(Photos: main course beef, fish course halibut and white asparagus, starter of spring greens. Couldn’t work out how to do descriptions on each one sorry)
So for my 150th Michelin I decided to do the eponymous restaurant of the sweary Scotsman, and whilst I had read a few reviews and seen a handful of photos I still didn’t quite know what to expect. First time I’ve ever been to a fine dining location with a bouncer on the door too 😂
The end result was……underwhelming. The restaurant layout was fine although I can certainly see why people think the tables are too close together, but at least the seating positions are such that you don’t feel like you’re dining with your neighbours.
I found some of the food to be, well….bland? Lovely presentation but quite a lot of it was just “alright”. The wine pairings felt unadventurous and whilst I am sure many people would love a Chateau Something 1983 I’ve experienced pairings that felt far more engaging. The sommelier did explain the wines on more occasions than not but I half felt he’d decided I wasn’t really that bothered (untrue) and effort lapsed. I even had to ask what the dessert wine was since someone else just poured two glasses and then left.
The last thing was the ambience. Whilst I admit I can’t stand kids and was filled with dread being sat close to parents with two of the little blighters, at least they were well behaved. But who thinks it’s a good idea to take two kids to that sort of restaurant?! They didn’t eat, just sat there reading or whatever. It sort of felt like I was sitting amongst rich people for whom it wasn’t anything special, people who had been paid for by kids for their wedding anniversary and had no idea what to expect but know Gordon Ramsay is very famous, and tourists who also had no idea what to expect but have seen GR on telly. I don’t want to come across as aloof or a snob, I had a pair of jeans on from Primark for god’s sake, but the atmosphere just felt a bit….strange.
I went to L’enclume last month and it was a complete world apart. My other half has a rotten cold so at worst all I can say is maybe I’ve caught it and it affected my taste buds!
by ravens_requiem
8 Comments
Your point about spoilt rich people with their kids treating the meal like it was nothing special is something I’ve experienced at basically every three star I’ve gone to.
I don’t understand why you’d take kids there when you can definitely afford a nanny. Ridiculous.
I do feel my meal there gave me a similar feeling. It was all immaculately done but it didn’t move me much, if you understand. But I get that at Ducasse too. Its incredibly well done and the ingredients are top but it doesn’t grab and stay with me.
L’enclume does.
Edit: just want to give a shout out to the never ending replies I’m getting from permanently offended parents hell bent on taking their charming little creations to three star restaurants. You are all coming across exactly how you are thought of. Good day.
The food and service must have truly been underwhelming when you spend this much energy and thought on whether there were well-behaved kids with uninterested parents at another table.
Feels a little weird to add this judgy tone to your review.
Went two years ago it was terrible. Core is the way to go. Kitchen table is also a favorite.
We dine out with our kid likely for the same reason you dine out — we really enjoy it (and so does she). Sorry that your enjoyment is so dependent on who else happens to be at the restaurant.
complaining about kids who were behaved is wild 😂 OP got some issues
Thank you for the write up. I avoid tv chef restaurants in general and wouldn’t go to anything connected to GR but thanks for providing additional support against it
Sounds like you had a very dissimilar experience to me (and I don’t mean the fact there were no kids when I went).
I don’t know if I’m in a minority but I actually enjoyed the ambience of RGR when I was there. I was a bit fan of the revolving tables and seating arrangement (such that you are facing the room and not right towards each other), though I have to say I wasn’t a fan of the chef’s table being right in front of the entrance, so that everyone entering sees you tucking in.
Not going to lie, OP, I can’t empathise with you regarding the wine. I don’t know what you mean by ‘engaging’, do you mean varied or unique vintages? As far as I’m concerned, if the wine tastes great and pairs well with the dishes, it’s doing its job. That said, I know that the head sommelier has changed since I went so maybe there has been a slight dip.
Regarding the food, it looks lovely, sorry that the tastes didn’t match the presentation for you. It’s interesting, I’ve heard more people divided by the carte blanche dishes than the ones on the cheaper prestige menu.
Children shouldn’t go to fine dining establishments. I don’t care how well behaved they are. If parents want to expose kids to cuisine there’s plenty of places to go to before they’re old enough to drink.