From Piccadilly to Petts Wood via Mayfair
Saturday, June 21st , 2025
The Ritz delivered another lovely meal at my latest, 53rd, visit. As well as the classics like the langoustine a la nage, there was a pre-ordered highlight of Poulet Bresse served en vessie i.e. cooked in a pig bladder to seal in the flavours (pictured). Ritz continues to be the best restaurant in London, bar none, in my view.
Benares is one of the most ambitious Indian restaurants in London. It goes beyond well-known dishes and uses unusual and quite high-grade ingredients. The scallop Malabar is an example of how it uses less familiar ingredients, yet still very much with an Indian flavour.
Indian Essence is an Atul Kolchar restaurant in Petts Wood. I have been once before and had a rather better meal, so this was a slight disappointment, though it was still a decent enough lunch.