Apologies for the delay in getting this post up - it's actually taken me fifteen years to take the photos off my phone, because I fail at technology. But I finally managed it, so here we are!
What's the second best way to brighten up a dreary November evening? A fancy dinner. What's the best, best way? A fancy dinner ON THE CHEAP. Or so my friends and I think. So we had a good hunt on the net to see what goodies were out there for us, and discovered a TopTable deal for The Montagu restaurant in the Hyatt Regency hotel on Portman Square. Three courses and a pre-dinner bellini for £25? Sold.
As we arrived at the restaurant and handed in our coats, we clocked the most amazing feature of the restaurant: a live pianist at a grand piano in the corner. We wondered if she took requests, and what our fellow diners might think of an acoustic version of Bad Romance.
The restaurant itself has wide windows looking out over the square, and is set slightly apart from the main bustle of the hotel lobby. We were given our complimentary cocktails and the menus (titled "Last Minute Menu"...they'd clearly pegged us as voucher vultures from the moment we walked in, but they weren't too snobby about it). I chose the smoked duck breast to start with:
The main courses caused a fair bit of ditheration, as there were delicious-sounding beef and lamb options on the menu, as well as an intriguing leek hotpot number. But in the end I plumped for the salmon, which came with beurre blanc and chanteray carrots:
The salmon was cooked beautifully and the light sauce kept it moist without detracting from the overall flavour. We ordered a side dish of potatoes for the table, since the meals were sort of carb-light.
So far, so lovely - but then came the dessert. Now, I am a pudding fiend, and dessert is always my favourite part of any dinner. So I had high hopes of an apple and almond tart with chocolate sorbet, which sounded right up my alley. But when it came, the pastry case was thick and dry, and the chocolate sorbet had been plonked on top which made it impossible to tell where the pastry finished and the filling began. I had severe menu envy with the other girls' choice of a white chocolate mousse with cherries.
We had a glass of wine each, plus the additional potatoes, and the bill for the three of us came in at under £100 - not too shabby for a fancy dinner and the live pianist (yes, I'm still impressed by that). An excellent beginning to the London for Less series...where will we be road-testing next?
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