Tag Archives: Knightsbridge

Buddha Bar, Knightsbridge

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You could be forgiven for assuming the new Buddha Bar in Knightsbridge is another ostentatious, overpriced London nightclub… the type of place I usually avoid at all costs. The exterior is dark and mysterious but take a step inside and you will find a sparkling opulent dining room offering fine Pan Asian food and exciting cocktails.

Established in September 1996 by Raymond Visan, Buddha-Bar in Paris is a globally recognised and acclaimed restaurant, bar and lounge, catering to A-list clients who appreciate elegance and style. The London equivalent seems to be appealing to a similar crowd; the smart environment and elevated prices certainly match Chelsea’s elite.

The restaurant specialises in Pacific Rim cuisine with a menu indicating influences from Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Eastern cooking. Flicking through the menu before my friend arrived, I found a large assortment of sushi, curries, salads and wok recipes. We opted for a varied selection. Pickled vegetables and salted edamame beans revived my sleepy tastebuds, ready for the feast of flavours that followed.

Chicken Salad sounds like a dull choice but is recommended as a must try… with thin slices of grilled breast and extra crunchy Chinese salad and sesame dressing, it is an exquisite mix of textures and tastes. The Vegetable Gyoza were unusually encased in dark elastic pastry and served with a spicy sweet chilli sauce. These were hot and very fresh, with seasoning that makes Buddha Bar’s version quite different to any gyoza I have tried before. Although the starters were very moreish, it all felt quite healthy, with few carbs and little fat.

For main, I would thoroughly recommend trying the Five Spice Barbecued Chicken, with a deep and rich flavour and tender crispy meat, this dish is an absolute joy to eat, the equivalent of the popular Wagamama Katsu Curry, but much better. The Lamb Curry with mint raita is tasty too, especially if you crave a meaty curry to warm your bones. I would have liked it perhaps a little creamier, but the flavour was interesting and tasty, a sort of mix between an Indian and Thai curry.

For dessert I wasn’t given much choice… the chocolate bar is apparently unavoidably good. A super slick long chunk of soft rich chocolate with a dense biscuit base and sesame seeds, accompanied by homemade vanilla ice-cream. The oriental sesame flavouring took me a moment to adjust to but by the second mouthful, I could not deny this is a killer dessert. Suprising too that a Pan-Asian restaurant excels in the pudding area, usually I avoid the jelly-like sweets.

Along with a lovely cocktail and glass of chilled white wine, I found Buddha Bar‘s food to be perfect for a long lunch meeting; though considering the price tag, I’m not sure how regularly one could visit.

More information here: http://www.buddhabarlondon.com

Boutique Burgers at Bar Boulud, Knightsbridge

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I had one of the best meals of my life at Dinner by Heston, the resident fine restaurant at the London Mandarin Oriental. So when the time came to visit Bar Boulud, the more relaxed bistro in the grand hotel, I was very excited.

The restaurant was created by chef Daniel Boulud who has also opened two restaurants in New York: Bar Boulud’s sister restaurant and the prestigious three Michelin star eatery, Daniel. London’s Boulud is an attractive place to spend time with plush burgundy leather seating and oak tabletops. Taking inspiration from casual French eateries, the food and service has a Parisian twist and there is a feeling of intimacy and comfort while eating… Bar Boulud is for people who love food.

The burgers sit amongst an array of tempting dishes in the menu… not that I really bothered looking at those options, I was here to try one thing only, although a dilemma arose when we realised there was not one but four burgers listed. Glistening flutes of chilled champagne arrived to aid our decision making – a few sips of the delicious French bubbles and we suddenly had the confidence and bravery to try not two but three burgers between us, stalling only to debate if we should opt for all four.

Burgers at Boulud cost around £12.50 each and chips need to be ordered separately… so you can imagine that an evening out here can become a costly affair. Here are the options:

NY Grilled Beef Burgers

Yankee: With iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickle, sweet onion, sesame bun and optional cheddar cheese supplement

Frenchie: With Confit pork belly, rocket, dijon tomato compote, Morbier cheese, peppered bun

Piggie: With BBQ pulled pork, green chilli mayonnaise, Bibb lettuce, red cabbage slaw, cheddar cheese bun

BB: Beef Patty, foie gras, red wine braised short ribs, truffle, frisee, horseradish mayonnaise, confit tomato, black onion seed bun

The burgers are considered to be a conservative size and our cheeky waiter encouraged us to order them all. We resisted the very rich sounding BB  but tried the Yankee, Frenchie and Piggie. I was impressed with the attention to detail: each burger has a real personality and style with a clever assortment of toppings to complement the tender flavoursome meat, it all seems very well thought through. The burgers weren’t small, but perhaps smaller than average, which is what you would expect from a posh burger outlet. The Yankee is most similar to a classic burger, simple and delicious. My favourite was the Frenchie topped with amazing Morbier cheese and carmelised pork which tasted like bacon, a kick comes from the vinegary Dijon and peppery rocket, the unique bun adds a special touch. Piggie is a boy’s burger with sweet pork and a cheesy bun, it is juicy and indulgent. We loved them all.

Pomme frites, an extra £4.25, are the tops, super crispy and salty and just utterly moreish. The type of chips you want to stuff in your mouth handfuls at a time.

Bar Boulud serve up the best boutique burger, so if you like your baps posh and pretty this is the place to visit.

Visit the website here for more information.

Mari Vanna, Knightsbridge

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I am not a massive fan of Russian food, but I completely adored Mari Vanna, the ultimate Russian restaurant. Squeezed in amongst the towering glass apartments and designer outlets of Knightbridge, this crazy eatery is one of a kind.

This is the London addition to an existing Russian chain, welcomed to England after the success of the New York branch. We were instantly won over by the overwhelming collection of trinkets and memorabilia – clutter occupies even the stairs outside the venue. Mari Vanna, named after a fictional grandmother, hopes to make you feel at home, tucking you in amongst the darling ornaments. In an area populated by smart minimalist restaurants, this indulgent decoration is a lot of fun.

With every glance you spot a new detail, a china hen, an intriguing embroidered picture, a little trinket. It is a beautifully dreamy place, imaginative and thoughtful in every way, even the toilets are mad… filled with antique mirrors and photographs adorning the walls and a Russian story tape playing.

Sweet, dense rye bread arrived to kick off the feast, prettily presented with radishes, it tasted just as good as it looked. We happily munched as we soaked up the atmosphere and listened to the traditional lilting melodies from a wandering musician.

All alcohol is expensive, it is worth trying the vodka rather than wine. Cocktails are hit and miss, we tried the delicious fruity Oblepiha’s Dream (a passionfruit and vodka based short drink) and the very odd Sex on the Birch (gin, homemade cucumber & dill vodka, birch juice and fresh cucumber) this was an ominous and bitter clear liquid which made me wince at every sip.

The food is pricey, surprisingly so, considering the vintage cosy feel to the place, but considering the location, it sort of makes sense. The menu is traditional and some of what is on offer is definitely an ‘acquired’ taste, for native Russians reminiscing, I suspect. We opted for a mix of adventurous and ordinary recipes and delved into our tableful of delicacies. Starters were large: homemade vegetable salad was fresh and crunchy, aubergine caviar – a very flavoursome mush and courgette pancakes – moreish and salty. Pirogi (traditional Russian pastries) filled with beef and pork were scrumptious; warm and crumbly pastry filled with perfectly seasoned minced meat.

Mains were more familiar to me: Beef Stroganoff is a creamy classic which the UK is fond of recreating. My friend really enjoyed this authentic rendition with tender strips of beef, and a flavoursome, luxuriously smooth sauce. The dish was served with lovely buckwheat enhanced with wild mushrooms. My Baked Chicken with herbs is apparently a classic dish from the Caucasus Mountains, it was a simple but delicious dish, with a particularly nice spicy marinade; rich mashed potato was the ideal accompaniment.

The desserts (cakes and pastries), seem to be made predominantly from cream. We tried Honey Cake (thin layers of ultra-sweet sponge and cream) – our waiter insisted this was the best and it was good, but the Sour Cream Cake was even better, with utterly divine soft sponge, indulgent creamy fluffiness and topped with plump ripe berries.

Full marks for personality, charm and atmosphere. Russian food is a rarity in London, Mari Vanna ensure you will have a night to remember.

More information here.

http://www.marivanna.co.uk/