Restaurant Review #12 - The Ritz London

Hi everyone,

There are few places around the world that hold the same amount of prestige as the Ritz. Long noted as one of the best hotels in London, it finally received a Michelin star in 2016 after sustained efforts to produce the highest possible dining standards. Perhaps the Ritz can be intimidating to some due to its pompous nature and regal appearance. The servers are very well trained and that itself can put some people off. However, if you enjoy fine dining, the Ritz certainly offers a pleasant experience. The live music adds to the atmosphere as you are welcomed to the great dining hall. Everything in the dining hall smells of luxury as different servers introduce themselves and their different specialities. It is important to note that you are only allowed in the dining hall if you have a tie. Once the formalities were sorted, it was time to order the food.

The lighting was interesting as and gave the food photos a tint of orange, apologies for that. However, the lighting seemed appropriate due to it being the evening on a warm day. Not to mention that it had to be low due to the live music. I started with the lobster. It was surprisingly sweet but well balanced. The portion was quite small which would be ok if the dish was rich, but the lobster was light which made me desire more. Fortunately, the bread on offer at the Ritz is really high quality. You certainly won't leave the Ritz with an empty stomach. Overall the lobster was a solid dish, but there is potential for improvement. This restaurant will have to elevate its food if it wants to achieve further Michelin stars.

The main course followed: beef wellington. A British classic and cut right by your table. It takes 40 minutes to make, so patience is required. But once made, the server comes with the wellington intact and slices it for you. You are offered complementary vegetables and it is served with a truffle sauce. There was little to complain about the wellington itself, a solid attempt. The vegetables were cooked well and the sauce went well with the dish. I feel that something was missing from this dish, something that would elevate it. However, this is me attempting to critique a dish so it can become of a multi-Michelin star standard. It is important to note that the food was good, very pricey but maybe justified because of the location. When you eat at the Ritz, it is an experience and something I would recommend people to do at least once. You certainly won't forget the experience in a hurry.

Price: Luxury Prices

Food: High Standard 

Service: Very Well Trained

Rating: 4/5

Fun Fact: The Ritz opened in 1906 by Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz