I tried Gordon Ramsay's beef wellington at the Savoy
The first purpose-built deluxe hotel in London, The Savoy is still to this day the only 5-star hotel on the River Thames. A magnet for the wealthy, the famous, and the glamorous.
Or so you thought. 'Cos I went last weekend.
I've always loved a trip to London. The train down itself evokes a sense of excitement in me, but this trip surpassed all others. It was, without question, unforgettable in every way.
On the Northbank of the River Thames, it is equidistant from the City of London, the world's financial capital, as well as the luxury thoroughfares of Knightsbridge and Mayfair.
(Image: Newsquest) So, as I approached the grand entrance - as a man who often looks like he got dressed during a power cut - I was somewhat nervous at what lay ahead.
Thankfully, I had the foresight to plan ahead, there would be no sartorial faux pas on this occasion. Ha! No sir.
I wore jeans.
Jokes aside, it honestly was quite nerve-wracking at first. My girlfriend and I had experienced Gordon Ramsay's food before, at his incredible restaurant in Manchester, but this was on another level.
To the uninitiated, The Savoy is daunting. At first, you don't know how to act, whom to speak to, or even where to look. We were at least three social classes below the local stray cat.
But then came along the concierge at the reception, who set the perfect tone for the evening. Charming, warm, friendly, and to put it plainly, nice, we were set at ease seconds upon crossing the threshold.
All those preconceived emotions dissipated immediately, we simply gave in to the experience. And we were in for some ride.
The inside of the Savoy screams elegance, yet somewhat delicately. Now, you might think, how? But it somehow manages it. Subtle, decadent, yet still retaining an incredible allure.
We passed through a lounge, which had a feeling reminiscent of 1950's jazz bars, to get to our table. Right in the corner of The River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay. Perfect.
(Image: Newsquest)
The view of the Thames was quickly forgotten by the sudden arrival of Ethan, our server for the night and Champagne, complimentary from the River Restaurant. I'm not one for bubbles, typically, but I could have had an entire bottle of this.
After mulling over the menu (lord knows why, we had perused the online version weeks beforehand obsessively), we decided on a bottle of Chablis, the seafood platter for two, Gordon Ramsay's signature beef wellington, and the haddock in Champagne sauce.
When. In. Rome.
Ethan told us the wait for the seafood platter would be about half an hour, so he suggested we get some sides for the time being. Do not threaten us.
We went for some malted sourdough and whipped taramasalata with cured scallop roe. In hindsight, this was a mistake.
The Chablis and sides arrived promptly, and we tucked into both. I'll be totally honest, I'm not overly familiar with taramasalata, but it was a pure revelation with that sourdough bread and butter. However, we were in danger of filling up too quickly.
Thankfully, my favourite white wine on the planet soothed our palates just in time for the showstopper, the seafood platter for two. Or as it should be styled, 'half of Brighton's seafront, on ice'.
I gawped at what lay in front of me, staring open-mouthed at the mountain of Finding Nemo extras. Oysters, snails, cockles, clams, mussels, crevettes and deviled crab.
For myself, the oysters complemented by the vinaigrette and Tabasco were a marriage made in heaven. The snails, on the other hand, a lonely singleton. Not for me.
(Image: Newsquest) The mussels were equally moreish; they are perhaps my favourite fish of all, so to be edged out by the oysters is truly saying something. The prawns, the cockles and the clams were all equally delicious. It all tasted so incredibly fresh, like that half-hour wait was giving the chef ample time to go and catch them, just for us. Stunning.
Where we sat felt special. Right in the corner where we could chat, drink amazing wine, and take in the incredible aura of the restaurant. 'Bury me here,' springs to mind.
I do like a spot of people watching from time to time, so this best seat in the house gave us the perfect opportunity.
Forgive everything I said earlier about this being a place solely for the ladies, lord's and aristocrats, it was a place for normal people wanting an unforgettable experience. An anniversary, a birthday, a celebration, the Savoy listens to what you want to get out of it and responds tremendously.
But before I became lost in the moment, the next round of showstoppers was about to arrive.
Gordon Ramsay's beef wellington is arguably one of the most famous dishes on the planet. From TikTok to YouTube, I've seen this dish recreated a thousand times, and the end result never ceases to amaze me.
Aesthetically, it appears to be one of the most succulent things in the world. But I've never had the opportunity to see if the taste matches the look until now.
As the plate approached my table, I had a flashback. Have you seen the Top Gear episode when Jeremy Clarkson arrives at camp with a cow on his roof? Yep, that's what it felt like. Imagine that cow in pastry.
Georgia's haddock in Champagne sauce felt a little more delicate.
Anyway, le verdict. Does it stand up to the hype? Yes, it does, in droves.
(Image: Newsquest) The beef was cooked perfectly medium rare and cut through like butter, each mouthful felt more tender than the last. The accompanying red wine jus elevated the flavour of the beef to new levels; it was without doubt one of the best cuts of beef I've ever tasted.
The haddock, though...my word. I went in expecting the beef wellington to just blow me away, but that honour has to go to the haddock.
The Champagne sauce had a hint of anise to it, which felt like a soothing Ouzo cuddle in the belly. Of the haddock itself, it was quite honestly one of the nicest things I've ever had the pleasure of tasting.
It's called the River Restaurant for a reason, after all.
After all this food, you're probably thinking, how can you possibly fit more in? Well, his beef wellington is probably just a touch more famous than his sticky toffee pudding. So we shared one.
If this were to be our Mr Creosote moment, then so be it. It would've been worth it.
Recommended reading:
Gordon Ramsay's restaurant review: An incredible experience
I visited the Grand Hotel in Birmingham and owe an apology
REVIEW: Marco's New York Italian - a sad disappointment
The Savoy's River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be frank with you. I felt so lucky to be able to experience a place that lives up to the hype and more.
Yes, ok, it's obviously going to be an expensive experience. You don't need me to tell you that. But if you want to visit somewhere for a special occasion that will truly give you a taste of the high life, then consider this top of your list.
From the staff at reception to the waiters, sommeliers and chefs, it was a place that made you feel wealthy, famous, and glamorous, no matter your background
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