Lady’s Review of The Grill at The Dorchester Restaurant in London

There’s nothing I like more than starting a week with a good meal. Since I’m the world’s worst cook, I generally leave the food to the experts. This week was no exception. I was invited to have a complimentary lunch at The Grill at The Dorchester restaurant in London, and I knew the cuisine at the famous luxury hotel on Park Lane would more than fit the bill.

The Grill at The Dorchester Restaurant in London

I arrived at The Grill at The Dorchester at 1pm and met someone from the restaurant’s PR agency for what turned out to be not just a good meal, but a divine dining experience that surpassed even my high expectations.

We settled into a comfortable table in the dining room and the champagne trolley arrived shortly thereafter. We didn’t hesitate to indulge in a glass of Paul Berthelot Premier Cru Cuvee Rose NV.

As we sipped the bubbly, we looked over the menu of The Grill at The Dorchester restaurant in London. There was everything from the chef’s set menu to daily specials and classic items from the grill.

It was difficult to decide, but eventually I chose to start with the wild Scottish smoked salmon.

It was a good choice. The salmon was one of The Grill at The Dorchester restaurant’s signature starters, and when the server brought a trolley to the table to carve it for me, I knew I was going to enjoy it.

I did. The thinly sliced fish was light and fresh, with none of the fishy flavor that can plague smoked salmon.

It was a winner, as was the glass of St. Clair Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand the sommelier paired it with.

My lunch companion went with what looked like an equally good appetizer. The Isle of Mull scallops were topped with mussels and served with garlic broth, celeriac, and ginger.

The presentation looked beautiful, and it tasted great. With it came a glass of Domaine Fourrey Premier Cru Chablis.

Our main courses at The Grill at The Dorchester restaurant in London were just as pretty to look at as the starters had been.

I had the native lobster, which was roasted in vanilla butter and served with braised red onions, lobster mayonnaise, and bitter leaves. It looked like a work of art, and tasted like it, too.

The lobster meat was rich and buttery with just the right amount of firmness. The accompanying flavors complimented it nicely.

As an added bonus, the sommelier paired the dish with a glass of Gabriel Pagin & Fils Carte d’Or Blanc de Noirs made from 100% Pinot Meunier.

Across the table, a grilled Shropshire veal chop with braised red cabbage and veal breast ravioli was served and enjoyed with the same enthusiasm as my lobster.

A side of buttered Chantenay carrots and a glass of Cambria Pinot Noir from Kendall Jackson in California rounded out the dish nicely.

For dessert at The Grill at The Dorchester restaurant in London I went with the peanut parfait with cherry jam and a dollop of sour cherry sorbet.

To be honest, I wanted to try the dish because it seemed like a haute cuisine version of my favorite childhood lunch, the classic American peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

When I tasted it, I found it was so much superior to a PB&J the two could only be compared in the sense they contained the same flavors.

The peanut parfait was chilled and not too salty, and the cherry elements added a nice sweet, tart element that balanced the dish nicely. It beat my sandwiches without even trying.

I enjoyed my dessert while my lunch companion had a ginger and pumpkin coulant with stem ginger ice cream. The coulant resembled a cross between a small souffle and light muffin. It looked like the perfect winter comfort food.

After eating at The Grill at The Dorchester restaurant in London, I knew I’d started my week with what was much more than just a good meal.

I floated home, wondering if a lunch of lobster and champagne set the bar too high for the rest of the week. Or the year. Or my life. Or if maybe I should just make lunch at the famous luxury hotel in Mayfair a regular occurrence.

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