Andy Lynes reviews
The Botanist - 3/5
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - As the main courses arrived, it became obvious that The Botanist wanted to be taken seriously. From two mini copper pans, our waitress poured fig wine jus over a seared duck breast, then finished off a plate of roast suckling pig with a Calvados sauce. Ooh, get you!
Mien Tay - 4/5
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - If you only eat one restaurant dish this year, make it the starter of grilled quail at Mien Tay. Spatchcocked and quartered, the delicate meat gets a delicious flavour boost from a mixture of honey, garlic and some subtle spicing.
Brasserie St. Jacques - 3/5
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 - If an address can have a personality crisis, then 33 St James's Street should seek help. Not so long ago, it was a sophisticated upmarket Italian called Fiore. Before that, it referred to itself as Fleur, spoke in a laid-back French accent and hung around with Gordon Ramsay. In an earlier, highfalutin phase it answered to the name of Petrus – but only if you were stinking rich.
