We’ve just returned from our lunch at Michelin-starred Neptune in Old Hunstanton near King’s Lynn in Norfolk, and what a lovely meal it was. They offer a £32 two-course lunch deal, which we opted for: poached salmon mousse, crab sauce, rocket, and soused mackerel, little gem, caper & beetroot dressing for starters; confit of Goosnargh duck leg, mushroom, hispi cabbage, potato rösti, as well as fillet of hake, baked leeks, charlotte potatoes, courgette & samphire. We loved the atmosphere of this 18th century former coaching inn from the moment we entered. Everything here says ‘small, family-run venue’. Chef Kevin Mangeolles previously worked as Chef Poissonière for Pierre Koffman at London’s famed two Michelin-starred La Tante Claire and gained his first own Michelin star at The George Hotel on the Isle of Wight, from where he and his wife Jacki relocated to Norfolk to open the Neptune in 2007. They’ve […]
Ametsa with Arzak Instruction – Best of Basque
We have been lovers of Basque cuisine ever since we visited San Sebastian, the culinary capital of Planet Earth, five years ago. That weekend in the northwest of Spain was a real eye-opener to us and made us realise what a great ingredient good food is to our lives. Michelin-starred Ametsa with Arzak Instruction opened in our adopted home town London in 2013, four generations since the family tavern opened in San Sebastian in 1897. ‘Arzak’ (three-starred since the 1970s) is generally considered to be one of the world’s ten best restaurants. Since we started our travel and food blog three years ago and since we started researching Michelin-starred restaurants, we were surprised to read so many bad and mediocre reviews about Ametsa. We don’t spend big on restaurants, so it was only when we found a £59 deal on Buy-a-Gift for a three-course meal for two and a glass […]
Galvin La Chapelle – London’s Most Romantic Restaurant
Ms B and Mr B celebrated their wedding anniversary yesterday, so Mr B thought, why not do the obvious thing, and book us in for dinner at London’s most romantic restaurant: Michelin-starred Galvin la Chapelle. We had recently already enjoyed two of the Galvin brothers’ other ventures: Galvin at the Athenaeum (post here) and the (also Michelin-starred) Galvin at Windows (post here). Galvin la Chapelle had been on our list for a long time, so we were truly excited when we arrived there by chauffeur-driven limousine (read our post about the awesome chauffeur service here). We had seen many pictures of the marvellous space inside Spitalfields’ St. Botolph’s Hall (built 1890 and now home to la Chapelle), but it still exceeded our expectations. The friendly waiter led us to our table at the perfect spot: the far right-hand corner, with the best view of the hall, the décor, and […]
Fera, Claridge’s – Fine Dining in Mayfair
We have just returned from our lunch at Michelin-starred Fera at Claridge’s , whose kitchen has been headed by Australian chef Matt Starling since February 2017. Fera focuses on British cuisine. We had been having meals at Claridge’s in the past, when it was called “Gordon Ramsey at Claridge’s” and when it was labelled London’s most overpriced, overrated restaurant. However, Ms B, my wife, found out that instead of charging you £300+ for a meal for two with wine, like in the olden days, there was now a surprisingly acceptable lunch deal on offer: three courses and a glass of champagne or gin and tonic for £42 per person. For an additional £10 you can add their signature snacks (we didn’t, because we weren’t that hungry). There is an undeniable wow effect when you enter the dining room through a curtain-lined entrance which leads to a rotunda, where the room […]
Galvin at Windows – Our Restaurant Review
[UPDATE 25 April 2024: This restaurant has permanently closed] We’re just back from our visit to Chef Patron Chris Galvin‘s Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows, which boasts incredible 360 degree views of London from the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane. I should say “usually boasts”, because we picked the worst time to visit, considering that it was a dark, rainy, cloudy day, but the friends we met up with (two other couples) and us, we were still immediately bought in on the atmosphere. The interior décor combines modern elegance and state-of-the-art comfort with the glamour of the 1930s. Everyone I know hates 1960s architecture, and rightly so, but this true gem, which was completed in 1963, is one of the nicest buildings I’ve seen. It looks surprisingly modern from the outside, but the main selling point is its Y-shaped layout, which means you are always next to […]