Service: 15/20
The service is attentive and informal (as much as it can be) and can be characterized by the availability and sympathy of its staff.
Restaurant décor and ambience: 13/20
Arbutus expands through a comfortable but small dining area with simple white, brown and black décor. The place is relatively quiet although there is not much privacy due to the room layout.
Food: 14/20
Arbutus uses mainly good quality inexpensive UK ingredients in a mix of a local and French cuisine. The food is above the average established and sometimes "renown" restaurants in the London scene, but still has a lot to improve in terms of quality, creativity and flavour for a Michelin-starred restaurant. I started with the "squid and mackerel ‘burger’, parsley, razor clams, sea purslane", which was nicely done, a comfortable mixture of flavours and textures, but it lacked a "pinch" of flavour and magic.
(§)
The plaice with swiss chard was savoury but too dry, top notch for the swiss chard garnish that saved the main. (§)
The chocolate dessert was the best memory of the day, in particular, for chocolate addicts.(§)
Food was reasonably and unpretentiously presented.
Wine list: 12/20
A limited and pricy list. It should be mentioned however that the whole wine list can be bought by the 250ml carafe and allows you to pair different wine with your meal.
Genre: UK/French Cuisine
Price: GBP45-60/person
Michelin: *
Date of visit: Autumn 2010
Overall: 13/20
Pros: Attentive and informal service, price-quality relationship for a Michelin-starred restaurant, the carafe system.
Cons: Food has still room for improvement, room layout.
Arbutus
63 — 64 Frith Street
London
W1D 3JW
Tel: 020 7734 4545
Fax: 020 7287 8624
http://http://www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk/
(§) Special thanks for the photos to www.hungryinlondon.com; www.gooeycheese.wordpress.com and www.mayfairw1.exblog.jp.
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