Until a few
years ago, I must say I had a bias against hotel restaurants – I usually saw
them as part of the hotel and usually an alternative choice for someone who
couldn’t actually go out for a dinner. And then I went to the US and everything
changed.
Koffmann’s is
located in the Berkeley Hotel, a posh hotel in the very centre of London, in
Knightsbridge. And, let me tell you, this is actually a very good choice if a
posh night is what you want. First, the hotel entrance, the atmosphere, the
decoration as you move through the Blue Bar to the restaurant, the ambience in
Koffmann’s itself. It involves you. It wraps you in a posh 70’s atmosphere, a
classic modernism that is not decadent (but could almost be).
Then, the food.
And this is a Pierre Koffmann restaurant. So, prepare for some good food –
informal, but still French style. So, and from a Portuguese perspective (and I
bet an American as well), just remember the food will be good… but small… The menu has very good starters listed,
including scallops, Spanish ham and a vegetarian combination of artichokes and
green beans. Entrees include codfish with herb-sauce (yes, of course that being
Portuguese one of my friends ordered it… and it was good! But my mom does it
better…), a great honey glazed duckling (that seemed to actually dissolve
slowly in your mouth) and beef cheeks in red wine. Just remember to order some
nice red wine (French?) to make sure you rhythm your choice with sweet flavours
and tones. Ah! Desserts! I am very conservative in this area – I went for a
fresh and delicious pineapple carpaccio (that I strongly recommend), but you
may also choose a lemon tart with sorbet or a vanilla pannacotta with rhubarb.
Koffmann’s is a
very good choice for your dinner on a posh night out. The food is great, the
atmosphere excellent and at the end you can slip to the next room to the famous
Blue Bar with its blue decoration (what a surprise…) and exquisite cocktails.
What to impress your new stylish girlfriend in London? I would take her here!
Where: London – United
Kingdom
Address: The Berkeley –
Wilton Place – Knightsbridge SW1X 7RL
Phone: +44 20 7235 6000
Expensive: Around €80
Last visit: May 2012
