The Ninth London, England, United Kingdom

My fiancé and I have followed Jun Tanaka from afar since he was responsible for the Pearl Restaurant at the Renaissance Chancery Court. This is now the Rosewood London.

We had always wondered where he had gone to and were happy to find out he had a new restaurant, called The Ninth, and holding 1 Michelin star. It is his 9th restaurant hence the name.

The cuisine is inspired by Jun Tanaka's travels.

In July/August 2017 we spent a long weekend in London, so we booked a table for dinner at Jun Tanaka's newest venture.

It is located on Charlotte Street, within ca. 20 minute walking distance to the British Museum. There are other Michelin stared restaurants in the area, one even on the same street, and the Charlotte Street Hotel is just across the road.

Again the front is unassuming like The Portland (see review) and we walked past The Ninth once, when looking for it.

At the time the weather was nice, so patrons could choose to sit outside on the small terrace and enjoy the sun.

We were greeted warmly by the Maître d' and brought to our table. Our jackets were taken.

Tables were close together, so we could easily overhear the conversation of our neighbors. If you are looking for privacy or a more peaceful atmosphere this isn't the place to go to. It was probably the loudest of the four Michelin stared venues we had lunch or dinner during our three nights/four days in London in July/August 2017.

Our fellow diners were international and one group celebrated a birthday.

Soon afterwards we were asked if we would like to have an aperitif or a bottle of water. We asked for still water, which was The Ninth Eau de Vie.

We also had a The Ninth Cocktail. It was a refreshing summer drink and we liked rather much, it's made with Hendrick's Gin and served as a Martini.

Since it was our first time at The Ninth we were explained that all dishes on the menu were made for sharing and we should choose five to six each. They would arrive whenever they were ready. If we wanted we could have a break after a certain amount of dishes arrived.

The waitress and we had a discussion about Bilbao and oxtail, since one of the dishes we had ordered was oxtail croquettes. We had eaten this particular delicacy the first time at the Cafe Metropol at the Gran Hotel Domine in Bilbao last year. She had been to Bilbao and the Biskaya too, but more for the wine. The croquettes came highly recommended by her, though.

 

One of our neighbors ordered it, too, but the rest of his family wasn't interested, even so he tried to convince them to try some.

Our choices were as follows:

Four oxtail croquettes,

Burrata, Datterini and fresh almonds,

flamed mackerel, dill, cucumber, capers,

sea bass Carpaccio, salsa Verde and pickled Kohlrabi,

Osso Buco tortellini,

rabbit lasagna,

chargrilled cauliflower, tomato and yogurt,

one slice of Comte cheese, 36 months aged with crackers,

Pain Perdu and the caramelized lemon tart.

All dishes looked appetizing and were outstanding in flavor.

The oxtail croquettes were moreish.

The Burrata was creamy and worked well with the crunch of the almonds and the juicy, sweet-tart Datterini tomatoes.

Both fish dishes were refreshing and beautiful.

The Osso Buco tortellini and rabbit lasagna were astoundingly light, considering that these are traditionally heavier dishes.

The cauliflower was crunchy, while the yogurt was soft. Flavor was added by the tomato. Jun Tanaka is famous for his vegetarian dishes, so you should try at least one.

The Comte was stronger in flavor, still not over powering, ideal for a taster.

The Pain Perdu was thick, crispy on the outside but soft on the inside and large. It tasted heavenly with the vanilla ice cream.

Normally I'm not a big fan of lemon desserts. It's more his thing, so I was pleasantly surprised when the lemon tart found the right balance between being sweet and tangy. The slice was ideal for sharing too.

The bill was 110.81 GBP / ca. 125.20 Euro / ca. 142.80 USD including service charge.

We would return, because we like the sharing concept, the colorful and tasty dishes and the warm and personal staff. Value for money is very good too in our opinion.

©2017

Galvin at Windows @ The London Hilton on Park Lane, London, England, United Kingdom

Galvin at Windows at the London Hilton on Park Lane was longer on my fiancé’s and my radar. Since we had four days in London end of July/beginning of August 2017 and one of those was a Sunday, we decided to try the famous and only Michelin stared Sunday Lunch at Galvin at Windows.

A few days before our lunch we received a call from Galvin at Windows to confirm we were joining them as planned.

Arriving at the London Hilton on Park Lane we asked the concierge how to get to the restaurant. We were directed to the elevator bank, where we had to type in the floor we wanted to go to. In our case the 28^th. The display showed us which elevator we had to take. Security is good, because no one else can join you and you can only go to the designated floor. A key card is needed, when going to a guest floor.

The elevator was fast and within a minute or so we were at our destination.

The hostess greeted us warmly and took our jackets. She offered us to have drinks at the bar first or go immediately to our table. We decided to head straight for lunch.

The dining room was classic and beautiful with cloud inspired artwork.

At first the restaurant wasn’t very busy. The longer the afternoon progressed the more diners arrived. The clientele was international with most of them being couples. There was also a family with two small children. The kids were overall well behaved and had fun with the sommelier.

The chef patron is Chris Galvin with head chef Joo Won in the kitchen from South Korea, so the classic French dishes had some Korean influence too.

Our table at the double height floor to ceiling windows had views over the Intercontinental Park Lane, Piccadilly and other London landmarks towards Victoria and Battersea Power Station.

We were given the wine list and menu. When asking for the cocktail menu this wasn’t a problem either, it was promptly presented to us.

We were asked if we might be interested in olives.

We agreed and didn’t regret it. The Spanish green Gordal olives were delicious and addictive.

Our bottle of still Acqua Panna water and a bread basket with butter arrived soon afterwards.

We had one alcoholic cocktail called The Foreigner made with Nomad Whisky, Pedro Ximenez sweet Sherry, Palo Cortado dry Sherry and orange and one non-alcoholic, Betty’s Garden, made with raspberries, strawberries, lemon juice, Vanilla syrup and cranberry juice. The sommelier said Betty’s Garden was a good choice and it definitely was my kind of cocktail. It was sweet and fruity, while The Foreigner was definitely a manly drink. He liked it very much. It was slightly too bitter for myself.

There were about 20 cocktails created by the bar manager Tiago. The inspiration was travel.

Our waitress said that the chefs could work around our dietary requirements.

Our appetizers were Galvin smoked salmon, beetroot, horseradish and dill and seared foie gras, Iberico pork, brioche and tomato chutney.

The first one is a “signature” classic. Both were delicious and moreish.

The size of the dishes was generous, so I thought in order to have a three course I should choose something smaller or lighter. I tried the tart tartin with zucchini, aubergine, onion and tomato. My fiancé had the roasted breast of Cotswold Chicken, chilli barbeque glaze and vegetables.

The savory tart tartin reminded me of holiday in the Mediterranean, while his chicken was finger licking good and the glaze was the highlight. The meat itself was tender and virtually fat free.

As desserts we chose a lime and strawberry mousse cake and a hazelnut and almond Paris Brest with praline cream and chocolate ice cream.

There was a show element included. The desserts were brought to the table on a trolley and the cake was cut in front of us. The size of each dish again was fairly large.

The Paris Brest was covered in chocolate sauce by the waitress at the table.

Wonder what a Paris Brest is? The choux pastry was created in 1910 by Louis Durand, a famous French patissier, at the request of Pierre Giffard. It was named after a bicycle race from Paris to Brest and back. The pastry is circular shaped to remind of a bicycle wheel.

The mousse cake was light and summery. The Paris Brest was heavier, but the size was right and the flavors worked well together.

To round up the meal we ordered two cappuccinos.

As surprise we received dark chocolate and chocolate orange pralines.

The pralines have been memorable and the sommelier must have overheard us discussing that it would be nice to have more of them, if we weren’t so full, because of this he came with another set.

 Of course we couldn’t refuse the gift, so we ate further….

The staff was attentive and genuinely interested in us, for example we chatted about golf with the sommelier, inspired by the polo shirt my fiancé was wearing. We had bought it at the Elba Palace in Fuerteventura.

After our beautiful Sunday lunch it was time to settle the bill, which came with a large glass jar of marshmallows (mint and strawberry). Both tasted moreish and are fluffy and refreshing.

There was a slight mistake with the bill. We were charged for the 3 course dinner, not the Sunday lunch. It was fast corrected and the member of staff was very sorry about the mistake.

The bill was 179.61 GBP (ca. 202.80 Euro / ca. 231.45 USD) including service charge.

We would return for the Sunday Lunch again. It reflects good value, the cuisine is excellent, the portions generous and the staff efficient and warm, plus the location on the 28^th floor added a magical setting and wonderful views too.

©2017

The House of Tides, Newcastle, England, United Kingdom

A week before our holiday in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK my fiancé found out there was a 1 Michelin starred restaurant located there by the river Tyne. We decided to try our luck and booked a table for two in such a relatively short time frame. We could even choose our preferred time online.

Lunch at the House of Tides is only available on Fridays and Saturdays. We went on a Friday in May 2017.

We liked the Vegetarian Tasting Menu, because it fit our needs best and sounded on the one side grounded, but also a bit adventurous and was another all vegetarian experience after having had lunch and dinner at the Zirbelstube, which holds 1 Michelin star, in Stuttgart, Germany, which was very Avant-garde and exciting by Chef Sebastian Prüßmann who left this restaurant recently for personal reasons.

The House of Tides is located in a 16th century building near the Tyne river and below the High Level Bridge. The chef patron is Kenny Atkinson.

When we arrived we could spy a bit into the kitchen. It was similar to our experience at Sant Pau in Tokyo, where the structure is postmodern and diners can't look into the kitchen, but pedestrians can.

When entering the restaurant we were warmly greeted and our jackets were taken. The bar on the ground floor was cosy.

We were asked if we wanted to go up to the dining room on the first floor or preferred to have a drink at the bar. We decided to go ahead with lunch, so we were brought immediately upstairs.

The restaurant had kept the original beams and other features. We liked the feel of the dining room. 

House of Tides was nearly booked out. Our fellow diners were mostly older and British, but there were some Asian and younger guests too which added to the atmosphere IMHO.

Service was impeccable, warm and welcoming. Having provided our dietary requirements before, they just double checked who couldn't eat what.

We decided to have the complete vegetarian tasting menu excluding the cheese course. 

Our still water was sourced from the area [Northumberland] and was called Marlish and suited our meal.

Our signature House of Tides cocktails were Rum Re-Fashioned (rum, brown sugar and ginger bread syrup) and Tropical Tides, made with Durham Vodka, which comes from nearby, plus Passoa, Passionfruit and Mango. 

Both cocktails were very delicious and the Tropical Tides specifically brought back memories of sunny and warm holidays.

The meal started with Ewes Curd, Linseed, Apple; Carrot, Fennel, Meringue; Onion, Cream Cheese, Truffle and Feta, Gooseberry, Mustard.

There was cheese on a thin disc, a cone filled with ewes curd and linseeds, a macaroon and a lightly fried cheese with micro greens. All of it was treated as finger food. It was delicious and the different textures and flavors were to our taste and we would have no problems to have it all over again.

Next was a more traditional dish of Fermented Rye Bread and Cultured Butter. Both were excellent.

One of our favorite dishes was the Parmesan Royal, Quail Egg. It was a pastry filled with poached quail egg and a fluid Parmesan sauce. It was quite large and a bit messy to eat, but had great taste and was fun. 

This was followed by more traditional courses of Asparagus, Jersey Royal Potatoes, Morels (The mushrooms in his dish were replaced by Tenderstem Broccoli.) and Ragstone [goat cheese] Gnocchi, Spring Vegetables.

Both made us think of the season. They were beautiful to look at and tasty. The gnocchi were among the finest we enjoyed so far during our culinary experiences.

The Gariguette Strawberries and Curry Leaves came in an artistic globe and was a palate cleanser.

The crowning glory was Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut, Gold Leaf - a fantastic light signature cake. The design of the gold leaf on the cake matched the plate perfectly.

My fiancé enjoyed a glass of Royal Tokaj Blue Label 2009 with the desserts which he found wonderful and moreish.

The crockery was equally sourced from Newcastle upon Tyne and surroundings, which we actually liked a lot.

To round up our meal we decided to have green tea and treats, which were caramel chocolates. They were like the Parmesan Royal, large and better eaten in one go. Otherwise the fluid caramel center would spill.

We spent 2.5 hours at House of Tides and were rather sorry to leave after paying our bill of ca. 164 GBP (ca. 191.20 Euro / ca. 212.20 USD) including 12.5 % Service Charge.

We would return again, because we liked the atmosphere, the architecture, friendliness of the young and good looking staff and the memorable dishes. We believe the lunch menu is indeed good value at 55 GBP (ca. 64.10 Euro / ca. 71.20 USD) plus Service Charge, considering the superb ingredients used.


©2017

Theo Randall @ The Intercontinental London Park Lane, England, United Kingdom

After having mixed experiences at Theo Randall's one year earlier we decided to give it a new try after the restaurant went through a full transformation and renovation in late 2015/early 2016.

The space had considerable brightened and looked much more contemporary and rustic with wood panelling and interesting light features.

The acoustic had also improved. It wasn't as loud as before. It could have had also to do with there being mostly couples.

The welcome was much warmer than last time around. We were promptly brought to our table, which was large, wooden and squared.

We had given the vouchers for two glasses of Prosecco we had received at check in to the maître d' and the Prosecco arrived promptly.

Our bottle of Acqua Panna and the Three Moons Cocktail with Masala and fig-thyme syrup were next. The cocktail was very strong and nuanced. It was delightful.

The greetings from the kitchen was bruschetta, which we already knew from our first visit and loved. It's one of the best we had so far, besides the one we enjoyed at the Hilton Dublin Airport.

We ordered insalata mista and beef carpaccio with zuccini as starters. Both were delicious.

Our main courses included sea trout with datterini tomatoes, aubergine, peppers, courgette, capers and Tagliatesch olives and parpadelle a la ragout (slow simmered beef in Chianti) and Parmesan cheese. The fish dish was colorful and had all the Mediterranean flavors I imagined it would have. The parpadelle were an indulgence.  It was rich and moreish. He had ordered the appetizer size, remembering from our first time visit that the portions were generous.

Dessert rounded up our meal with the infamous Amalfi lemon tart and one torta caprese, a chocolate almond cake with almond ice cream. The lemon tart is my fiancé’s favorite dessert at Theo Randall's. He liked the tart and sweet flavor combination. My torta caprese was generous in size too and delicious, but felt slightly too large.

Service was warm and attentive. We had also the chance to chat with the restaurant manager about the renovation and could compliment him for good service, better design and even improved food, which tasted even better than a year earlier.

The bill was 105.75 GBP, ca. 118.60 Euro or ca. 129.60 USD.

When we visit London again in our future and look for an upscale Italian meal we would gladly return to Theo Randall at the Intercontinental London Park Lane for our dinner.

©2016

The Lobby Lounge @ The Metropolitan Hotel by COMO, London, England, United Kingdom

After our lunch at Benares in February 2016 – please see review – we visited the Metropolitan by COMO Hotel in London.

 

We made a quick stop to warm up at the Lobby Lounge, because it was a bit cold and raining during our February afternoon while out and about.

 

We had already some experience with COMO, having stayed at the Halkin Hotel, just a few steps away.

 

We were impressed by the stylish and whimsical, but comfortable interior design.

 

Would it have been a bright day, the lobby would have been light flooded due to the floor to ceiling windows.

 

The staff members were very discreet, not really visible and arrived just in time when you needed them, like magic, so this was an outstanding experience. Of course they were charming and efficient too.

 

We ordered tea, hot chocolate, a Vital Veg Juice and the Cashew ice cream sundae with walnuts, blueberries and verbena jelly.

 

The juice and sundae were from the COMO Shambala Cuisine Menu.

 

The juice included locally grown tomatoes, carrots, celery, peppers, cucumber, fennel, pumpkin, parsley, basil and lemon juice. It was delicious.

 

The hot chocolate was rich and the tea again by JING.

 

The sundae was really interesting and the jelly the most unique part. It was refreshing. The textures and flavors worked well together. We didn’t miss “normal” milk based ice cream at this time.

 

The bill was just under 40 GBP (ca. 52 Euro or 58.80 USD).

 

We would return again and we would want to stay at the Metropolitan by COMO Hotel in our future.

 

©2016

Benares London, England, United Kingdom

When planning our holiday to Fuerteventura and London in January/February 2016 we wanted to try a Michelin stared restaurant during our full day in London. We had three favorites and had to make a decision. We studied the menus and decided to book a table for lunch at Benares.

 

The chef patron is Atul Kochhar and his restaurant Benares holds 1* Michelin star.

 

The restaurant is named after the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi, which was also called Benares.

 

Benares is located at Berkeley Square in the Berkeley Square House which offers an unassuming façade for this grand restaurant.

 

Reception is located on the ground floor as well as the cloak room. We were greeted with a warm Namaste and brought upstairs to the dining room. It was divided into a larger space with a bar, private dining and a smaller, quieter room. We were in the furthest most private section and appreciated it.

 

At first there weren’t many fellow diners. It picked up and by the time we left each table was taken in the restaurant which created a good buzz.

 

The design was sultry with low lightning and photographs of Varanasi on the walls which added a touch of originality and authenticity.

 

One waiter was designated to us. He took our order and also made recommendations.

 

We decided to have a three course meal with Jing Tea Pairing, a bottle of water and two cocktails.

 

A greeting from the kitchen were mini poppadoms with different chutneys. We liked the slightly spicy one best out of the three on offer.

 

The first tea was a Jing Jasmine Silver Needle Cold Infusion. As the description implied it was served cold and was nicely refreshing.

 

Our starters were Paneer and Black Quinoa Croquettes with a Walnut Sesame Chutney and the Tandoori Lemongrass Infused Corn Fed Poussin with a Young Leafy Salad.

 

The textures of the croquettes were interesting and the chutney added nice flavors. The poussin was an excellent choice with the flavors very subtle, but satisfying.

 

The tea served was a Lemongrass and Ginger Hot Infusion. It was one of our favorites and paired perfectly well with the appetizers. It reminded us of teas we have enjoyed in Thailand for example.

 

Our main courses were chargrilled Cauliflower and Broccoli with Tomato, Fenugreek Gravy. The cauliflower and broccoli were on the one side tender, but had a good bite too. The spice mix made it exciting.

 

The matching tea and our favorite was the Nilgiri Frost and was a black tea. It had very good flavors and rounded up our meal to wonderful effect.

 

Our desserts were Rose Panna Cotta with Peppered Strawberry and Carrot Halwa and Cake with Mandarin Ice Cream. It was accompanied by Masala Chai. The chai was a surprise. We had previous experiences with chai and they came normally with milk. This one didn’t. The spices were subtle and it was very enjoyable.

 

The desserts were colorful, lavish and light. Our waiter was very well aware of our allergies and dietary requirements and advised us, that my fiancé shouldn’t try my dessert because it contained raisins. We had been in e-mail contact before about our needs, so we didn’t have to mention them during our meal again. This was very impressive in our eyes.

 

Our cocktails (one alcoholic, the other non-alcoholic) were served after our meal. He had the Cherry Kiss containing Wyborowa Vodka shaken with muddled Maraschino cherries, Visciolata Cherry Wine, Paan Liquor, Passion fruit Puree and Gomme Syrup. My Winter’s Dream included lemon grass, lemon juice, rose syrup, lychee juice and homemade orange bitters. We liked the presentation and flavors of the cocktails. We would want them to try again, they’re superb.

 

An older gentleman from the neighboring table was intrigued and wanted to know about the cocktails we enjoyed. He also ordered my fiancé’s poussin and when it arrived the waiter told him: “Here is your chicken.” We were a bit surprised by the visit and the “chicken”.

 

Before it was time for the invoice we received petite fours. They were inspired by Valentine’s Day, since it was the next day and our lunch visit was part of the Valentine’s weekend. We loved them.

 

The bill was 140.57 GBP (ca. 177.90 Euro or ca. 199.70 USD).

 

Our meal exceeded our expectations and was totally different from the Indian cuisine we are normally used to. We would return again.

 

©2016

 

Lowndes Bar & Kitchen @ The Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel London, England, United Kingdom

During our stay in February 2016 at the Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London, England, UK - please see also review - we had dinner at the Lowndes Bar & Kitchen.

The bar itself was near the entrance from the hotel. Otherwise the dining room was setup like a modern restaurant. One of the waiters brought us to our table in the center of the contemporary designed space.

We liked the small lamp and the flower on the table, which added a warm feel to our experience.

It wasn't very busy, but there were a few other tables occupied with a family and some couples which all looked very happy.

Our dinner included a bottle of still water, three berry smoothies, two Scottish smoked salmon parcels with avocado, shallots and tomato, chicken biryani and the Lowndes mango chicken salad. As dessert we shared the vanilla crème brulee.

With the order came a bread basket and butter. The bread was still warm.  The dishes were colorful, fresh and light. Only the chicken biryani was very large and better suitable for two or three persons instead of one.

The waiter was delighted we liked the berry smoothie so much he recommended us earlier. Service was attentive and friendly.

The meal cost 105 GBP (ca. 132.25 Euro/ca. 148.25 USD).

We would return to the Lowndes Bar & Kitchen, since the quality of the food and the service are very good, but would be more careful what to order, since the portion size of the chicken biryani was very generous.

©2016

Novotel Birmingham Centre, England, United Kingdom

We had a second night in Birmingham and wanted to try something new after staying at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham (Please see review.) in October 2015 for our 4th time.

The hotel's location is very good on Broad Street. A Sainsbury Express and all the nightlife is just a few steps away.

We booked an Executive Room, the highest category available.

After our lunch at Purnell's Restaurant (Please see review.) we picked up our luggage from the Hyatt Regency and checked in at the Novotel.

The building made the impression it was purpose built.

The modern interior was inviting and colorful. On the right was the reception to the left Elements Restaurant and the bar.

Check in was quick and friendly.

Our room was on the 3rd floor.

It was large with arched double windows and views over the neighboring buildings. They were double glazed and didn't let in any noise.

The room wasn't luxurious, but had interesting design features, like the blue writing desk chair. It looked uncomfortable, but using it proved the whole opposite.

The curtains had colorful circles printed on them. The sofa and carpet were grey, while the rest of the furniture was light brown.

The bed was queen-sized and Japanese sliding doors led to the bathroom.

The flat screen TV offered a wide range of channels including BBC World. Essentially it had the same line up as the Hyatt Regency.

There was also modern artwork and a Bose IPod docking station.

The minibar was free and contained Highland Spring Water.

A Nespresso coffee machine and tea making facilities with Twinning’s Tea were also available.

The bathroom was small with a shower, separate bathtub and sink. The toilet was in a separate room near the entrance - no sink there, but it had a hand disinfectant.

The bathroom amenities were own branded. The interesting thing about them was that they were Fair Trade and came from exotic locals like Mauritius and Kenya. We liked the soap with avocado oil and the sugar cane toiletries. There was also an exfoliant gel scrub and a body milk.

We didn't spend much time on our room or at the Novotel. For example we went to Wagamama on New Street for dinner, because the food at Elements was a bit too outdated for our taste and didn't sound good.

The room was comfortable and the bed allowed a good night’s rest. Overall, it was a good mid-scale room.

The next morning we went for breakfast at the hotel. It was a pleasant surprise and very good value for the quality. It cost 13.95 GBP (ca. 17.45 Euro or ca. 19.85 USD) per person. There was a wide choice of mueslis and cereals, Mueller products including yogurts and drinks, bread, fresh fruits and fruit salad, cold cuts, cheese, products by Tim's Dairy, eggs, bacon and much more. We had a pot of Twinning’s green tea each and got two and a half cups, so that was very generous. To our surprise there was even organic Soya milk.

Afterwards we had a bit time to explore the bar area and were fascinated by the cocktails on display. My fiancé believed they were not real and plastic samples like you see when going out eating in Japan. The bar tender, who was also working as a waiter at the breakfast service, explained they were real and all made by him.

Checking out the other public spaces we found a coffee corner beside the reception and near the entrance to the meeting facilities.

We had a sneak peek at the conferencing facilities. An event was taking place at the time.

Lying on an unoccupied table were printouts of the day's agenda and attendee's names. The meetings had already started. We were concerned about privacy and security as the info was there to take away, if we would have been so inclined.

Soon afterwards it was time to check out. It was done quickly and correctly.

Would we stay here again? Probably not. It's a very good  mid-scale hotel with friendly and helpful staff, but we are more interested in upscale to luxury properties, beside this our favorite Novotel so far is their Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport property which feels different than most Novotels we've experienced so far.

Would we recommend this hotel to a friend? Maybe, this depends on purpose of visit and budget.
Would we want to stay again at this hotel when visiting Birmingham in our future? Probably not, as we prefer the Hyatt Regency which was newly renovated recently and feels fresh and innovative.

©2016

Purnell's Restaurant Birmingham, England, Uninted Kingdom

When planning our travel through the UK in October 2015 we wanted to have lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant in Birmingham. There were two choices for us we liked to pursue on this particular visit to the city: Purnell’s Restaurant or Adam’s. 

Purnell’s Restaurant was longer on our list, so we decided to reserve a table there.

 

Glynn Purnell was born in 1975 in Birmingham on a council estate, so Brummies are very proud of their “son”.

His first cooking experience was preparing meals for his siblings.

 

The building itself is unassuming and understated. Only a few signs with a big P on the wall indicate that Purnell’s Restaurant is located there.

The interior is totally different. It’s modern with a bar in the front and the dining room at the back with a colorful carpet and tapestry.

There is also a small window, allowing guests to spy on the chefs or vice versa.

When we entered we were warmly greeted, asked for our name and our coats were taken.

The table was ready and we were invited into the dining room.

 

It was already relatively full with a group of businessmen and women, couples and another small group.

The atmosphere was convivial, upscale and upbeat, all this matched the setting in harmony.

Our table had partial views into the kitchen. I sometimes had the luck to spot Glynn Purnell and his brigade.

We were asked if we would like to order some drinks before being presented with the menu.

I asked for an alcohol free cocktail and was re-assured that it was possible and no problem at all. My fiancé ordered a glass of Billcard Salmon Rose Champagne.

My mocktail was made with cranberry and pineapple juice and elderflower. It was very well balanced, not too sweet and not too bitter.

The Maître d’ commented on the Champagne and said rose was a good choice, because it had a more intense flavor.

We ordered from the three course lunch menu and had a bottle of still water with it.

The greetings from the kitchen were potato balls with curry mayonnaise from the Brummie Tapas menu.

They were tasty. The presentation was Asian inspired. The mayonnaise was served in an understated black stone dish. The potato balls were finger food. They came with two little white rolls on a white porcelain plate. We were advised by the waitress not to eat the white rolls, since they weren’t edible. We wondered what they were. We found out with the help of “magic”. Another waiter came with a pot of boiling water and dowsed the balls in it. They suddenly grew and turned into hand towels.

A fresh loaf of bread was served too. It was really delicious, one of the best we had in a longer time and again we were told by the Maître d’ that it had a good flavor.

Our first course was the Beetroot Escabeche. It was very enjoyable and colorful.

Our main meal was Brixham cod with pumpkin puree and carrots. This was one of the best fish dishes we had. It was pure melt in the mouth.

Originally we expected as dessert a macaroon, checking the online menu, but it had changed. Instead we had a chocolate banana cake with frozen yogurt. Normally I’m not a big fan of this, but this one was gooey, chocolaty with neither the banana nor the chocolate overpowering and very satisfying. The flavor was full on. The cake looked more like a tart.

As a dessert wine he ordered the Legacy of the Barossa from the Dandelion Vineyards with 30 year old Pedro Ximenez. He loved it. It was syrupy and sweet, but not cloyingly.

Later the Maître d’ had some more time to chat with us and wanted to know where we were from. He recommended we should visit Patrick Gilbaud, a two Michelin starred restaurant, or Rustic Stone by Dylan McGrath, when he heard we were from Ireland.

By now we have eaten at Rustic Stone, but not managed Patrick Gilbaud so far. We were very happy with his suggestions.

The staff is a great asset to the restaurant too, very caring, friendly, attentive and knowledgeable.

A visit to the bathrooms is unusual. You enter a totally different world. The floor is covered in jungle wall paper and there are birds tweeting in the background. There’s also a full view through a glass door to the kitchen. My fiancé was lucky and was greeted by the complete brigade.

Too soon it was time to pay and leave this memorable restaurant.

The bill came in at 120 GBP (ca. 152 Euro or ca. 170 USD).

We loved our lunch experience at Purnell’s. 

 

©2016

 

The Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham United Kingdom

When we were the last time in Birmingham a few years ago we saw the first signs of a new public library at Centenary Square as part of the city’s redevelopment. We were impressed with the renderings and the building site. We were looking forward to see it completed.

 

The architect was Francine Houben of Mecanoo architecten, based in Delft, the Netherlands.

 

The building looks like a stack of parcels or maybe a ship with small chimney and beautiful flower decorations in black and gold.

 

When we visited the Library of Birmingham in October 2015 we were impressed and thought it was a great addition to the city and the awards it has won are well deserved.

 

The old library in Paradise Forum has closed and the Brutalism structure will be torn down.

 

The new library cost 188.8 Million GBP (ca. 244 Million Euro or ca. 267 Million USD) and took over three years to be built.

 

It is the 10^th most popular visitor attraction in the UK, the largest public library in the UK, the largest cultural space in Europe and the largest regional library in Europe.

 

The air-conditioning uses an aquifer ground source system, using and reusing cold groundwater. It makes the library more environmentally friendly due to reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

 

It is also connected to the REP, a theatre, and shares some facilities between them.

 

We enjoyed the high ceilings, modern interior and exterior, the light filled space, the Discovery Terrace on the 3^rd floor and the Secret Garden on the 7^th floor and the views from the 9^th floor Skyline viewpoint over the city are wonderful and memorable.

 

The gardens on the 3^rd and 7^th floor invited to explore, relax, take a seat on one of the benches, read a book and enjoy the views over the city.

 

Other highlights for us were the map collection and the Shakespeare Memorial Room on the 9^th floor.

 

The Shakespeare Memorial Room was originally created for the first Central Library in 1882 by John Henry Chamberlain. It was not on display for a long time, but the wait was worth it. The design is intricate and Elizabethan style with carvings by Mr. Barfield, marquetry and metalwork, which includes birds and flowers. The ceiling is also remarkable. We learned a lot of new things, for example that it’s not 100 % certain, that the paintings and busts we have of William Shakespeare might not be him, but a friend of his. It holds over 43.000 books and other printed material. One rare item is for example a copy of the First Folio from the early 17^th century. It makes it one of the most important collections in the world and the most important in the UK.

 

After exploring the library we went to the gift shop and had a quick look at the café.

 

When we return to Birmingham we will visit again to soak up the atmosphere and views.

 

©2016

 

Aria Bistro @ The Hyatt Regency Birmingham, United Kingdom

During our stay at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham (Please see also review.) for one night in October 2015 we had dinner at Aria Bistro in the heart of the hotel.

It looked romantic with trees, colorful furniture, shelves with vases, the water feature and a wall depicting what occupations Birmingham had in the past, like Buckle Maker, Buttonier, Pewterer and Sword Maker.

The cuisine was modern with local and international dishes.

The staff was attentive and friendly.

We ordered a bottle of Belu water, one hot chocolate made with soya milk, smoked Duarte Salmon, blue figs and Stilton, two blackened Atlantic Salmon with Cassoulet and Chorizo and one panna cotta with raspberry sorbet to share.

A rustic fresh bread selection was served with salted and unsalted butter.

The food was delicious and the blue figs and Stilton starter especially interesting.

The Chorizo added a nice smokiness and spice to the Cassoulet.

There was a small mistake in the invoice (two hot chocolates were charged, but we had only one). It was easily corrected and no problem at all.

The bill came in at 67.85 GBP (ca. 85.80 Euro / ca. 94.50 USD).

When staying at the Hyatt Regency again we will return to Aria

©2016

Hilton London Gatwick, United Kingdom

When we bought our flight to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, we wanted to make our journey as smooth and convenient as possible.

Since we had to buy separate tickets (We had to find our way from Dublin to London Gatwick.) we also didn't want to run the risk of missing a connection, so we booked the Hilton London Gatwick on the night before and after our flight to Bangkok.

Please see also the flight review.

We had still points left from the Hilton Honors rewards program and used them for both nights.

Arriving with Aer Lingus at London Gatwick's South Terminal we followed the signs to the hotel. It meant going to the parking garage and taking a lift.

It wasn't our first stay. When we were last there we were impressed by the friendliness of the staff and our treatment as entrance Hilton Honors Blue members. We received an upgrade to a newly renovated room at the time. Only parts of the lobby had been accessible then due to building work. Now the hotel is completely renovated.

As soon as we entered the hotel we encountered a nice atrium with Amy's Restaurant and Bar as center piece.

There was also a Costa Coffee and Journey's Friend gift shop.

At check in a few people were queuing in front of us, but it didn't take too long. We were welcomed as return guests (on both occasions) - even though it had been a few years back - and as Hilton Honors Gold members upgraded to an Executive Room with Executive Lounge access. We were pleased with this.

The hotel is large with over 900 rooms, so to locate the room can be an issue (which lift to take) and the walk could be long.

Besides Amy's there is also the Garden Restaurant and Charlie Fly's Sport's Bar. In room dining is 24 hours available. Starters begin at 7.50 GBP (ca. 9.45 Euro / 12.85 USD), pasta and pizza from 13 GBP (16.35 Euro / 22.25 USD), mains from 16.50 GBP (ca. 20.70 Euro/ 28.20 USD) and desserts from 8 GBP (ca. 10.05 Euro / 13.70 USD).

Our first room was located on the 2nd floor of the new wing with views over the garden and another wing of the hotel, while the second room was on the fourth floor in the same wing. The layout was slightly different, but the color scheme in different shades of brown and furniture was the same.

We had a queen-size bed, a chair with ottoman, coffee table, writing desk, credenza, large flat screen TV (with all important channels) and a wardrobe.

The artwork was photographs depicting nature, like leaves.

The tea/coffee making facilities were by Twinning’s Tea (Every day and peppermint) and Douwe Egberts Coffee, brown and white sugar and sweetener. The cups were by Villeroy and Boch.

The mini bar contained Pago juices from Austria, which we liked and took all two of them, one was 2.95 GBP (ca. 3.70 Euro / 5.05 USD).

The rest was more typical beverages like Coca Cola.

There was a short hallway with a wooden floor, leading off to the bath room. The bed room was carpeted.

The bath room was medium sized and tiled in different colors (green and white) and sizes. The bath tub and shower were separate and there was a sink and toilet. The first bath room was stocked with shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, while the other had also body lotion.

Both rooms were good, but I thought the layout of the first room was slightly more comfortable and the shower a bit bigger.

While my better half could sleep without any issues, I had problems. The pillows were too soft for me and didn't offer enough support.

Otherwise the bed was comfortable.

As Hilton Honors Gold Members we also received free internet access. It was spotty.

During our second stay the hotel had issues with their computer system, so no swipe of the credit card could be taken and we didn't have access to the minibar and the internet log in didn't function at all.

We were glad we had stopped at the Marks & Spencer's at the South Terminal to buy our dinner and a few beverages. We were too tired to bother going to the restaurant or order room service after our long flight from Bangkok, so the internet access wasn't that important and the drinks had been thank goodness already sorted.

I also received an apology at check out when I mentioned the mini bar had been locked.

The Executive Club Lounge is located on the 4th floor and easily to identify by the aquarium.

The lounge is L-shaped and longer than wide. There is a reception area, stocked with newspapers and check in/check out facilities.

The seating is restaurant style.

The buffet during Happy Hour was small, but sufficient to make dinner out of it. There were cold cuts, vegetables, cheese, crackers, stuffed peppadew, rolls, bread stuffed with grilled vegetables, chicken wings and more.

There was a small selection of non-alcoholic drinks including Strathmore still or sparkling water, Squash and other soft drinks and a small selection of liqueurs, wines and beers.

The quality was good, so we were happy. During our second stay we missed the Happy Hour due to our late arrival.

We went on both occasions to the breakfast and enjoyed especially the fresh strawberries. There were coffee, tea, two juices, cold cuts, smoked salmon, fruit salad, cheese, scrambled eggs, cereals and much more. The items were regularly replenished, even shortly before the breakfast service finished.

Before our flight to Bangkok we arrived early; on our way back to Dublin we were there shortly before the breakfast service closed. We had already chosen our breakfast, when punctual at 10.30 hours the staff began carrying away the food without informing the guests. It would be nice if one of the hosts could go from table to table - maybe five minutes before - and advise they are clearing the buffet.

Breakfast was quieter during our weekday stay. On the Sunday nearly all tables were taken.

Wake up calls were delivered on time, so thumbs up for this.

Check out was pleasant and without any issues.

All staff encountered were very friendly and efficient.

We like the location, comfort of the rooms, quality of food and the staff.

The Hilton London Gatwick allowed us to travel without stress and arrive relaxed at our destination.

Should we need in the future again a night or two at Gatwick we would love to stay here again.

©2014

Intercontinental Park Lane, London, United Kingdom

After having stayed at the Intercontinental Park Lane last year we decided to return and use our Priority Club Points of the IHG's frequent traveller program, so I won't describe the hotel in full detail in this review.

At check in we were recognized as return guests and offered an upgrade to the Executive Club for 140 GBP (ca. 170.50 Euro or ca. 233.35 USD). We were only staying one night and were more out and about, so we thought we wouldn't need it. We were also asked what kind of newspaper we would like to have the next morning "light reading" or business. We decided to have the Financial Times. Late check out at 2 P.M. was offered pro-actively.

Our Superior Room was facing the Four Seasons Hotel on the opposite and was smaller than the Deluxe Room we had during our previous stay. It was also more classic and had a more homey feel. On our bookshelf were classics, like books by D.H. Lawrence and William Thackeray. There were different sketches of London landmarks, for example the Bank of England.

The bed and arm chair with ottoman were comfortable. There was space for two chairs at the writing desk, but only one was supplied.

The bathroom was of a small size. As always Agraria amenities were supplied, which we love to use.

When we returned from a trip to Harrods, English Braeburn Apples and a bottle of Welsh still water were waiting for us as welcome amenities. I was happy, because they are my favourite type of apples.

After a restful night we ordered the healthy breakfast from in room dining. We chose white and green tea, ginger lemon juice, egg white omelette with herbs, onion and pepper, granola, cereal, yoghurt, whole wheat toast and Frank Cooper jams.

Everything was delicious. We enjoyed especially the bread and omelette.

The breakfast was delivered on a table, which was too tight for the room. Neither of us could sit at it, so we had breakfast at the writing desk and arm chair. Maybe a smaller table or trays would be better in this case.

The cost was 67.50 GBP (ca. 82.20 Euro / ca. 112.50 USD) including service charge.

Soon it was time to check out. It was done quickly, effiecient and in a friendly manner.

Next time when we stay at the IC Park Lane, we are going to book the Deluxe Room or above categories, because these rooms are larger and more to our taste in terms of views, size and feel.

Overall, for a one night stay, being mostly out and about this time around, it's a great hotel in a great location.

© 2014