, and 2. the modern see-through wine-cellar which stood at the entrance of the dining area. Service: Each table does not have its own server, rather there is a large amount of staff constantly attending the floor. This allows for both quicker ordering and a shorter-wait time between check-ups. The service at dinner was quite outstanding and the pleasant attitudes of the servers brightened up what was a very gloomy day outside. Food: Meat Fruit - The presentation of the meat fruit is both clever and beautiful. The meat fruit itself is very strong in flavor, but spread it on the nicely toasted bread and you have yourself a savory little starter. I would highly recommend this for everyone. Tipsy Cake - The second most popular item at Dinner behind the Meat Fruit. This triple-reduced pineapple cake is possibly the single sweetest/richest pastry I've ever encountered. Would highly recommend a nice glass of bitter espresso to go with this. If you are a sweet lover, this is a must! Roast Iberico Pork Chop - I don't remember much about this dish, but I do remember that I thought the vegetables were more amazing than the pork chop itself. Overall: Although not the most incredible meal of my life, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is all-deserving for the praise and accolades it has achieved. Great service, beautiful interior, and good food gives this place a certain 5/5. read more
3 years ago
15 years ago
I've recently been to Heston's new restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London. We literally booked months in advance to get a lunch seating not too long after it opened. I may got shot for saying this, but the food was...okay. Don't get my wrong, parts of it were good - but not the amazing I was expecting. Not to mention the extortionate prices. Of course, one must try this restaurant once and I would surely go back for the 'tipsy cake'. The meat fruit (starter) was indeed tasty (who doesn't like a bit of liver?!), and the concept itself, creative but the portion in relation to the bread provided was too much and quite rich for a starter. I'm all for value for money, and obviously scoffed this down. The consistency was just right and the outer 'mandarin' skin really did taste fruity with a hint of citrus that went well and complimented the liver. I had read a review on Yelp which highly recommended the pork chop (as opposed to the Beef Royale) which many raved about. The portion was a good size and the meat was tender (not tough or dry) and well seasoned and cooked. The sauce that accompanied it was tasty from memory, but for the life of me, I can't quite remember if it was salty or citrus-y. Now, the dessert. When I read 'salted caramel' I though 'YES, that is exactly what I want'. I know the 'tipsy cake' had been recommended by others, but I am super sensitive to alcohol, i.e. I can detect it in a slice of tiramisu so I decided to rebel against the consensus. I also don't like the taste of booze so that was that. The waiter warned me my choice was a 'savoury' dessert...yet I still went for it. A mistake. It has this extremely bitter taste and then came the lovely salted caramel as an after taste which was nice. But I just couldn't get over how bitter it was. I think I still ate the whole thing, but not to my enjoyment. The meal ended with an 'earl grey tea' ganache which was to die for, and I did get to sample my sister's 'tipsy cake' which was lovely spitroasted pineapple with the most deletable brioche. I highly recommend it. So was it nice? yes. Was it the amazing I was expecting? Not quite - but nonetheless an experience which must be tried once and perhaps only once. read more
Had a lunch. Lovely bar area if you arrive early. In the main room we were seated next to the waitstaff's gathering area which wasn't ideal but wasn't bad. So, the food. Yes, meat fruit and tipsy cake are definitely a must order. The octopus salad was a wonderful surprise. Cooked really well. I had the cod with cider. I loved the sauce which the waiter described as "butter" so I guess I like butter. We did get amazingly bored waiting for the main dishes. At about the same time we started "napkin origami" the food came, maybe 75 minutes after sitting down. Wife had chips with her rib eye. Rib eye was salty and nothing special. Chips were underwhelming. I would expect something creative but guess not. In 'n Out fries in the US still win. He should check them out. read more
Maybe expectations make the experience. We went there for lunch and as such we didn't do the full monty. Might be one of the reasons for the slightly let down feeling I ended up with. Let it be said: the Meat fruit is fantastic. I order you to order this! But don't for a minute think that this tv-infused Heston-ish feel will go through the meal. Its not all disguised food and fun weird dishes, its not molecular gastronomy. It's reinvented british dishes - and well prepared no doubt about that. But I missed the WOW effect after the meat fruit. It's actually hard not to expect bells and whistles with all the Heston we've seen on tv, and with the meat fruit on the table. Yes the food is Michelin class, and the surroundings are worthy of a king. But the service is a bit stiff and I'm not sure they approve of kids (and mine are well behaved in restaurants!). So if I should go again it would be a 'no kids-all night' kind of thing! read more
I still reminisce over the "Meat Fruit" and Tipsy Cake that I had at Dinner. Heavenly. The dining room felt a bit stiff (probably attributable to the well-suited and glamourous diners) in my opinion but beautifully decorated indeed. I haven't had the fortune of making it to Fat Duck yet, so as Heston Blumenthal's first/only London restaurant, I was mega-excited to finally try his food. Still difficult to get a reservation a year after opening, but the hype is definitely justified. Meat Fruit needs no introduction - if you're not familiar with it, it's chicken liver paté masked as a mandarin orange with chargrilled bread on the side. The taste was incredibly rich and livery (don't order it if you hate the taste of livers because it's VERY prominent). The paté was so smooth and unlike anything I've had - definitely needs to be eaten with bread to cut the richness. I went for cured salmon with beetroot purée as my main because I knew I'd be stuffed from starters. It sounds like a simple dish, but when salmon is cooked right, it's insanely good. (For the record, Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley has a fantastic cured salmon starter too!) The sweetness of the beetroot purée went perfectly with the slightly smoky/salty salmon. When it came time to order desserts, Tipsy Cake was a no-brainer for me. Come on, booze + brioche bun + cream? Not to mention the SPIT-ROAST PINEAPPLE that the waiter kept pointing towards throughout the meal, and telling us how good it is? Winning combination for me! The dessert is definitely boozy, but in a good way, and not overpowering. Indulgence at its best, and when you have it with the caramelised pineapple...truly heavenly. You also get a earl grey mousse with shortbread as a finish to the meal, but I found it too much after the Tipsy Cake. Nevertheless, well-deserved 5-stars from me. I need to get my hands on the Tipsy Cake recipe to fill the void in my life! read more
11 years ago
We ended up having lunch at Dinner due to a mishap with Alitalia coming in from Rome. While we would have preferred to dine during dinnertime, we knew we couldn't miss it during our very brief 18 hours in London! This is for sure in my top 5 meals of all time. The food was outrageously wonderful - loved the meat fruit and the steak especially - and the overall experience was very memorable and special. Highly recommend for a special occasion! read more
10 years ago
In the case of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, 5 stars is not enough. My family and I came here for my birthday dinner and it was by far one of the best meals that I have ever had. The atmosphere of the restaurant is ever so slightly corporate, but also inviting and modern. As many other reviewers have mentioned, and as you may have noticed from a perusal of the menu, Heston's is far from normal. The restaurant takes dishes that were once very popular (think 14th-19th c.) and repurposes them into plates for the modern palate. The names of the menu items are simple and give a hint to what the dish will be like. For dinner we got: Appetizers: Meat Fruit, Rice and Flesh, Roast Marrow Entrées: Roast Iberico Pork Chop, Powdered Duck Breast, Hereford Ribeye, Chicken cooked with Lettuces Dessert: Tipsy Cake, Sambocade, Taffety Tart Post: Earl Grey Chocolate Mousse (mine had 'Happy Birthday' written on it, nice touch) All of the dishes were amazing and each person thought that his/her own dish was the best. Following that logic, my favorites were the Rice and Flesh (probably my favorite of the night), the Pork Chop, and the Tipsy Cake. The Meat Fruit was also very good. A little confusing at first, but the flavors and textures played well together. Also, the Tipsy Cake deserves its own special mention for being delectable. Bottom-line: You will most certainly not be disappointed when you dine at Heston's. The food is unforgettable and innovative in the best way possible and the service is top notch. You will regret not making a trip here. read more
11 years ago
The whole evening was faultless from start to finish. We were seated by the window in the corner so could get a good view of the restaurant. The service was outstanding and the staff knew the menu back to front when I asked them questions about certain dishes. The menu is inspired by historic British dishes which explains the date next to each dish and is also referenced at the back of the menu with more information if you want to dig deeper. Meat Fruit (c.1500) This signature dish won it for me and set the bar up high for the rest of the dinner. What looks like a plump mandarin was in fact chicken liver and foie gras parfait cloaked in orange fruit jelly served with grilled sourdough bread. It was my most eagerly anticipated dish and hit every single spot. I'm still dreaming of it now. Powdered Duck Breast (c.1670) I really liked the smoked beetroot, it complimented the duck and umbles so well. The waiter did tell me why it was called "Powdered" and I think it was to do with powdering the duck in salt in preparation for brining. But whatever they did, the duck was delicious and perfectly cooked. It was served with the brine juice, giving it that extra kick of flavour. Tipsy Cake (c.1810) This dessert is another signature dish which needs to be pre ordered at least 30 minutes before serving, as it is made to order. The brioche was light, soaked with brandy at the bottom and warmed up my mouth with each bite. The pineapple looked impressive hanging in the kitchen, roasting on a spit to caramelise but I didn't think was all that. The birthday surprise - Heston's Chocolate Gateau After dessert we had a brief conversation with the waiter then behind him someone brings out a birthday cake. What a lovely surprise and kudos to my boyfriend for organising. The cake was constructed beautifully but there was no way we could finish something so decadent so had it wrapped and boxed to take home. I did try it the day after and it is a chocoholic's dream. Very rich chocolate ganache with orange jelly in the middle and a crunchy biscuit base with an element of surprise, popping candy. The whole dining experience was perfect. The food lived up to its standards and my taste buds experienced new flavours it never knew existed. I would love to come here again especially for the Meat Fruit but for now this is one restaurant I can happily tick off my list. read more
8 years ago
Simply one of the best meals of my life! My friends and I made reservations here as we wanted to hit a Michelin-starred restaurant during our vacation. Dinner is located within the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, a five-star hotel, and it reflects its surrounding. Definitely a fine dining location. Started with the Meat Fruit, a liver pate made to look like a mandarin orange, which was incredibly savory and full of flavor. Normally I do not like liver, but this pate, especially when spread on the grilled bread, was phenomenal. I followed this with the Lobster and Cucumber Soup. Positively light and refreshing and a good contrast to the richness of the Meat Fruit. For my main course I had the Roast Iberico Pork Chop. Delicious and cooked to perfection. The first dessert was the Spring Tart. It was quite good, but the better dessert was clearly the Tipsy Cake, truly a stand out piece. It explodes with flavor when you put the grilled pineapple with a piece of the cake itself. Incredible. The meal ended with the Nitrogen Ice Cream. It was a lovely spectacle to watch as the waiter instantly made ice cream and topped it off with delicious toppings. The service was very impressive. The attentive waiters were incredibly knowledgeable about the food and gave fantastic recommendations to us all. The staff truly know their craft. Truly a must go. read more
7 years ago
What can I say that no one else has said before. I went to this place for my birthday dinner and we sat at the chefs table and what an incredible experience this was. Food was absolutely delicious. The chefs made a special menu for me, and my chocolate birthday cake was exquisite. I'm going back to London in the fall and I will eat there again. read more
7 years ago
Excellent service and delicious food! Got meat fruit (must have), chicken oyster (it was ok), steak for two (amazing!!), Tipsy cake (good). The steak came with a richly flavored mushroom kitchup for fries, I loved it. The meat is so buttery and tasty. One of best meal I had in London!! read more
Another great meal in London! Had lunch here overlooking Hyde Park. Service amazing friendly server that talked about every dish that is dated to a historical period of Brit cuisine. Enjoyed every dish here. Would recommend. It is not just hype that they are the 2014 Top 50 restaurant in the world. They know what they are doing and it shows. read more
8 years ago
Expect to be treated like royalty. Heston is a culinary genius and master of his craft. You'll change your view of foie gras when you take a bite of the meat fruit. From starters to dessert, it was a delight! Liquid nitrogen ice cream in London, I dare say, started here. Dined here in 2011 and liquid nitro ice cream was already on the menu. Then that trend all over London just boomed! read more
Wow wow wow. I was simply blown away by my dinner experience here. Service was so attentive, food was astounding. This is my 4th Michelin starred restaurant I've been to and so far it's definitely been my favourite. I can definitely say it was an eating experience rather than just a meal. I went for the Meat Fruit, which looks like a clementine with bread but is the most delicious pate. Highly recommend going for this as a starter. My main was the powdered duck, which was the most perfectly cooked duck I've ever eaten, and for my dessert I had the tipsy cake (which you have to order early on so that they can start preparing it, as it takes a while to cook) - my goodness this was possibly one of the most delicious desserts I've ever eaten. The brioche style of the cake was delicious and baked to perfection. As it was my birthday I decided to treat myself and also order the icecream which they make right in front of you. I definitely recommend going for this dessert too (you might as well splurge!) they make it right in front of you and pour the liquid nitrogen into the cream mixture so it's like a mini show. I cannot recommend this place enough. Yes you might have to save a bit before you go but if you're a foodie this is definitely one you have to try. read more
Easily a five-star experience. The hotel and restaurant decor, atmosphere, and service are impeccable. We were treated like royalty from the moment we walked in. I felt cared for the entire time. We started with meat fruit. Creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. Perfect for spreading on the grilled bread. When we finished half of our fruit and all of our bread, they offered to bring us a few more slices. For our main course we shared the powdered duck breast with smoked confit fennel and umbles. The meat was extremely tender and juicy. It almost melted with each bite. There was an additional piece of meat on our plate, which I afterward learned was duck heart. Oh my. Well, it did taste good. To finish we selected a dessert from the set lunch menu, Sambocade. It is a goats milk cheese cake with elderflower and fresh fig. Again, my main description is creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. It had a light fruit filling, a dark coating (ash?), and several halved figs. We learned that this recipe is one of the oldest printed recipes in Britain, c.1390. We were tempted by the ice cream, made table-side with liquid nitrogen, but decided to pass. But that wasn't the end of our dining experience. Our waiter brought out two complementary shot glasses of dark chocolate mousse, infused with earl grey, and caraway biscuits. The flavors paired surprisingly well, as did the textures. This one will be hard to beat. read more
10 years ago
This was an outstanding meal-- one of the best experiences I've had. I wanted to try everything but eventually narrowed it down to 4 things (3 things would have easily left me full, 4 left me stuffed): - Meat fruit-- this is basically a must-get. Others have described its merits. I agree. - Salamagundy- delicious, interesting, inventive, unique, beautifully presented. There was panko crusted bone marrow, which was novel, interesting, and delicious, in addition to carmelized and perfectly cooked chicken oysters (my favorite part of the bird!) - Cod in cider- delicious, perfectly cooked, tender, flaky, rich, and buttery. The roasted artichokes and onions were particularly tasty. - Tipsy cake- another must-get. Delicious, soaked in a buttery sauce with just the perfect spike of alcohol. The prices of the cocktails were a bit high for my American dollars (£17-18 each), especially since that's the same price as the meat fruit and other starters. I stuck with wine which started around £12-13/glass, and beers were in the £7-8 if you were interested in starting the night with something less expensive. The food AND service here are well-deserving of its accolades as one of the best restaurants in the world, and the prices are well worth the food and experience. I was in town for business, so I dined on my own, and the service was spectacular. The people taking care of me struck the perfect balance of chatting with me and socializing, and leaving me to enjoy my food. Unequivocally recommended. read more
10 years ago
I came here when I was visiting London over spring break. When I entered the restaurant, I was really impressed with the modern interior and the ambiance. At my table, you could see into the kitchen, which was a fun part of the meal. The theme of the restaurant is really cool-- all the dishes are based on recipes from the 14th-19th centuries. As is typical of Michelin star restaurants, the service is impeccable. Our wine glasses were never empty, and at some point in the meal, I sneezed -- within 10 seconds, a waiter appeared with a box of tissues. Listen to all the other reviewers and get the meat fruit. Besides having a cute and whimsical presentation, the meat fruit is probably the best thing I've ever eaten. The combination of flavors (mandarin, pate) blend extremely well together. For my entree, I got the the Hereford ribeye, which was a really nicely cooked steak. For dessert, definitely go with the tipsy cake (spit roast pineapple and brioche). Order it at the beginning of your meal (it takes 40 minutes to cook). The brioche is super light, and literally melt-in-your-mouth good. My friend got the rhubarb and hibiscus dessert, which is refreshing and good to get if you are too stuffed for the more filling tipsy cake. I would definitely fly back to London just to eat at this restaurant! read more
15 years ago
The whole experience was exquisite, as I imagined it to be. Service staff was extremely attentive, the champagne trolley was a nice touch and the food was exceptionally memorable. I had to order the Meat Fruit due to the interesting name. The chicken liver parfait that lived inside what looks like the outer layer of a mandarin was light in texture and taste but offered just enough of substantive kick when eaten alone and on the grilled bread that came with it. For the main course I ordered off the menu: pork belly with spelt covered by a thin layer of lard and doused with Robert sauce (kind of a pork au jus). The pork belly itself was cooked for 30 hours and was heavenly. What didn't work for me was the richness of the Robert sauce. It was overpowering enough for me to regret not ordering the rib eye. Saving the best for last.... The Tipsy Cake. The soft warm brioche soaked in some sort of liqueor was done perfectly, great consistency and just the amount of sweetness. Be warned that you may be intoxicated just from the dessert itself... Hence the name I suppose. It comes with roasted glazed pineapple that practically melts in your mouth. I would definitely go again for a special occassion. read more
9 years ago
8 years ago
What an amazing experience! We loved it so much that we actually came back to London the following year so we can dine here again! The wine selection and cocktails was great! And of course the meat fruit! A must have when dining here. Heston is a genius! read more
I've been here twice now and it is definitely one of my favourite London restaurants and definitely deserves the two michelin stars. All the dishes are based on British historical dishes and original recipes from the 1300s through 1800s but of course with a modern twist. Atmosphere is pleasant (though it is within a hotel so does have that slightly hotel/corporate feel) and mostly couples or a few groups. Service is wonderful and attentive. They overheard me asking my fiance where the bathroom was so they escorted me there directly. What I love about it though is that the service is very relaxed and unfussy. Not snooty at all as it can be a bit in some michelin-starred places. And the food is wonderful. We only had a main and dessert as we knew how full we'd be otherwise. I had the roast halibut with roe and mussel/seaweed ketchup. So yummy and a well-cooked piece of fish. Also ordered a side of mashed potato which was ridiculously buttery and decadent. For dessert I had the 'chocolate bar' which is hard to describe but essentially a very dense dark chocolate mousse thing with a passion fruit layer served with lovely ginger ice cream. My fiance had the Tipsy cake which i highly recommend too - the lightest brioche ever with delicious grilled pineapple. Outstandning. read more
9 years ago
This is an overdue review! I had quite a decent amount of recommendations upon visiting the UK and Dinner was absurdly regarded in the highest honor among London visitors, so I decided to take a peek and see what will stimulate my gustatory senses and satiate my ravenousness hunger. We had a variety of meats with some more distinguishable than others (I'm looking at you meat fruit) yet were reasonably satisfying and finished off with brown bread ice cream which was creamy, simple, and palatable. Nothing to write home about, but do stop by if you are bored and want to experience luxury dining during your stay. read more
7 years ago
It's a great place with fairly price for that quality of food. This is a truly unique Michelin star rated restaurant and extremely talented chef. read more
Parents are in town...we're gon'-be eatin' right... OFF TO DINNER! FOR, ERM...lunch! There's a lot of great Yelping out there already for Dinner, so I'll try to be brief. Thankfully I'm no dissenting voice, so I'll join the chorus: the service is great. Super-attentive but not stuffy or pretentious, and magically able to suss out just when we were ready enough to be decisive with our menu picks or getting prepped to pay our bill. This service extended beyond the table to greeters and the kindly woman running coat-check. Great staff goes a long, long way. Also, a quick note on the calm venue: looking out over greenery and people exercising in Hyde Park is the perfect place to spend a gluttonous afternoon indoors. Heh. So...on to the food! Anything I've ever read about Dinner basically *insisted* that I order meat fruit as a starter. I did. It was...perfect. Truly the best bite of the day. Perfectly silky chicken liver and foie in the adorably realistic guise of a mandarin orange. Three crunchy grilled pieces of bread were the perfect vessel for NOM-ing. We had the last lunch table of the day, so I was thankfully able to base my choice of main on what I spied on the tables around me. My Pops and I split the bone-in Hereford Prime Rib for 2 (with mushroom kechup and thrice-done chips) and then we decided to go for carby broke with a side of, erm...mashed potato. And buttery carraway-scented carrots. Don't judge; we were hungry folk! I feel as though this next line might top the limits of pretentious food-speak, but I'mmagon' risk it: it was an umami-fest. Like perfect savoury bites with the reduced wine sauce and the mushroom ketchup and the aged beef cooked to a delicious medium rare that treated the marbling perfectly. My Mum let me stick my fork in some of the spelt/ham hock mixture topped with pork crackling that accompanied her black foot pork chop (perfectly cooked). Otherwise she was super possessive of her plate, a sign of a meal truly enjoyed. Dessert was two dishes split by three family members with impressive spoon skills (towards the last bites it got nasty). The Bohemian Cake was a biscuit base with a citrusy perfume and a deeply chocolate-y mousse. I'd never had yuzu and chocolate together, and it was a success, especially when paired with the sweet floral honeyed icecream. The Brown Bread icecream was a winner for me...because it was weird. Like, malty and salty and kindof like beer? But bready and cool and creamy all at once. I'm not just copping out by using the word "interesting" here; it truly was the type of dessert that confused my palate with bitter and sweet and salty and further perplexed it with soft and creamy and crunchy textures. I'd recommend it, especially if you're even remotely a caramel fan. The meals ended with coffees (americano, cappuccino, flat white) which was strong and hot. Gratis were some tiny Earl Grey-infused ganaches with a side of carraway shortbread. Yelp note: the menu changes very slowly here; some seasonal desserts and a few seafood details changed from when my friends went in the winter. Being a bit of a food history dork I especially appreciated the detail and dates accompanying the different items and the news that Blumenthal had consulted with cookery experts, and the British Library to make sure he replicated elements authentically. In the words of Ali G: respec. read more
9 years ago
We loved all the dishes we ordered, they were very good. See my pictures on what we ordered. Strongly recommend it, especially the duck and the dessert. Heaven!!! read more
8 years ago
Been to Dinner twice for dinner. Both times were excellent. All the servers were excellent and knowledgeable. If you have not been before, you have to get the meat fruit and the pineapple tipsy cake. The nitrogen ice cream has an okay novelty factor, but I'd seen it before in other places. The second time I went, two of my dining companions split the ribeye steak for two, which I really enjoyed. The steak had a really nice woody char flavor from the fire. The sourdough bread they start you off is as amazing as I remembered from The Fat Duck. read more
11 years ago
We had lunch at Dinner by Heston. The experience began even before the food arrived - well presented menus and a very knowledgeable waiter who described the history of how the recipes were acquired, and modernised. We only knew of the meat fruit so ordered that - we were lucky to get a plum meat fruit instead of the usual mandarin orange. The main dishes were excellent, well presented and served timely. The tipsy cake was gorgeous, they will ask if you want it before your main arrives due to the time taken to cook it, make sure you say yes!! read more
9 years ago
16 years ago
I had been looking forward to this lunch since we booked before Christmas and it delivered on all fronts. Three courses with Heston and Ashley will take you to foodie heaven, put a big smile on your face and oh so gently remove a couple of hundred pounds from your wallet. Given the acres of coverage online and in the press I don't think that there is much for me to add. If you want to keep it cheapish tap water is available and the set menu of 3 courses for £28 is a bargain. If you look hard there are a few bottles of wine under £40 and there is a decent selection by the glass. The meat fruit starter is just divine; a picture on the plate, it melted in the mouth and was like a lighter version of foie gras. B went for the roast scallops which came with a cucumber ketchup and borage; quite different and very tasty. We washed this down with a bottle of the white Il Cantante, Etna which was crisp, fragrant and complex - not a great fan of Simply Red but Mr Hucknall is turning out some great wine. I also had a glass of a rich robust red; the Tributo, Tejo 2008 which I would recommend very highly. Main courses and desserts were all top notch; not many people have mentioned the fish but B's roast turbot with cockle ketchup and leaf chicory was damn fine. If all cockles tasted like this I would be giving up the clam tomorrow. More bread, not made in the kitchen but bought in, was offered when we had scoffed our initial offering. Service was attentive but not over-bearing; if you enquired about a dish or a wine the staff knew their stuff and could talk at length and with insight. The room is well thought out; the tables are nicely presented and well-spaced. Wherever you are seated you will have a good view of the room, the kitchen or the park; if you are lucky you will have a combination of all three. It reminded me of one of my all time favourites: Jean Georges next to Central Park. Just one strange thing caught my eye during our lunch which I mentioned to B and she concurred with my observation. The trousers worn by the lovely lady waiting staff are just not cut right; I have never seen so much VPL in one sitting. Heston himself was buzzing about during the few hours we were there but I would think he is much too focused on the food at the moment to have given much attention to the look of his ladies front of house. Hopefully he will soon be turning his attention to these small details. We left around 5pm slightly heavy around the middle but light of heart and with a happy disposition as we made our way through the crowds down to Green Park and the short hop home. Having got this fine dining malarkey out of the way for the year I'm looking forward to getting back down to earth in New Cross tomorrow night at Meateasy . read more
11 years ago
We had dinner here. The ambience and service were excellent. The waiter explained the menu in detail extensively and answered all questions we had. Starters: The meat fruit, Frumenty and Earl Grey tea cured salmon. The meat fruit was definitely the star of this course. It was perfectly presented. The foies gras was smooth and luscious. The grilled octopus, the "Frumenty" was fresh and tender but the general taste of the dish was nothing you would not be able to find in a good seafood tavern in a Mediterranean country. That said, I've found it difficult to find well-cooked octopus in this country so they still deserve their five stars. The salmon was very fresh and mouthwatering. Main: Powdered duck breast and chicken cooked with lettuces. I wasn't a fan of the chicken. However, the duck was divine. It was cooked to perfection, well-seasoned and scrumptious. Just perfect. Desserts and tea: Tipsy cake, Brown bread ice cream, Chocolate bar and Sambocade. There was a great selection of teas, I'd recommend the rose tea. The tipsy cake was absolutely gorgeous. You'd have to pre-order it as it takes 40 minutes to prepare. However it is one of the best desserts I have ever had. For an ice cream addict like myself, the brown bread ice cream was average. The chocolate bar and ginger ice cream were good but the bar was a bit too overpowering. The Sambocade was different and worth trying but a dessert I would only order once, not my favourite. They also serve ice cream made with liquid Nitrogen which they prepare by the table which adds a great twist and is entertaining to watch. I would definitely return to Dinner and I'd definitely recommend: the meat fruit, powdered duck and tipsy cake. read more
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