Everything in The Savoy sparkles, the sense of freshness following its £220 million refit still evident and the quality of the refurbishment more evident still. Every member of staff is dressed immaculately, they are all friendly yet professional and throughout the hotel, there's a strong sense of service: this is after all a hotel that has been looking after London's finest guests since 1889.
Having previously enjoyed a meal in the relaxing surrounds of the River Restaurant, today it was the turn of the legendary Grill, though to ensure we get the full Savoy experience, we start out with a pre-dinner cocktail in the American Bar and end with an after dinner drink the Beaufort Bar, allowing good variety without having to step outside the Savoy's front door. Also on this occasion, it's a night out with a friend with only one half of the CC is present.
It still feels special to visit the Savoy, and this is my first ever visit to the Grill. Perhaps previously it seemed too old school, while initially after the refurb, the restaurant was booked out solid for months in advance it seemed; a year and a half after opening, the restaurant remains full, attracting a big ticket crowd. Surveying my fellow guests, I judge that you're more likely to bump into the Chairman of the Board here than a food blogger. My only concern about the evening is that the Grill is another Gordon Ramsay restaurant; a member of staff tells me he was in the previous day to oversee new additions to the menu so there seems at least active participation.
Like the rest of the hotel, no expense has been spared in the restaurant's finish and as their own website says 'the restoration focussed on details of Art Deco inspired Swarovski chandeliers, antique mirrors, luxurious mohair coverings and real gold leaf backed tortoiseshell Lucite walls'. The website also says that 'the table plan has been carefully preserved' giving something of a lucky dip to your table allocation since round booths that hugged the walls of the room provide spacious tables and some privacy even, while tables that lined the window front were considerably smaller and more tightly squashed in.
The menu at the Grill is substantial with around about 16 choices for the starters alone. For the mains, there's a Fish and Shellfish section; Grills from the Wood Charcoal Oven; Roasts, Braises and Pies, and finally, for lunch time diners only, a 'From the Trolley Daily' section that serves up traditional roasts as well as Beef Wellington (Weds) and Steak and Kidney Pie (Saturday). Some complaints of the restaurant have suggested that it is too meat-centric and genuine vegetarian choices do seem limited, but there again, it's a grill so it's what you sort of expect. If you do like meat however, you are spoiled for choice and with both us avid carnivores, picking our mains was an enjoyably difficult decision.
For starters however, the Omelette Arnold Bennett seems a must, it was after all invented here and having enjoyed it in several other leading restaurants, we simply had to and we both ordered it. It was very nicely done, texturally perfectly, the haddock really adding to the flavours but not overpowering the dish, with there being a great balance to it overall. We also shared a half lobster thermidor which again was cooked beautifully, felt appropriately decadent though lacking a big mustard kick (if you like that sort of thing). Don't expect Burger & Lobster prices on this one however.
Having previously enjoyed a meal in the relaxing surrounds of the River Restaurant, today it was the turn of the legendary Grill, though to ensure we get the full Savoy experience, we start out with a pre-dinner cocktail in the American Bar and end with an after dinner drink the Beaufort Bar, allowing good variety without having to step outside the Savoy's front door. Also on this occasion, it's a night out with a friend with only one half of the CC is present.
It still feels special to visit the Savoy, and this is my first ever visit to the Grill. Perhaps previously it seemed too old school, while initially after the refurb, the restaurant was booked out solid for months in advance it seemed; a year and a half after opening, the restaurant remains full, attracting a big ticket crowd. Surveying my fellow guests, I judge that you're more likely to bump into the Chairman of the Board here than a food blogger. My only concern about the evening is that the Grill is another Gordon Ramsay restaurant; a member of staff tells me he was in the previous day to oversee new additions to the menu so there seems at least active participation.
Like the rest of the hotel, no expense has been spared in the restaurant's finish and as their own website says 'the restoration focussed on details of Art Deco inspired Swarovski chandeliers, antique mirrors, luxurious mohair coverings and real gold leaf backed tortoiseshell Lucite walls'. The website also says that 'the table plan has been carefully preserved' giving something of a lucky dip to your table allocation since round booths that hugged the walls of the room provide spacious tables and some privacy even, while tables that lined the window front were considerably smaller and more tightly squashed in.
The menu at the Grill is substantial with around about 16 choices for the starters alone. For the mains, there's a Fish and Shellfish section; Grills from the Wood Charcoal Oven; Roasts, Braises and Pies, and finally, for lunch time diners only, a 'From the Trolley Daily' section that serves up traditional roasts as well as Beef Wellington (Weds) and Steak and Kidney Pie (Saturday). Some complaints of the restaurant have suggested that it is too meat-centric and genuine vegetarian choices do seem limited, but there again, it's a grill so it's what you sort of expect. If you do like meat however, you are spoiled for choice and with both us avid carnivores, picking our mains was an enjoyably difficult decision.
For starters however, the Omelette Arnold Bennett seems a must, it was after all invented here and having enjoyed it in several other leading restaurants, we simply had to and we both ordered it. It was very nicely done, texturally perfectly, the haddock really adding to the flavours but not overpowering the dish, with there being a great balance to it overall. We also shared a half lobster thermidor which again was cooked beautifully, felt appropriately decadent though lacking a big mustard kick (if you like that sort of thing). Don't expect Burger & Lobster prices on this one however.
Omelette Arnold Bennett
Lobster Thermidor
Having spent rather too much time at Goodman this week, while tempting to undertake a compare and contrast exercise on the quality of steaks, I thought it might be more fun to see what The Savoy Grill would make of a humble pie. It was in fact a Steak and Ale Pudding with Oysters and an Onion Sauce that I finally chose. When it arrived at the table, it looked simply magnificent and completely delivered on tasting. The steak used within the pudding was of good quality, the whole thing well cooked and the Onion Sauce hearty. The oysters actually felt a little lost here and couldn't stand up to the richness of the pudding, but I have no complaints, this was a magnificent steak pudding dish, indeed, the best of its kind I can remember having in recent years. I could happily eat this again and again.
My friend took the Porterhouse steak ordered blue and they delivered it perfectly so. He enjoyed it as much as I did the pudding. Sides need to be ordered in addition as most plates come with nothing else, and we shared an order of Roasted King Edward potatoes, and Cauliflower cheese gratin. The cauliflower was excellent but the roast potatoes, while getting there on flavour from being cooked in good fat, they had nevertheless failed to crisp on the outside and were the only small disappointment of the course.
My friend took the Porterhouse steak ordered blue and they delivered it perfectly so. He enjoyed it as much as I did the pudding. Sides need to be ordered in addition as most plates come with nothing else, and we shared an order of Roasted King Edward potatoes, and Cauliflower cheese gratin. The cauliflower was excellent but the roast potatoes, while getting there on flavour from being cooked in good fat, they had nevertheless failed to crisp on the outside and were the only small disappointment of the course.
Steak & Ale pudding with Oysters
Porterhouse
We were both so full that desserts hardly appealed though we have only ourselves to blame; in my defence, the pie compelled me to eat it. Also, we have to say, the dessert menu had nothing that really jumped off the page to us with standard offerings including a chocolate fondant, profiteroles and a choice of sorbets or ice-creams. I'm sure the fondant would have been delightful but was too much for us at this stage. We elected for something that we thought could do the least harm and ordered for sharing a plate poached pears. Two types are presented, poached in either red wine or cider, both were delicious and the fresh mint gave a much needed refreshing touch.
Poached pears
A quick word on drinks and service. Through the meal, our sommelier Cedric Beaumond provided excellent advice, helped us to discover an excellent and incredibly good value Bergerac which accompanied our main and made the wines throughout the meal approachable and more enjoyable. All the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant were also charming and engaging, with exactly the right attitude in my view.
Meanwhile cocktails in both the American Bar and Beaufort Bar are beautifully done, deliciously balanced and served by very obliging staff. A drink in the Beaufort Bar, one of the many places at the Savoy where you can enjoy live music, offers an entertaining alternative to a digestif at your table.
Meanwhile cocktails in both the American Bar and Beaufort Bar are beautifully done, deliciously balanced and served by very obliging staff. A drink in the Beaufort Bar, one of the many places at the Savoy where you can enjoy live music, offers an entertaining alternative to a digestif at your table.
The Savoy Grill delivers on what you hope The Savoy Grill will be. It brings together a luxurious room, top end service and food to match. The Savoy itself is a classic hotel, elegant throughout, and timeless, while the Grill with its meaty offerings perfectly compliments the finer and more genteel River Restaurant. The Savoy Grill finally provides a Gordon Ramsay restaurant that I out and out enjoyed, and I would not hesitate to recommend it. Combined with drinks in the Savoy's landmark bars, my friend and I both had a magnificent time which, after all, is the most you can ask for of a night out.
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Related links
Savoy Grill website
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Related links
Savoy Grill website
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