Chris Zwierzynski, from Tripbase.com shares some expert advice on fine (read: really rather expensive) dining in Britain.
Barely a day goes by when we don’t hear of someone’s tales of woe with regards to their finances. Maybe nary a day goes by when you don’t think of your OWN tales of personal finance horror, but this post isn’t about personal finances, in fact, this post isn’t even going to be particularly serious in the slightest, perhaps a welcome break from the drudgery we encounter on a day-to-day basis. This post is for those who dare to dream, who occasionally – or often, there’s no discrimination at play here – have flights of fancy where they can afford whatever they please, consequences be damned.
Food. Everyone loves food. Of course, there are picky eaters, gluttons who eat anything and then there’s the gourmet, who will indulge in only the finest of fripperies wherever food is concerned. You’ve probably guessed where this is going and it’s headed in a direction in which the subject matter will revolve around the finest/most expensive eating establishments in Britain, avoiding the cliché that is the “world’s most expensive” and instead opting for the lower-key “just in Britain” subtitle, so maybe you’ll want to bear these in mind next time you’re booking any flights to London. There are no diamonds in food, gemstones on cutlery-related shenanigans here, for these places are expensive because…well…they just ARE.
Also one of the single most expensive restaurants in the world, this place can set you back at least £120 for a single person and that’s just selecting from the average stuff. If you were to opt for more exquisite dishes and then a bottle or wine or so, well, then you’re looking at a hefty price-tag indeed! A favorite amongst locals and tourists alike (provided that can afford it, of course), the restaurant itself is known for serving up the most palate-pleasing dishes in the whole of England’s fine capital city. Typical delights on offer might include Cornish lamb, pork belly and the finest Angus beef, all mixed in with a wide range of other fine accoutrements. By the time you were done with this place, you’d certainly be in a better position to understand the reason behind the three Michelin Stars that have been awarded to it. However, your wallet might not be!
Put on the proverbial map thanks to fantastic food, a three-star Michelin chef in the form of owner Michel Roux and a £24 plum soufflé that made it onto the Forbes list of the world’s most expensive desserts (it came tenth), the Waterside Inn is not only a dive into opulence, but also a dive into quality as those stars aren’t awards to just anyone that comes along. With “Inn” in the title, you’d be correct in suspecting that the building housing the restaurant also serves as a place where you can – for a modest sum – spend a few nights. The restaurant’s chefs serve the whole gamut of dishes you’d expect: lobster, rabbit, lamb, duck, turbot and many others, each served as decadently and in an adept a fashion as you’d imagine. Truly an experience for the rich in taste as well as the rich in wealth, as you will most likely be set back around £100+ for a two-course meal.
Back to the nation’s capital again, for meals that again breach the £100 mark. Sketch has long been touted as an incredibly expensive place to eat, hence the gaggle of celebrities and other people of note that occasionally dine at the establishment. However, the price doesn’t belie the quality and instead is more of an indication of it, what with the restaurant itself being a product of Algerian restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and celebrated French chef Pierre Gagnaire, you can rest assured that the place will contain nothing less than the most sumptuous of everything the culinary realm has to offer.
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