One-O-One
our review
The man at the next table is looking rather wistfully at his plate of food. “Don’t you like it?’ I ask solicitously as he catches my eye. “Oh no it’s not that,’ he answers in a Middle Eastern accent, cheerfully waving his fork about for emphasis, “ it’s delicious, it’s just that it’s so small!”
And so we have the major, indeed the only, gripe people have about One O One and Pascal Proyart’s superb fish cuisine. They wander, perhaps from the hotel, into this opulent space and expect to get a standard three-course meal. Then the food arrives, miniature canvases of fish and shellfish beautifully presented, and wonder if perhaps they aren’t looking at the amuse and not the actual starter.
So it behoves me to set out the restaurant’s grand plan. Basically it’s ‘petits plats’ – small tasting dishes that the diner combines to create sufficient for their hunger and their taste requirements. One section is comprised of what’s called ‘the shoreline’ with oysters, Norwegian Red King Crab, lobster, sturgeon etc. A second contains treats such as Norwegian scallop, salmon, bouillabaisse. A third, well you get the picture. It’s worth pointing out, though, that the fourth mixes meat and fish to give ‘the best of both worlds’.
So with that out of the way, what does the food actually taste like? In a word, fresh. Not just the quality of the ingredients, which is first class, but in the ideas flying around. A Brittany Blue Lobster Macedoine is jump in the mouth packed with flavour and partnered with Red King Crab pastilla and a tight apple sorbet. That same Red King Crab, Norway’s finest export after Olympic skiers, also appears with a sweet chilli dressing which draws its fine flavours out still further and comes with a lovely little tumble of cuttlefish tagliatelle.
A pan-fried Norwegian (yes there’s a theme here) scallop comes with pork belly, always a winning combination for me, plus a scented truffle potato mousseline and a teeny tiny, perfectly cooked quail’s egg. Then for me the best dish yet, Cod loin with carpaccio chorizo and squid a la plancha with olive oil lemon and anchovies. The slow-poached cod from guess where, is firm and well flavoured (and harvested sustainably, so don’t worry) and the chorizo’s oily fire merges with it to great effect. Actually too full for dessert, we finish the red wine that the clever sommelier found for us to go with all our dishes, and instead sample some of the serious cheeses.
Go expecting a taste experience and not a full on blow out and you’ll be seduced and delighted by One 0 One’s sheer class.
Nick Harman - November 2007
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
A Saturday lunch hour found the restaurant buzzing and packed and our party of four was seated in a comfortable corner with a fabulous view of the rest of the restaurant. The beautiful azure and taupe tones create a stylish and yet relaxed atmosphere for dining.
Service was on the mark as always, attentive and yet not intrusive, with seamless attention to detail from the leather cloak room tags brought to the table by charming staff to the replenishing of the delicious rolls and Brittany seaweed butter.
Each course was a visual spectacle and those who say you initially eat with their eyes would have been satiated at sight alone! Highlights included a sea bream with seaweed mashed potatoes, the skin crispy and flavourful whilst the flesh remained perfectly succulent and moist and a mango carpaccio with lighter than air mango foam and coconut ice-cream...sublime!
Top marks as always- I really cannot fault this restaurant.
Comment on this reader review
Gemma Slade
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 13, 2008
One-O-One is still offering the fantastic set lunch with wine and coffee for £19.00 if you book it on their website and it is still fabulous value in the heart of expensive Knightsbridge! Sunday lunchtime was pretty busy but unlike the previous reviewer there was no extended delay in waiting for the courses and service was friendly and jovial whilst at the same time unobtrusive- my friend and I spent a very enjoyable two hours there eating, drinking and chatting!
We started with a Rillette of Norwegian Red King Crab served with a Smoked Salmon Mouillette which was not only delicious but visually stunning- the crab meat was presented in a tiny caviar tin with the lid ajar on the plate, a generous serving of caviar eggs on top and the small Salmon Mouillette- a fancy toasted salmon finger sandwich was buttery and salty, and we were advised to spoon the rillette on top and take a bite- yum!
I followed this with the Roasted Pavé of Sole with Baby Squid, Fennel Purée and Squid Ink Pasta- the jet black roll of pasta cooked al dente, providing a textural contrast to the soft fish.
The lemon meringue pie we ordered for dessert was rather a deconstructed version of the taste of lemon meringue pie as opposed to an actual pie with a lemon sorbet, two meringues dusted with lemon and a sugared pastry sail. Visually it looked very different to what we had expected but tasted like a luxury version of a classic pie when combined on the spoon. This clever take on a classic makes food interesting and One O One never ceases to amaze with flavour combinations and presentation. Trust me- you won't be disappointed! My favourite restaurant in London without a doubt.
Comment on this reader review
Gemma Slade
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Went here after reading The Times review and favourable reports on london-eating. Error! The food was unbelievably slow to arrive - we had three miniscule courses which took over 2 hours to arrive all in all, by which time we were well in vino veritas and arguing between ourselves! The food was not bad but it's overly pretentious and that is probably why it takes a century to make each dish.
The decor is pretty gruesome - a factor you could get over if everything else was right but......
Strange aroma to the place as well. Think the carpets need a good shampoo.
The only reasonable bit was the service - however the waiters had nothing to serve us with, poor blighters.
View/Add comments (1)
Overall rating 
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I had lunch at one-O-One today and was keen to see the place since the refurbishment. I think it looks fabulous-.there are now 2 separate dining areas- the restaurant serves 50 covers- an intimate private dining room that seats ten and a beautiful oval bar style table for dining with the chef that mimics a giant oyster shell with the pearly lustre of the mollusc used to great effect as a statement piece that defines the room. By the main entrance there are two textured walls that bring to mind the undulating waves of a coral reef, and combined with the beautiful colour palette of chocolate, caramel, azure blues and sea-green, the restaurant combines sophistication with intimacy.
But enough about the decor and on to the raison d'etre- the food. There is a sensational lunchtime offer on at the moment for three of the petit plats, a glass of wine and coffee for £19.00. If there is a greater bargain to be had in London then I would like to know what it is. The three courses that my dining partner and I shared were examples of a chef at the pinnacle of his game. I started with a seafood ceviche, with a guacamole cream and spiced couscous. The ceviche was a small tower of exemplary quality fish, with tiny segments of citrus fruit. The creamy fattiness of the avocado cut through the perfectly "lemon juice cooked" ceviche.
The king crab and salmon pate terrine that followed had an accompanying bacon beurre blanc and a cabbage cream. Each mouthful was heavenly inspiration, the king crab in the terrine slice, juicy and tender and the surrounding salmon moist and delicate. The cabbage cream was a revelation of taste and the bacon beurre blanc added a complimentary taste sensation to the dish.
The last dish was fillet of beef with oyster and fricassee of mushrooms. The beef was perfectly cooked to order and the tiny cooked oyster hidden inside the fillet was moist and had retained it's ozone saltiness, a perfect foil to the first-rate meat. I loved the combination of earth and sea that Chef Pascal Proyart likes to play with. This dish proved that Pascal's brilliance as a chef is not solely confined to matters piscine.
One thing worth mentioning is the delicious bread that is offered when dining at One-O-One. Pascal has sourced two different butters from Brittany, one an unsalted variety of heavenly creaminess, and the other a unique mixture of the purest butter, seaweed and salt, that upon tasting, had me addicted. It is the perfect accompaniment to the fish dishes on offer and is certainly something that I have never encountered- but I would return for this butter alone!
The desert menu has a wide and varied choice, but for something light I opted for a chic new take on a knickerbocker glory - macerated exotic fruits with coconut sorbet, pink champagne granita and mango mousse....every mouthful a refreshing taste explosion. Simply divine. They also have a fantastic cheese selection should that be your preference.
Service was discreet and friendly as always and the petit-fours with coffee proffered orange marshmallows, miniature strawberry macaroons and rum and coffee truffles- delicious!
With regards to the size of dishes I was full after my three petit plats and can only think that other reviewers who have criticized the concept must be the type who want huge platefuls of food at the expense of taste. This is not the nouvelle cuisine of the 1980's- this is confident cooking combined with a belief that diners nowadays prefer lighter smaller dishes but more of them! This is obviously a concept that is increasingly popular, as evident by the success of “Maze” in Grosvenor Square, although it must be sad that One-O-One’s dishes are substantially larger and far better in terms of taste and presentation.
The three courses plus bread and a supplementary dessert had me pleasantly full- and with memories of tastes and texture combinations that will stay with me forever. Having had the chance to dine at both Le Manoir and Le Gavroche earlier this year I can say with no hesitation that the quality of food served at One-O-One is actually better than at either of those bastions of fine dining and that Pascal Proyart is easily on a par with the skills exhibited by both Monsieur Blanc and the Roux brothers.
Simply put- I cannot wait to return.
Comment on this reader review
Gemma Slade
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Ate at One o One on Saturday on the set lunch menu (£19 per head for 3 courses).
Food was delicious but Belini's were not made with peach puree only with peach liquer so not at all right and at £13.50 each a complete disappointment and not a patch on those at nearby Zafferano!
Also £5.50 for a bottle of Highland Spring is outrageous!!
Shame because the drinks/prices spoilt what would otherwise have been a great experience.
Comment on this reader review
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, November 26, 2007
Went for a meal on Saturday the 27th with my girlfriend after reading a review in the Sunday Times. It is by far the best restaurant I have been to in London, after eating in Marco's and the Roux bros the following year I put this place at the top of my where to eat list.
We had the set taster menu for £50 each (the whole table must have, not just one person) you get a bouche, 3 starter dishes then a choice of 2 mains and a set dessert.
All the dishes on the menu are small, so you are meant to pick a few, or pick the set menu.
All the waiters (all men) were very polite, and made us feel relaxed and welcome.
When each dish came the waiter would tell us exactly what it was, some of the dishes he would he would say the chef recommends you eat it a certain way!
All the dishes were amazing and would recommend anyone who loves food to go and eat there.
Comment on this reader review
Steven p
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 01, 2007
wnet to One O one with 3 friends on Friday 13th Sep. and was very pleased with the quality of the food and the service. The dishes were superb with precise flavours and high quality ingredients used. The idea of petit plats is great as you can taste more dishes for the same cost. The food and drinks were reasonably priced for an establishment of this standard: 4 x 5 courses meals (with cheeses and desserts), 4 bottles of wines, 4 glasses of champagne and 4 coffees for just over £ 500. Not bad. I can't wait to go back.
Comment on this reader review
Philippe
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, September 17, 2007
The portions are small it's true but the food is incredible.
It does feel a bit of a cheek to come up with a "concept" (petit plat) that involves having to buy 2 starters (as "chef recommends" we were advised) for the same price as one before they closed for the makeover. As my dining companion commented "this is us paying for the refurb".
Good and charming service although we too had an incorrect bill presented at the end of the evening which, considering what you're paying to eat here, is a bit slack.
The meal felt a little like a tasting menu (to repeat - portions are small) but at having to pay a la carte prices for each course.
All in all - amazing food as it was before and still easily the best fish cookery you're going to experience in London. But - be prepared to pay for it because it really doesn't come cheap.
Comment on this reader review
Anthony
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Extremely good service. Very pleasant staff.
The new decor is sadly very dated (in a bad way), although having spent loads of money on a new refurbishment.
The menu has had a similar make-over. Instead of full courses, 'petit plat' has now taken over. Food is tasty but the portions are RIDICULOUSLY small. Each plate of food has only a maximum of three mouth full, but cost around £15 (ie. £5 per bite!!!). Very late 80's (in a bad way). Even after three to four 'petit plat' per person, we were still hungry.
Lastly, silly obvious errors were made on our bill, which is a real turn-off.
Won't be in a hurry to return.
Comment on this reader review
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Had a perfect Christmas Eve luncheon at One O One from their special December set menu. My starter or cockle and fennel risotto came with a sea scallop, piece of red mullet and large morsel of King crab with a bouillabaise stock..sumptous, reassuring comfort food of the highest quality...I wished the plate would never be empty! My main course was organic salmon tournedos with wild mushrooms and jerusalem artichokes and a truffle peridgourdine sauce- how they get such an amazingly crispy top to the salmon is anyone's guess-but the fish was perfectly cooked- still darkish pink inside, moist and flavourful and the earthy tones of the mushrooms and jerusalem artichokes was a perfect foil to the sweet flesh of the salmon. For dessert I went for the naughty option of Banana and chocolate fondant with peanut ice-cream. The fondant was perfection- so many restaurants call chocolate desserts fondants when in fact they are just chocolate cakes- this was liquid in the centre with a perfect crusty topping-and a perfect mix of flavours with the banana and peanuts mixing well with the intense chocolate. My mother had a champagne parfait with mango and lychee sorbet- light and perfumed- I would have eaten that as well- the desserts really do shine- in fact all of the food does! A glass of delicious pinot grigio and then coffee and petits fours rounded off a perfect lunch and at £29.00 a head this has got to be the best bargain in London. Forgot the celebrity names- book One-O-One- you seriously won't be disappointed.
Comment on this reader review
Gemma Slade
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
