N.B. My review of The Restaurant at The Capital has been written in partnership with Luxuriate Magazine. Our meal was complimentary and all photos and opinions are mine.
The Capital is a boutique five star hotel, located minutes from the luxury departmental stores of Harrods and Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. In spite of its proximity to the busy shopping district, it is nestled in a quiet part of the postcode. Comprised of individually styled bedrooms, apartments and a penthouse, the interiors exude a sense of quiet elegance and sophisticated charm. Owned by Warwick Hotels, The Capital also belongs to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and Pride of Britain collections of hotels.
Expanding on the five-star hospitality offering, The Restaurant at The Capital offers a quintessential British fine dining experience. The newly revamped restaurant has an elegant and understated dining room at the front. Talented Executive Chef Adam Simmonds, recognised twice by Michelin during his career, is at the helm of things at the kitchen here. He and his team have created a stunning new menu of meat, fish and vegetarian British-inspired dishes, using local and seasonal produce. Ask for a table by the window from where you can catch a glimpse of the busy chefs at work.
Over a glass of Henriot Brut Souverain, we perused the A La Carte menu, which featured a medley of traditional and aristocratic delicacies such as caviar, foie gras and sweetbreads.
An expertly crafted amuse bouche of Truffle Chicken and Spinach Parmesan Arancini set the scene for the brilliant dishes to follow.
An ethereal starter of Scallop Ceviche | Kohlrabi, Caviar, Fermented Tomato was light, gentle and delicately plated.
The Veal Sweetbreads | Cockles, Watercress, Lemon, Liquorice was creamy and luxurious, like a softer version of pork belly. It was beautifully underpinned by alternating swirls of shimmering, viridescent sauce. If you have an aversion to offal, this dish will turn you!
A main of Salt Aged Duck | Grapefruit, Turnip, Fennel was a gorgeous slab of pink, juicy meat, framed on one side by a perfectly crisped layer of crackling. Wafer-thin, delicate roundels of vegetables and a bitter-sweet sauce contrasted the flavours and textures without overshadowing the duck.
But it was the Mutton | Braised Leg, Leek, Onion Miso, Capers that left us gobsmacked. The meat was exquisite; deftly seasoned and not incredibly dense, as you might expect. There were textures and flavours of all sorts leaping out at you from every corner of the plate. This is a dish that you will miss when it’s gone!
The magic continued with dessert. My husband ordered the Poached Pear | Tarragon, Crumble, Pear Sorbet. It was a cold and fresh-tasting dessert; it was almost summery in feel and refreshed the palate after all those meaty mouthfuls from the previous courses.
Forever partial towards chocolate, the pudding of Dark Chocolate | Miso ,IPA Ice Cream, Verjus was an obvious contender for me. It was decadent without being OTT. The mousse was soft and creamy, bedecked with salty shards adding a bit of crunch and contrast.
From the well-curated wine list, a full-bodied 2015 Etienne Guigal Côtes du Rhône was an apt accompaniment to all the meat-focused dishes with its rich, velvety notes.
The whole evening was a pleasant affair, thanks to the polite and courteous staff who delivered an extremely personalised service. Chef Adam himself came out of the kitchen to personally greet his diners and explain the dishes as they were served. We also had a nice chat with the Warwick hotels Director of Food and Beverages Asif Bajwa, who regaled us with stories of the legacy of the hotel and some of its celebrity regulars.
All the dishes we ate were technically complex, beautifully plated and superbly executed. Given its five star surroundings and high-end postcode, the hefty price tag of the dishes is to be expected. However, The Restaurant at The Capital is more informally classy than white table cloth starched stuffiness. This restaurant is ideal for affluent tourists and locals looking for an sumptuous lunch after an arduous shopping spree. But equally this is a perfect venue for a special occasion meal where you are looking to impress and be impressed.
Location : The Restaurant at The Capital, 22-24 Basil St, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1AT
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