Belvedere

I wanted to take a little time out of my day to reflect on Sunday lunch at the Belvedere. The setting was a birthday and a table for 8 adults, and I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable it was.

I had never heard of the Belvedere before yesterday, and I was guilty of some degree of prejudice. With the Marco Pierre White name tacked on after the fact, and a brief glance at the menu online - I feared a generic and average wannabe French brasserie.

However, it was far from average. The menu is classic French with a Sunday roast element, so its not hugely exciting from first impressions. Refreshingly though, the food was very good. A duck and pork rillette was luscious and served at the correct temperature, as was the foie gras which was a creamy, decadent affair. The smoked salmon starter was generous and good quality. Main of confit duck was excellent, on a bed of fantastic red cabbage, as was the roast beef rwith great crispy spuds and a freshly-made Yorkshire pud. One slight quibble was the Suckling Pig I ordered, which was in fact roast loin of pork when it arrived. But it was tasty nonetheless, accompanied by perfectly al dente vegetables and a lovely refined jus. Dessert highlights included a light and beautifully presented Eton Mess, and a delicious slab of Pear tart tatin.

House champagne and the Sonoma pinot we had weren’t marked up to the sky, as is usually the case with restaurants of this ilk. The Belvedere's short list has good choice and value, and should be commended.

The dining room itself has grand features and feels like an elegant restaurant. White table cloths, leather seats, tall ceilings with lovely arches, and hey! What’s that? A £2 million Damien Hirst on the wall! Huh? The service was attentive and slick, and the guys dealt with our table of eight without fuss. It wasn’t exactly full on the day we went, but they had more than enough competent hands on deck so that we never felt wanting. The bartender made a killer Negroni to boot.

As mentioned, the menu is all pretty standard stuff really, and is not going to win any awards for innovation. Most local gastro pubs around are pulling out the same things every Sunday. However most gastro pubs are charging you a lot more than the £27.95 per person we paid for three courses, and most gastro pubs lack the refined service and atmosphere of the Belvedere. And most pubs often don’t get the food even right. Sure the piano is a little old fashioned, but your grandma will love it! Throw in the tranquil settings of Holland Park and the nearby Japanese garden and I think it’s a pretty winning combination for a refined Sunday roast when you are getting sick of the pub setting.
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Lenoir
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 05, 2011

I have been to the Belvedere on three previous occasions, last Christmas and twice previously for dinner over the last say, six years. Yesterday I went for the early sitting for Sunday lunch.

Our main problem - we were two - was how rushed everything seemed. I know we were first sitting but before we had got our coats off a server was saying 'come with me please'. I said one moment as we were still arranging the coat storage and putting the ticket away.

It is still a lovely room and in the late winter sunshine quite lovely. We were very quickly asked about water but were not offered a wine list! Weird. We debated over our choices with several questions. These were answered politely but I was told that boudin noir was a sauce. The waiter then subsequently rushed back to say it was actually black pudding. One would think the staff should know the menus intimately.

So scallops with black pudding - ok. nice shellfish but not a happy combination. Companion had foie gras which was extremely liver-ey. After the foie gras terrine we had at Whit's on Friday, it was a great disappointment.

Main courses were traditional Sunday roast. My suckling pig was good with excellent crackling. Roast potatoes had been cooked with rosemary but this could be seen but not tasted. Vegetables were properly cooked, cabbage, french beans and mangetout. There was not enough gravy. My companion had the beef. They forgot to offer an accompaniment and mustard had to be requested.

Oh we were offered bread and when we asked what the choices were, got a VERY curt - white or brown.

The sticky toffee pudding with rum and raisin ice cream, was dry in the middle and the sauce seemed thin. Coconut pannacotta was very good but no champagne taste could be detected in the champagne sauce.

Coffee was in a branded cup and not good at all. Very bitter.

We were in and out in 1 hour 40 including a visit to the loo. It took two attempts to request the bill. I am going there again for Christmas lunch with my company. I hope the experience is better mid-week.

The piano player might be a nice touch but it was MUCH TOO LOUD! - although full marks for him playing Jingle Bells along with a toddlers computer toy. :)
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rentawitch - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, December 06, 2010

The interior is beautiful but the service supercilious. The food is sub standard for the price. Dover sole was dry. The lamb reduction was reduced to the point of marmite - a bitter tang. Chicory salad too acidic. Nougat parfait too gelatinous. For the price, go to Launceston Place or Marcus Wareing. Belvedere has pretensions to be similar but the food is frankly sad.
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nic parnell
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Saturday, September 25, 2010

It was our 20th anniversary and we couldnt get to our prebooked meal thanks to a transport breakdown. The Belvedere was recommended in our hotel "where to" guide and I chose it because of the good write up. I have to say I was worried when we phoned at 6.30pm and got a table for 8.15pm. This is a big date I thought, why are they so empty on a saturday night?

Indeed if I had read the reviews below I probably wouldnt have gone and we would have been deprived of a lovely romantic meal .

The staff were attentive and smiling ( and really I am no relation) , nor did we feel overwhelmed.

The setting , beautiful and evocative, fading plants ? Didnt see them and to be honest mate that really is being a bit picky!, the decor/architecture is simple and not oppressively designer, the building is a lovely one at that is allowed to speak for itslef.

The food, I had smoked salmon which was out of this world, and pork belly, ( rather too hearty for a woman but you know I guessed that before I ordered it and I ploughed thru to the end, because it was delicious) I then finished with mousse, yummy. My husband loved his,and the cost £95 for two. including wine ( tho we only drank a half bottle)

Go ! its lovely, the perfect place for a quiet evening with your loved one, or a good tete a tete with a special friend.
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Doc B
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, November 01, 2009