Tom Aikens

I went to Tom Aikens last night with a friend of mine. Usually, I don't go for special offer at this type of places. However, last night we decided to try the 5-course special menu called "Flower Menu" because of the name.

What a mistake! The dishes are outright bizzare. Each dish basically has savoury and sweet tastes blended together. I think some chefs may be able to manage this well, but definitely not Tom Aikens.

Most of the dishes are either tasteless (e.g. the salmon) or taste weird (e.g. lemon risotto). My friend said that the lemon risotto is so sour that she can't eat it. I didn't find mine too sour so I tried hers. Surprisingly, hers is sourer than mine. It is very surprising to see such a place display this kind of inconsistency.

Also, with regard to the service, I am not sure if it is because we went for the special menu, we were only offered bread once during the meal.

In short, based on the meal last night, Tom Aikens doesn't deserve to be called "rising two stars". It should stay with one star for another few years.

On a more positive note, I have learned from the experience never to go for special menu at michelin-starred places.
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David - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Took a day off work to meet up with a friend for lunch. Have eaten Tom Aikens before but this time was a little disappointing. I had a four course set fish lunch but the two main dishes, salmon on scrambled eggs and lemon-soaked leaves(?) had been overdone on the lemon front so tasted bitter to the detriment of the fish and egg. The pollack dish was more like it if more of an amuse bouch, but the following small fillet of pan fried red mullet was overwhelmed by the accompanying green (pea) purees.

The set menu lunch constitutes two choices per course but the starters were uninspiring and for some reason my friend's mushroom starter was overlaid with thin gelatin slices that tasted of nothing. His lamb mains was probably the best of the various starters/mains we were served. The desert was more gelatine gone mad. A nice blood orange sorbet and an accompanying cream and segmenty dessert was messed about by wrapping it in an orange coloured gelatin coat. This was served on a thick green mint flavoured gelatin slice. Way too complicated and bordering on laughable. The coffee, petit fours, one more desert, madeleines and tuiles were terrific. A glass of wine and out the door for just over £100 for both of us. Not the usual standard of cooking but I'll probably give it one more go before calling it a day.
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Gareth - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, February 22, 2009

I found this restaurant rather disappointing not living up to its name. I went there on the 22th of december. The combination of tastes where a little bit over top. More simplicity and respect for the real taste would be appreciated. The service was not up to standard and rather aloof. Though I went for lunch I had chosen for the a la carte menu. I ordered my desert from the desert menu but the waiter came later with the set menu desert. The mistake was corrected but without a real apology.
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meer
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, January 05, 2009

Two of us went for the tasting menu with matching wines one evening last week. With the exception of the pigeon (which was a little dry) the food was excellent. Overall the combination of flavours with the matching wines was interesting and varied. This is one tasting menu where you do not leave the restaurant hungry. Some of the portions were larger than we expected and we lost track of the number of courses that arrived. Although all dishes and wines were explained by the excellent staff, it would have been helpful to have been given a menu so that we could have seen what we were eating (and more importantly - what was still to come). As another reviewer has already pointed out, the sheer number of desserts and petits fours, in particular, presented a challenge - one that we were not fully up to. One niggle is that initially the service was too quick - as soon as one dish was taken away another arrived. However the service does slow down on request - in all, our meal took just short of four hours. This seems a long time but it did actually feel about right if you really want to savour and enjoy the food and wines - with some relaxed conversation along the way. At £140 pp this is not a cheap night out but for food of this quality and variety, served impeccably, it does present reasonable value for money. Recommended.
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Paul Williams
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 19, 2008

Went there last week with a friend of mine. I have heard very good things about this place so I decided to treat him for lunch. We both opted for the tasting menu which is usually meant to be the chef's best culinary expression. We ordered also a couple of bottles of wine to accompany our meal. Wine service was lovely, shame for a piece of sealing wax (coming from the bottle) left accidentally inside my friend's glass of wine. Although the restaurant wasn't busy the service was a bit hurried. Overall the tasting menu was quite interesting, obviously it wasn't for a very minuscule portion of Lamb served as main course. Really embarrassing. Unfortunately we've had to mention it. I am afraid none of the staff was really concerned about it, even the manager. Our lunch was very pricy. I think I would not recommend this restaurant which was without personality and ambient.
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TomTom
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Friday, September 26, 2008

Went here very recently. I hope it gets 10 in the good food guide this year; it deserves it.

My only little niggle was that there was a lot of petit fours for just 2 people. It'd be fine for a larger party, but when it's just 2 people (who don't quite get when to stop....) it leads to being very full. Maybe a smaller selection for a smaller party? Other than that it was fantastic. One of the best meals I've ever eaten.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Having visited a number of top restaurants around the world, I certainly recommend this place; the reason is mainly due to the fantastic food. The food is really fantastic in every way, form the aesthetics of the presentation, like a master piece to the taste and textures. The service is very good and attentive but not overbearing. Perhaps at certain moments the time between courses can be a little on the long side, some may prefer this.

The only thing that would let this place down is the fact that there is somewhat of a lack of ambience. The décor is contemporary yet very subtle, perhaps too subtle. I would definitely recommend this place, but would prefer not to otherwise too many other people may end up booking all the places. For a truly amazing deal I suggest you go at lunch for the set menu; though the choice is very limited (2 offerings per course), at £30 for a Michelin starred restaurant it is a steal. There are many other restaurants which have been handed stars, but in my opinion they don’t all deserve it. This place really deserves its star, and I would be almost inclined to give it two. I have been many times for both lunch and dinner an have yet to experience a disaster, I hope this trend continues; I’ll keep my fingers crossed…
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chribson - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, July 02, 2008

The food was excellent, it really deserves its Michelin Star.
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wayne king - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Went here last wednesday for lunch. Loved the decor - modern, smart and tables well spaced out.

Service was attentive but not overbearing.

Food was magnificent - as good as anywhere I've eaten in London.

Well deserving of the michelin star.

Would thoroughly recommend.
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Sam A.
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Excellent lunch. Artisitic starters. John Dory cooked to perfection. Innovative amuse bouche and the most generous petit fours at any michelin star restaurant I have visited. Will return.
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John H.
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, June 03, 2008