Chutney Mary, London SW1
New meets old at this stylish St James’s restaurant with its hybrid of classical and modern décor. This elegant venue has a smart doorman who sets the tone. The Pukka Bar is a great place to enjoy cocktails. Its main dining room, complete with mirrored columns as well as soft lighting, is the crown jewel of the venue. The innovative Indian cuisine offers a variety of delicious combinations, with elegant touches and a well-dressed presentation. A baked venison samosa, tamarind and date sauce might be served alongside halibut-tikka with dill & green chilli. A dark chocolate ‘bomb” filled with milk chocolate mousse, passionfruit sauce and dark chocolate is a skillful dessert.
Farmyard, Norwich (Norwegian)
This minimalist, modern restaurant is located in the heart of the city. Its philosophy is simple: find the best Norfolk produce and offer it in a casual bistro setting. Everything, from the sourdough to handmade butter, is made from scratch. Meat, fish, and vegetable are all cooked over charcoal for added flavor. A tender piece o steamed belly pork with Chinese-style XO Sauce and BBQ onions might lead to roasted rump lamb with celeriac mushrooms and fenugreek. A home-made chocolate bar is served with miso caramel, candied peanuts, and milk sorbet.
KOL Restaurant, London W1
This Mexican hot spot is unlike any other place in the capital. The centrepiece of the kitchen creates an authentic atmosphere with warm tones and textures, leather seating, eye-catching lighting, and displays of heritage objects. Lastra’s kitchen creates modern, labour-intensive dishes that are beautifully plated and elegantly presented. There are a variety of tasting menus with a choice of mains. It also celebrates wild foods and seasonality, as well as Mexican culture and innovation through British ingredients. Bright, vibrant, and colourful flavours dance across the palette with chilli used hyper skillfully in many forms. Witness a ‘tostada” course of chalk stream trout with pasilla Oaxaca (cougette), berries, and wild garlic
Pentonbridge Inn, Pentonbridge, Cumbria
This inn, located just on the English border but closer to Scottish cities, has a solid reputation as a good place for great food. It has a mix between modern and traditional interiors with exposed brick, log burning stoves, and stylish décor. Many of the ingredients used in the creative menus are from the nearby estate and gardens. The dishes are high on flavour and precision presentation thanks to their technical skill. Cornish crab with quail eggs caviar, leek, and potato foam might be preceded by Cartmel Valley red Deer, crispy Haggis, and neeps with bone marrow Sauce.
Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay, London, SW1
Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay is very much a fine dining environment with service of the highest order. The circular dining room features a wine cellar in its middle. It’s modern, comfortable, and light. Think leather chairs, white linen, and pastel tones with a splash of claret. All cutlery, crockery, and glassware is high-quality. The menu might start with an organic egg, sweet corn, bacon, and black Truffle, then move on to Cornish cod, with violet artichoke. Pine nuts, courgette, olive and Cornish cod. Finally, there’s a delicious hazelnut souffle and salted caramel ice-cream. Outstanding wine list.
The Clock House in Ripley, Surrey
This impressive Georgian building’s signature clock, located above the front doors, is sure to draw attention to Ripley’s beautiful High Street. The interior is elegant and modern, with clean lines and pastel colors against the backdrop of stripped-back old wall timbers. The relaxed atmosphere extends to the friendly, warm service. Chef Paul Nicholson’s modern, thoroughbred cuisine delivers via a variety of fixed-price menus that include tasting options. Simple, lightness of touch, and flavour are the hallmarks of dressed-to–thrill dishes that exude panache. Take’sparkling-fresh’ line-caught plaice, with coco beans and pork, to a Bakewell dessert, with cherry and almond. Formal-code amuse-bouches and in-house breads are equally impressive.
The Grill at The Dorchester London W1
The Dorchester’s revamped restaurant is a modern interpretation of the famous British grill room, which was first established in 1931. The restaurant’s chandeliers, parquet flooring and intricate gilded ceilings create a glamorous setting for a meal. Some diners are seated right in front of the action at the open kitchen. Start with veal sweetbread and potato pancakes, followed by a perfectly cooked Cornish turbot with borlotti beans, grelot onions, and then a piece of Cornish turbot. Yoghurt soft serve, apricots, London Honey and almonds is a clean and refreshing finale, although the soufflés are as good as ever.