Rhodes W1 is a restaurant you’d never notice just off London’s bustling Oxford Street. As those in-the-know are already aware, it’s a hidden gem worth discovering.
The glam, Kelly Hoppen designed space is chic and elegant in black and taupe, accented with elaborate string curtains and dazzling crystal chandeliers by Spina which hang like icicles over the black leather-upholstered chairs. Crisp white tablecloths and attentive service are all part of the dining experience, but the food genuinely tops all that. For anyone who still thinks Britain can’t cook, let this be your arousal from an ignorant sleep: Chef Gary Rhodes is a genius. And he’s good-looking, too, but that’s neither here nor there.
The menu draws inspiration from all over Europe; French, Italian, and British cuisine are favored. The extensive wine list is carefully cultivated to complement Rhodes’ unique style — I highly recommend choosing the cheese and wine flight for your dessert. They roll out a little cart covered in delicious cheeses from France and England and tell you what each one is. You select whichever ones you like, and shortly thereafter they are served along with three generous tastings of wine, chosen just for you by the sommelier. Nice.
A three-course dinner, before the cost of wine, is a reasonable £49.90 per person if you choose from the a’la carte menu. The food is divine, with an unexpected emphasis on foam. Seriously. Click through the gallery and spot the use of foam in every single dish. My personal favorite was the lemongrass foam, served with the Seared Scottish Scallops.
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This trip was paid for by VisitBritain, but the ideas and opinions expressed in the article above are 100% my own.