Tom Aikens

Last Friday, a good friend from overseas was in town on business and I was asked to find a restaurant for dinner. The last time I went to Tom Aikens was at least ten years ago and I remembered that I had a very good dinner there with three of my friends. I read about his recently redecorated restaurant and came across a number of good reviews. I phoned to book a table for 4 people earlier that week and the only time slot they had was at 6:30 pm. That's fine (although the restaurant was not busy even at 8:30 when we left). I also phoned to inquire about their corkage policy. They charged 30 pounds per bottle and for four people, the maximum number bottles we could take was two (limited to one bottle for two people).

We were fine with their corkage policy and brought with us two very expensive Bordeaux. We were given the menu which was simple. Simple in a sense that there were not many choices and hardly any descriptions about how the dishes were prepared. We asked the waiter to tell us more about the dishes and the explanation was not too helpful either. We then asked for his recommendations. It was a mistake because none of his recommendations were impressive. Afterwards, I had a feeling that he was recommending dishes that would give the restaurant maximum profit. Starters ranged between 16 to 22 pounds. Main courses ranged from 27 to 35 pounds. Desserts were about 15 pounds. Okay, if the food was wonderful, I would be very happy to pay that kind of price. Unfortunately, none of the dishes we tried were memorable. At most, the food was good but some dishes certainly did not impress, e.g. the pork belly recommended by the waiter. We did not fancy any of the desserts on the menu. We ordered cheese. For 15 pounds, we had five tiny pieces of cheese of very average quality. In France and for that price in the same category of restaurants, they would bring out 30 kind of cheeses for the customers to choose. What I found most objectionable was the lack of generosity throughout.

The service lacks warmth. The only thing that impressed me was the bread.

I came away feeling cheated. I'm definitely not a discerning consumer this time. I felt that I let my friend down (as he was paying the bill). What a gap between reputation and reality! None of us said that we would want to go back. In conclusion, it is a restaurant that is only interested in milking its customers. It has no interest in giving pleasure to its customers.
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David
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, April 15, 2013

Went last week for dinner with my husband. We did the six course tasting menu, and also the wine tasting. The fish, and lamb were delicious, but everything else was a bit disappointing inc the beetroot pudding. Yuck. The wine was also v disappointing, compared to some other restaurants. The glass of port didnt do it for me, neither did the organice white wine. We had an extra course of cheese, we choose an extra glass of wine, which was really delicious. Basically, choose a good bottle of wine.

And the petit fours were great, but we were so full, that we took them home, and could enjoy them the next day, perfect. My husband has been before, he went 5 years ago (said it was one of the beat meals he's had in london), and felt that the standard has dropped. Which is a shame.

But, a good atmosphere. The staff could do with a bit of charm, and passion, but it was a pleasant evening. Just don't expect it to blow you away.
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7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, April 29, 2012

Two visits to this restaurant, 15 months apart. All changed, changed utterly, and a slightly curious beauty is re-born.

The refurbished dining room is a radical departure from the traditional starched table cloths and fancy cutlery of before. Now it’s all bare wood and Scandinavian modernity. But there’s nothing austere about it. Attention to detail is everywhere, from the idiosyncratic but elegant crockery to the cute little condiment spoons.

Although the surroundings were different, many of the good things from last time remained. The atmosphere was still relaxed and the service excellent. Waiters were helpful and friendly without being intrusive. We were given all the time and space we needed to natter away for over four hours without ever feeling rushed, and we were the last to leave, as usual. In a town where the trend is for restaurants to mug you for your wallet and bundle you out the door in record time, Tom Aikens seems actually to care that you have time to savour the food and enjoy the company of your friends.

The character and idiosyncrasies of the food also remain. My starter of marinated scallops and acidulated apple was fun on a plate; it looked spectacular, it was light and full of colour, contrasts and surprises (in a good way), and was the perfect introduction to the main event. But then things went from brilliant idiosyncrasy to just a bit weird. Maybe I chose badly, but unless you run the kitchen on the Island of Dr Moreau, why exactly would you graft crispy chicken skin onto a turbot? In truth, both parts of the beast were perfectly cooked, but the chickiness was so intense that it smothered the delicacy of the fish and everything else on a rather beautiful plate. I had a similar, though not quite so extreme, experience last time when a cauliflower was genetically spliced with a john dory.

C, on the other hand, chose wisely, as always. Perhaps I should let her choose for me in future. Her braised beef short-rib with melting bone marrow was comfort food in a party frock. Don’t let anyone tell you that the gods live on ambrosia. They’d be mad not to choose this stuff. And then they should finish with the confit butternut and the snowscape of white chocolate crème. OK, so they’d be stuffed to within an inch of their immortal lives, but they’d be happy and probably wouldn’t have to get up the next morning.

So, all in all, the experience was very different from last time, but also very much the same; both the exquisite bits and the curious. What also remained from last time was the pleasure of the company. Thank you again, for everything.
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Richard
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Being a big fan of Tom’s Kitchen, I was delighted when I saw the wood tables and new décor at the new Tom Aikens restaurant. I assumed they were going to offer an upmarket Tom’s Kitchen menu, Kobe steak and chips maybe, Lobster and chips - that’s what the décor demanded and I was hoping. Wrong! – it is essentially the same format as before – suburb food , but not what I want anymore.

I can’t see the point of the refurbishment.

Service was spot on, delightful, and the petits fours are a sensation! but I think I’ll stick to the Kitchen, they do a fab burger!
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Bill Portlock
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 16, 2012

Mixed bag for me. The service was good, The selections of breads were beautifully presented, with the bacon and onion brioche being outstanding.

My Foie Gras was very good as one one of my friend chees gazpacho.

The disappointments were the main course. My John Dory was tepid, slightly undercooked and a very bland dish. I have had much better in a gastropub. .

Our desserts were another mixed bag, but mostly very good.

So overall, interesting, but let down by the main courses.
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Simon Charles
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, June 19, 2011

I visited Tom Aikens with my wife for my birthday last week. The service was attentive, courteous and friendly on the whole. I wouldn't describe it as 'above and beyond', but certainly what you would expect for a Michelin starred restaurant in this price bracket. The restaurant itself also looked stylish (if a little understated) and we were seated by the window which was particularly pleasant on a summer's evening. In terms of presentation, the dishes on offer were world class. Lots of splashes and dots and twizzels; if these plates were on show in the Tate Modern, they'd fit in comfortably with the other works of art. The problem is that much of the food was so horrendously bland!

To start, I ordered the Foie Gras with pickled mushrooms, which was ok but for £25 was no better than I eaten elsewhere for a great deal cheaper. The mushrooms were the nicest part of the dish but the foie gras really needed some bread or something to spread it on as it was far too rich to eat on its own. My wife's entrée of lamb was virtually tasteless, and was served with various accompaniments (cheese, anchovy and olive crumbs) each of which were mildly unpleasant and none of which complimented the lamb. I had the 'short rib of braised beef', which actually tasted very nice, although the accompanying bone marrow (tasteless), herb puree (horrible) and roast onion (pointless) did nothing to add to the dish.

As for dessert, we ordered a 'chocolate dacquoise', which contained an array of tasteless combinations, including an insignificant thin 'line' of chocolate mouse, a selection of powders (which I believe were supposed to be peanut and chocolate) and some completely bland 'milk' ice-cream. I was completely amazed that in a restaurant we were so excited to visit, there was not one dish that either of us liked as a whole. For around £100 a head - my recommendation would be to go elsewhere, as this restaurant is truly overrated.
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Willis Lee
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, June 02, 2011

Recently booked a table for two at Tom Aikens in Kensington, everything except the food was excellent.

My wife had suckling pig which she could not cut let alone eat, she also had three glasses of lemonade at £4.50 per glass a little excessive i think.

I had the artic char it looked delightful but was cold, i enjoyed the wine though.

Overall very disappointing.
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Alan Jones
5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Monday, May 02, 2011

Tom Aikens Restaurant is the place to go.

We went there last night, the food was great and the atmosphere very nice for a Monday night.

The service was very helpful despite the receptionist who came to take our payment. She wasn't smiling and she didn't even bother to ask if our evening went well.
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ES
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Went for lunch on Wednesday and had the full tasting menu. Fantastic! Every dish was great, 2 of them 3* quality!

How Tom hasn't got his 2nd star is beyond me, and everybody else who's eaten there. Apart from Michelin guide obviously...

Highly recommended to anyone who wants to enjoy proper fine dining.

Service was great, very attentive but not hanging over your shoulder...10/10
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Anders
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, March 04, 2011

My husband and I dined at Tom Aikens last night, our first time there, on a keynoir deal what had run back in November. We were a bit worried in the run up as reviews here, and other places, often criticise the staff so we thought they would be even more aloof with us as we were there on a special deal. We couldn't have been more wrong.

The staff were all so lovely - very friendly, not stuffy in the slightest, happy to chat away and obviously incredibly passionate about the food and wine that is served. Nothing was too much hassle - I was deciding on a dessert wine, and as I couldn't choose they brought me a (large) sample to help make up my mind. We couldn't finish the petit fours, so the waiter boxed them up and bid us adieu with the wise words that 'nothing tastes better for breakfast with your coffee than a Tom Aikens madeline'. He wasn't wrong!

The food itself was utterly sublime. We didn't have a starter as we thought they were a bit pricey, but we were glad in the end we didn't as we were utterly stuffed. For the main we had the roast suckling pig for 2; a request for my last meal if ever there was one. The pork was succulent and flavourful and was topped with an amazing piece of pork crackling. Served with a refreshing lemon and thyme mash, and we also had a side of the artichoke and iberico ham salad.

For dessert my husband had the creme brulee - lovely and flavourful with a beautiful top. I had the cheese. Oh. My. God. An enormous amount of the most amazing cheese was put front of me, with as many biscuits as I could eat.

So we're a bit annoyed with Tom Aikens as today we are shopping for the wine we had (a beautiful Cahors), ordering some suckling pig from Devon Rose, and going to the cheesemonger they use.

We will go back in a second, keynoir deal or not. An amazing dining experience. No complaints whatsoever.
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lesanco - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 28, 2011