DINNER by Heston Blumenthal, Mandarin Oriental, London

Good food is about flavour. Flavour made up of quality ingredients and/or creativity. Either a common recipe done well or a creative combination that produces a unique taste.

A good restaurant, is additionally, also about the dining experience - Ambience, service and comfort.

Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin checked every box. It is traditional dining done with taste and care. Every starter and main that we tried was exquisite. the foie gras starter was the best I have ever had and the presentation was really neat too. The service is attentive and friendly without being overbearing and the ambience is relaxed without being sloppy. Every item on the menu will sound familiar but deliver an exception taste.

I'll be heading back and I think you ought to as well. The Tipsy cake dessert was special.

£80 per head including wine.

DINNER


Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7LA

KIRAKU, Sushi, Ealing Common

So Forrest Gump and I were on our way to the much acclaimed Sushi Hiro opposite to Ealing Common tube station. We’d hear so much about it that we starved ourselves for 24hrs on this hot, humid friday but then we hit rush hour traffic and massively regretted it. He got restless in the heat and started sticking his feet in my face as I was driving which annoyed me to no end and so we had a HUGE argument...and missed our reservation at Sushi Hiro. Ok, so I have a short temper, well, I calmed down soon enough and then we both remembered how hungry we were and craved sushi. Hiro shuts militantly at 9pm so we were left with no option but to head to its neighbour, the unassuming Kiraku. Oh boy, and weren’t we glad! As it turned out, Kiraku is incomparably the best sushi we have ever had (even in comparison to the popularly revered Hiro). The politeness of the staff, the TLC with which they prepare the sushi and even most basically, the flavour, texture and binding quality of the rice is unsurpassed. You can’t get away without trying the soft shell crab. What makes Kiraku so cool is the simplicity of the place and the air of humility that prevails. The TV playing footie during the world cup was a nice convenience at the time but could get annoying otherwise. But this is what sets it apart from Hiro (besides better food) - a relaxed ambience.


We recommend getting a place by the bar and watching the sushi chef at work.


KIRAKU
8 Station Pde
Uxbridge Rd, London W5 3LD
020 8992 2848