Maze
Gordon Ramsay is hardly known for tiptoeing through the tulips. But at his avant-garde Maze, the high-energy chef invites diners to meander through a meal of their own creation.
The Michelin-starred restaurant presents Chef Ramsay’s French-Asian cuisine in a menu of exquisite small plates designed to be paired by the guests themselves. “We were looking to break down the barriers of fine dining and make it a journey of food,” says Maze manager Sid Clark. “With the small portions, people can create their own culinary experience.”
And that experience is one of cascading sensations. Sweet, miso-cured salmon meets sharp radish and vinegary ponzu sauce. A yielding Megrim sole nestles against octopus carpaccio, and soft, Szechuan-spiced pork belly plays off the crunch of pickled black radish.
The “unusual pairings” menu takes the concept to the next level, joining unconventional beverages to the extra-ordinary dishes.
Malty, aged ale lends heft to a melt-in-the-mouth lamb on a nutty pistachio puree. And cold, fizzy sake gives the final polish to a delicate crab tian topped with wasabi ice cream. “We’re matching different kinds of explosions of flavor,” says Mr. Clark.
Amble through the screens and tiered seating that conjure a Hampton Court hedgerow to the heart of the restaurant and you’ll find Ramsay’s signature chef’s table, where guests not only witness the creation, but may even be invited to handle the tongs.
“We are offering a destination,” Mr. Clark says. “You come to Maze not just for fine dining, but for a night out.”
London Marriott Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square London
W1K 6JP United Kingdom
Grosvenor Square London
W1K 6JP United Kingdom