All reader reviews by Anonymous

Hibiscus

23 January 2009 My husband, another male friend and I went to Hibiscus today to try their set lunch which is shown on their website as being £33.50 for three courses 'including wine and coffee.' We had heard good things about the place and were delighted to hear that they had just been given a second Michelin star, making them a two-star restaurant. But I'm afraid we were disappointed.

The set lunch sounded like great value. However, there are just two choices per course and the 'wine included' turned out to be one glass per customer. The meal began with an amuse bouche of a lightly poached hen's egg yolk topped with a veloute of palm heart served in an eggshell. I then chose (as described on the menu) the Royale of Parmesan Cheese, Yorkshire Rhubarb, Veloute of Toasted Rice followed by Cornish Slver Mullet, Cider Sauce, Meadowsweet and Onion Puree, Turnip cooked in Herefordshire Cider. I found both dishes bland and unexciting. The men both went for the other choices, Warm Pike Quenelle, Pickled Radishes, Cedrat Lemon, Sesame & Bonito Paste followed by Blanquette of Welsh Rose Veal, Black Truffle Risotto, Goats Cheese. They, too, found the food bland and disappointing. Our friend said, 'The pike quenelle tasted of nothing.'

For me, the Hibiscus experience was saved -- just -- by the third course, a wonderful Caramelised Organic Lemon Tart wtih Clove Ice Cream, the 'pastry' a kind of crust of burned sugar, the crunchiness contrasting beautifully with the lemon curd filling. If only each of the other two courses had been as impressive! Coffee was served with a board of petit fours. Oh, and by the way, we chose to have a second glass of wine each and the wines were first class. Once service had been added the bill worked out at about £45 per head which is very reasonable for three courses plus two glasses of wine and coffee at a two-star London restaurant at which the cooking is of a high standard. Unfortunately for us, the dishes that resulted from this cooking had little to offer in terms of taste -- apart from the lemon tart, that is. We are unlikely to rush back to Hibiscus. But I would be interested to see what others think.

Friday, January 23, 2009
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6