Bakingaddict is really good at finding places for dinner that offer set menus for pretty reasonable prices, allowing us to eat in some very nice restaurants. I'm also really good at getting lost on the way (yes, despite a print out from Streetmap in my hand and Google Maps on my phone) so invariably keep her waiting!
We recently ate at the Montagu at the Hyatt Regency. The Hyatt Regency is a 5-star hotel on Portman Square in London hosting a famous Italian restaurant, Locanda Locatelli, as well as the Montagu.
At the Montagu you can book the chef's table - a special table where you can see everything that goes on in the open plan kitchen (restaurants generally charge quite a lot for the privilege). Our table was actually quite close to the kitchen anyway and while I couldn't see everything that was happening, it was quite interesting to be able to see and hear. We remarked to the waitress that the chefs were particularly quiet and polite (no Gordon Ramsay style shouting and swearing here!).
At the moment the Montagu is offering a high tea - or "haute tea" inspired by fashion icons so there were some beautiful dresses on display while we ate. We really felt like we were in a high-end restaurant and somewhere special, even though we had come straight from work.
Our set menu cost £35 for three courses including a glass of champagne and coffee, which isn't actually that cheap, and I worked out afterwards the food we'd had cost £35 (or £34.50 anyway) from the a la carte menu, so effectively the drinks were free. Which sounds like a bargain but without the set menu we may not have had three courses, so probably would have spent the same amount anyway!
The food was very good: I had Lobster and Devon Crab Bisque to start which was delicious, followed by Pan Seared Chicken Breast and Crispy Chicken Thighs, with Butternut Squash Puree, Quince and Almonds and Madeira Sauce. The butternut squash puree was a smear across the plate (would have been nice to have more!) and the pieces of chicken were small, as is often the way with fine dining - so perhaps we would have wanted three courses anyway!
For dessert I chose Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream - it was nicely filling and the apple flavour was subtle but recognisable. It came with a delicate piece of sugarwork on top, dn chocolate nibs on the side of the bowl that melted into the warm toffee sauce as I ate - delicious. My dining companion had the Praline Dark Chocolate Choux and I did wonder if I had chosen the wrong dessert!
Food, service and company were excellent - though next time we meet we are going somewhere my fiancé can have a burger!
We recently ate at the Montagu at the Hyatt Regency. The Hyatt Regency is a 5-star hotel on Portman Square in London hosting a famous Italian restaurant, Locanda Locatelli, as well as the Montagu.
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| Lobster and Devon Crab Bisque |
At the Montagu you can book the chef's table - a special table where you can see everything that goes on in the open plan kitchen (restaurants generally charge quite a lot for the privilege). Our table was actually quite close to the kitchen anyway and while I couldn't see everything that was happening, it was quite interesting to be able to see and hear. We remarked to the waitress that the chefs were particularly quiet and polite (no Gordon Ramsay style shouting and swearing here!).
 |
| Pan Seared Chicken Breast and Crispy Chicken Thighs, Butternut Squash Puree, Quince, Almonds and Madeira Sauce |
At the moment the Montagu is offering a high tea - or "haute tea" inspired by fashion icons so there were some beautiful dresses on display while we ate. We really felt like we were in a high-end restaurant and somewhere special, even though we had come straight from work.
Our set menu cost £35 for three courses including a glass of champagne and coffee, which isn't actually that cheap, and I worked out afterwards the food we'd had cost £35 (or £34.50 anyway) from the a la carte menu, so effectively the drinks were free. Which sounds like a bargain but without the set menu we may not have had three courses, so probably would have spent the same amount anyway!
 |
| Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream |
The food was very good: I had Lobster and Devon Crab Bisque to start which was delicious, followed by Pan Seared Chicken Breast and Crispy Chicken Thighs, with Butternut Squash Puree, Quince and Almonds and Madeira Sauce. The butternut squash puree was a smear across the plate (would have been nice to have more!) and the pieces of chicken were small, as is often the way with fine dining - so perhaps we would have wanted three courses anyway!
For dessert I chose Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream - it was nicely filling and the apple flavour was subtle but recognisable. It came with a delicate piece of sugarwork on top, dn chocolate nibs on the side of the bowl that melted into the warm toffee sauce as I ate - delicious. My dining companion had the Praline Dark Chocolate Choux and I did wonder if I had chosen the wrong dessert!
Food, service and company were excellent - though next time we meet we are going somewhere my fiancé can have a burger!
 |
| Praline Dark Chocolate Choux |