I have always lusted over photos of afternoon tea at The Ritz but I could never justify going. There just wasn’t a special occasion, well, special enough.
Until we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. I booked an extremely affordable deal through Bookatable.com – the Star Deal consisting of three courses and a glass of champagne for only £49 per person.
From the traditionally dressed porters opening the door to the antique furnishings, chandeliers and fine art adorning the walls, The Ritz is quintessentially English. Old English, that is.
We were seated in the restaurant by a waiter who wasn’t particularly welcoming but pleasant enough. As it was a weekday the restaurant was relatively busy but we seemed to be the only ‘tourists’. The restaurant is breathtakingly beautiful, opulent, decedent and everything you would expect for such a fancy dining experience.
I wore a tulle skirt with a respectable knee-length, teamed with a pale blue crochet blouse and low block heels. Jonathan wore a suit as he had just met me from work, although regardless of this a suit is necessary with the dress code.
Quite often when you book a discounted deal with a restaurant, they make a fuss and you have to request the details and/or separate menu. However, this was not the case here. As soon as we were seated a different waiter arrived with a glass of champagne for each of us and our set menu, which had a good variety of options. The service from this moment on was impeccable; classical dining service to reflect the fine-dining experience.
For the starter we both selected the Var Salmon with beetroot, horseradish and orange. The presentation was exquisite, arty even, and the combination of colours, textures and flavours were simply amazing.
For the main we also both went for the same dish, Navarin of Lamb served with caramelised shallot, peas and goats curd. Don’t let the small portion size fool you, this was incredibly filling and the lamb the best I have ever tasted.
For dessert Jonathan opted for the Cherry Soufflé and I had the lemon mousse. I am a dessert girl but the mousse was a little too sweet for me. At the end of the meal we were served complimentary canapés, including a delightful mini macaroon that was just divine.
I fell in love with the elegant, decedent nature of The Ritz and yes it is pretentious but it is a wonderful dining experience. Definitely look on Bookatable.com for a deal too as it makes fine-dining affordable.