Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

While his face is rarely off our TV screens and the Ramsay restaurant empire may have gone global, this Chelsea temple of gastronomy - opened back in 1998 - still remains the mothership of his London operations, delivering the best cooking in the capital. A slick black frontage discreetly marks out the restaurant's entrance, while the extensive refurbishment of the intimate dining room by design guru David Collins is wonderfully stylish and sophisticated, the clean lines cleverly allowing the food centre stage. The cream interior also delivers the contemporarily elegant platform for unparalleled front-of-house service - this is as good as it gets. Slick, professional and polished, charmingly orchestrated by maître d' Jean-Claude Breton, whose unique, magical management style makes you feel like you're the only diners in the room. Enthusiastic explanations of dishes increase anticipation, while there's plenty of help navigating the fabulous wine list, too. Classical dishes with contemporary spin grace the kitchen's tantalising fixed-price repertoire of lunch, carte and seven-course Menu Prestige, which come studded with luxury. Simplicity, integrity and lightness of touch are hallmarks of the approach, coupled with innovation, flair, stunning ingredients, precision and depth of flavour. The superlatives may roll on, but the skills on display are exceptional, with consistency and execution nigh faultless. So expect to be wowed by the likes of roasted fillet of halibut with carrot and coriander pappardelle, baby navet, salsify and a passionfruit butter sauce, or best end of Cornish lamb served with confit shoulder, provençale vegetables, baby spinach, black olives and a basil lamb jus, while a Granny Smith parfait with honeycomb, bitter chocolate and champagne foam might catch the eye at dessert. Royal Hospital Road remains as popular as ever, thus bookings can only be made a month in advance, so be ready to hang on the end of the telephone to secure that table. You certainly won't be disappointed, this is one of life's musts!

At junct of Royal Hospital Road & Swan Walk
Nearest station: Sloane Square

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