Food
Perched above Regent Street inside the Hotel Café Royal, this Michelin-starred dining room offers large windows and natural light that set it apart from the more subterranean fine-dining rooms nearby. Reviews are more mixed than most of London's top tables, with a 4.3 rating from under 200 reviews; some praise confident, well-executed courses using excellent ingredients, while others feel the cooking is polished but lacks a distinct point of view. It's a solid choice for a smart evening out in the West End rather than a must-book pilgrimage, and the calm, light-filled room lends itself well to a relaxed but still special dinner.
✨ Reasons to go
💡 Good to know
⏱️ Typical visit
2h15
🕰️ Best time
early evening or evening
🚶 Walking intensity
Easy pace
What people say
"The tasting menu showcased quality ingredients and polished execution, but ultimately lacked a clear culinary identity. While every course was competently prepared, few left a lasting impression or demonstrated the level of creativity expected at this calibre. The canapés offered an elegant start, particularly the aged Kaluga caviar, though the progression never quite built momentum. The seafood courses, including the Cornish brill, were delicately cooked, yet the flavours remained restrained rather than memorable. Among the signature dishes, the Hunter Chicken was perhaps the most anticipated, but it proved to be the least compelling. The Albufera sauce added richness, though the dish as a whole felt conventional and lacked the depth or refinement that would justify its signature status. The optional Clam Chowder was similarly underwhelming. Despite the luxurious addition of Kaluga caviar, the chowder itself lacked intensity and complexity, resulting in a dish that felt pleasant rather than expressive. Desserts concluded the meal on a less balanced note. While visually elegant, both courses leaned excessively sweet, masking the subtler fruit and nut flavours that could have provided greater harmony and finesse. Service was attentive, professional, and well-paced throughout, and the dining room offered a refined, comfortable atmosphere befitting a fine dining destination. Overall, this was an enjoyable meal with solid technique and premium ingredients, but one that struggled to establish a distinctive voice. The experience was consistently good, yet rarely exceptional, leaving little that truly lingered in the memory after the final course."
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