(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
4 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.
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.