Culinary timetravel: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

Meat Fruit (c.1500) | Mandarin, chicken liver parfait & grilled bread

Praised to be among the best restaurants in the world (at least according to an Italian mineral water company) Dinner by Heston Blumenthal was a fix starter on my list for London.

Dinner is inspired by Heston Blumenthal’s fascination with historic gastronomy. Thus the menu reflects centuries of British kitchen and brings to life old forgotten recipies with contemporary techniques.

The restaurant itself is located in the fancy Mandarin Oriental Hotel. As it was my experience with other British restaurants, the service was excellent – chatty, friendly but always correct. Before we had been to The Ledbury – and when the sommelier learned that we are from Austria and would go to Dinner, he told us that his friend over at Dinner was actually from Austria and that he would call to introduce as. We didn’t really believe it…but after welcoming us, we were told that the sommelier is not present but sends his regards with two glasses of champagne. What a great gesture from both restaurants! So the evening started very relaxed and nice 🙂

The dining room is huge and wonderfully decorated, the atmosphere very lifely but not too loud. We got aquainted with the menu – we liked that dinner offers a la carte, so we could – with the helpful explanation of our waiter – choose to our liking. Then we started into a wonderful dinner:

I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the great food at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. It is a good example that you don’t need tasting menus with 30 courses to serve great food and high quality products (and to bear Michelin stars).

I particularly liked the signature dishes: The Meat Fruit was both easily accessible yet highly refined in preparation, taste – and just wonderful to look at. And the tipsy cake…just beyond words: This rich, creamy, flavor-saturated, alcoholic piece of joy that was kicked into other realms by the best grilled pineapple ever. But also with the other dishes: The meat quality and preparation, the vegetables – everything was just full of freshness and taste.

For me Dinner was a perfect culinary experience. Food that just makes you feel good – and all that for a very attractive price. A definitive recommendation!

Visit: October 2016
Michelin stars at time of visit: **
Budget: 150€/person (including wine)
Location: 8/10
Service: 7,5/10
Food: 8/10

Timon
Spracharbeiter. Kommunikator. Sprecher. Trainer. Historiker. Leidenschaftlicher Koch. Foodie.