Aubergine

London is a city of many luxuries- spas, shopping, luxury accommodations... but none compare to the luxury of Aubergine's tasting menu and matching wines.

If you're not up for several (read: many) glasses of wine with the pairings, try half-bottles. The (genius) sommelier always recommends stunning wines that are completely unlike anything you've ever tasted before, guaranteed to surprise your taste buds.

Bring a hearty appetite - like any tasting menu, the dishes appear small but catch up to your stomach by the end. Sometimes I wish the dishes arrived in a different order. Though just as delicious, I often feel too stuffed to appreciate the final meatier dishes as much as the first ones.

Basically, though Aubergine is fabulous. Totally the place to take someone you really care about.
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Lauren - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, April 25, 2007

After reading all the rave reviews of Aubergine on this website (and elsewhere) I was very interested to see just how good it would be. I took my wife there for our 3rd wedding anniversary last night and I have got to say - it's the best we've had yet!

We are certainly no veterans of fine dining, but having eaten at Le Gavroche and Le Manoir did give us some good reference points, and Chef Drabble certainly didn't disappoint. We opted for the £77 per head Menu Gourmand, which is 7 courses (the 3-course normal menu being £64). (For £133, you can get a specially selected glass of wine with each of the 7 courses.)

This extravaganza got off to a great start with carpaccio of scallops with pickled artichoke and truffle vinaigrette - superb. Next was what turned out to be the pinnacle: poached lobster tail with cabbage and the most sublime lemon butter sauce. It was one of those dishes that almost brings you to tears - of joy!!!

Sauteed foie gras with fig poached in red wine on gingerbread crisps followed (my wife isn't a foie gras lover, but this combination of flavours even had her enthusing), then delightful brill with chanterelles, garlic puree and red wine jus. This pushed the lobster for "best course" prize. The last course before dessert was fillet of beef with celeriac puree, spinach and madeira jus. By this time it didn't surprise us that the beef just needed the knife to whisper at it to fall apart. Desserts were white chocolate parfait with bottled cherries (my least favourite course - but still good), finishing with a monumental pistachio souffle - with pistachio ice cream ceremoniously dumped into the souffle's centre - a glorious finale!

We were too stuffed to even contemplate coffee and petit fours.

Had a great chat after with the amusing restaurant manager, Jean Kessler (apparently former assistant manager at Le Gavroche). All his staff were great and the timing of the courses just right. A nice bottle of Riesling was £40, and the whole lot with service charge came to £238.

Worth it for a truly memorable dining experience.
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Badoola - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, April 15, 2007

4 of us went for mid week lunch.

It was quiet (only 3 other tables occupied) but we didn't feel either constrained or the need to talk in whispers.

The service was impeccable and the food glorious, we were there long after service has finished but were not made to feel unwelcome.

Although we all opted for the special lunch menu we more than doubled the bill with extras of champagne, dessert wine, puddings and coffees and it was worth every penny. Like a previous reviewer I would prefer a meal at Aubergine once every 3 months than a lesser meal elsewhere once a week.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Whenever my girlfriend and me fancy a big blowout we get ourselves down here. Up there with Ramsay and Pied a Terre as the most consistent and best restaurants in London. Always have the tasting menu and never been dissapointed. Not cheap but to be honest I would prefer to dine once a month here rather than an average restaurant once a week. Only drops a couple of marks for atmosphere as it can be quiet sometimes.
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bateman_ap - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Stuffy and fussy. I can see that some people would like this style of French food.We didnt however, if pigs head, rabbits paw etc appeals then fair enough. the kitchen was so slow we ordered the bill rather than wait for the souffle that was actually very good had it arrived an hour earlier. Service was quite good , a little stiff, but overall fine.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Saturday, February 24, 2007

Today, without doubt, I ate the best food I have ever tasted. My husband and I came to London for the day out (we often do this, we are from Yorkshire) and lunch was the highlight. Each course was without fault and as i was eating i didn't want the experience to end. We will tell our friends and we will be back with them!!
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Mrs Michele Milnes
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Perfection ! I am French, and this is probably the best french food restaurant you can have in london. We had our Xmas dinner there and it was absolutely amazing.

We chose the testing menu which was a special Truffle menu, 7 courses in total including 2 desserts with truffle (fois gras, sea bass, lobster, scallops, beef, ice cream, creme brullee + fondant au chocolat). All courses were perfectly cooked, it was faultless.

The service is perfect. Timing was amazing, we never had to wait between courses/dessert etc...

The wine card is impressive and defineltly in line with the quality of the food. We had a 1928 bottle to start with, followed by a white bottle.

The price is high, 350£ for two people, but it is worth it (7 truffles dishes + amazing wines) compared to other similar places.

This is the perfect place for a nice intimate dinner for a formal occasion !

The place in itself is very nice, and quite small which makes it intimate.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, December 22, 2006

Loved it! The food was magnificent, the service superb and the atmosphere intimate.

Absolute perfection.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 17, 2006

What an amazing place for our first wedding anniversary.

Without doubt the best restaurant we have been to in London (and in my job i go to alot of the top ones).

Is a blow out price-wise - special occasions though is well worth it.

What made the evening was the service-very professional but also friendly and not stiff. The manager and sub-manager worked the floor brilliantly and made all feel welcome.

The food really is the best we've had in London. Do go for the tasting menu-it's served at right pace and dishes use seasonal ingredients. Each dish in itself was a real delight
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H White
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

We only go here on special occasions because it is without doubt the best restaurant in London. For a start the chef is where he belongs, in the kitchen not on the television. It was my duaghters 21st and she was invited to the kitchen to meet Chef Drabble. We got an autographed menu and a special dessert. The service was as always impeccable, friendly and fun. They actually seem to enjoy you being there. As for the food, I dont care what the almighty Gavroche, Retrus and Ramsay turn out. You cant beat this place.
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Paul J. - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, July 02, 2006