V-Flyer

Pierre returns to The Berkeley, yay!

He will take over the space occupied by Boxwood thereby removing the last vestiges of the Ramsay Empire from The Berkeley.

Pierre and Gordon go way back, IIRC it was Pierre who gave Gordon his first position as Head Chef at La Tante Claire. Funnily enough, at that time, it was on the site now occupied by "Gordon Ramsay" in Royal Hospital Road, then it moved to The Berkeley where Marcus Waring now is. When Pierre closed the doors on La Tante Claire Ramsay moved his restaurant Petrus from St James Street to The Berkeley and took over the location.

In 2009 Pierre opened his Restaurant on the Roof at Selfridges, it proved tremendously popular for it's short tenure and received rave reviews proving he had lost none of his culinary expertise. Contacts tell me it was this that persuaded Pierre to seriously look at a permanent restaurant in London again, thank goodness he did! I wonder how many of his former staff will join him...

See this piece from FoodEpedia on the new venture and this piece on the old La Tante Claire from Restaurantguides.co.uk to whet your appetite.

It will be a restaurant not to be missed!

Howard and I were lucky enough to be able to eat at the Selfridges one before Xmas and it was one of the best culinary experiences I had last year - albeit a bit windy up there.

Good news

As someone with a vested interest in this, I did laugh at the articles published when La Tante Claire closed, comparing them to the announcement when Koffmans opens... it proves that time is a great healer.

Some of the comments were not very kind. Having had the pleasure to have eaten at La Tante Claire I have nothing bad to say.

Had the pleasure of eating at Koffman's tonight - pre-opening.

Very nice - fairly informal but still with a wonderful sense of style.

I am personally just pleased to see Boxwood close and some thing and some one respectable open in its place. I will look forward to trying it very much indeed.

There's a great August special in the works - will post details.

hackneyguy wrote:I am personally just pleased to see Boxwood close and some thing and some one respectable open in its place. I will look forward to trying it very much indeed.

Agree, we went there as a group, and it was nothing special at all.

I'm just waiting for the Causerie to reopen at Claridges now...

hackneyguy wrote:I am personally just pleased to see Boxwood close and some thing and some one respectable open in its place. I will look forward to trying it very much indeed.

I am with you there, went to Boxwood a few times but was never impressed by it. Petrus in the old days yes, and I do like the Berkeley bar because they serve proper sized martinis!

Had lunch at Gordon Ramsey on RHR last week and can report it is still sparkling, I would go a long way for his pied de cochon, and lovely to see the maitre'd Jean Claude there.

My Zagat update included a link to the menu which I post here for your gastronomic delight - nom nom!

Koffmanns

BTW that special offer is a three course dinner, with 1/2 bottle wine per person, water and tea/coffee for £45.00. Only times you can't dine are at 8, 815 and 830pm, August only. You have to quote August Special, or something.

Is it as good at the Stockpot on Old Compton Street?

tontybear wrote:Is it as good at the Stockpot on Old Compton Street?

Doesn't come close. (In what direction I will leave out). I know all the best spots, eh?

Sealink wrote: I know all the best spots, eh?

Yes you sure do !