Serving food which possesses strong British elements in a contemporary and effortless setting, Launceston Place has recently re-opened with the intent to establish itself once again as one of London’s beloved restaurants. Unsurprisingly, it is obvious to most that with winner of the Gordon Ramsey Scholarship in 2003 and Caterer Acorn Award winner in 2007; Tristan Welch as head chef, Launceston Place will be the restaurant that turns up the heat in the kitchen! As I regularly entertain potential or long term clients and often conduct business meetings with regular customers, I was instantly impressed by the décor of the eatery. The warm and up to date feel of the intense dark chocolate walls contrasting with the starch white linen and colourful paintings which garnished the walls immediately made my companion and I feel at ease. Intrigued by whether the restaurant would hold up to its initial impact to woo its customers I entered with an open mind. Greeted by staff who held friendly dispositions proved that the restaurant had cleverly thought about the members that would be the forefront of a successful business, with menus in hand as we were seated I noticed that that they offered quintessential British classics with an international twist which sounded appealing. Demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge about the produce the staff ensured that from a business point of view you could chat away to your companions whilst having all your requirements met by staff who are on-hand without being intrusive.
Cuisine
Starting of with scallops which were elegantly but unusually presented on what appeared to be a large warm rock added an element of amusement to the succulent and textured starter. Shortly followed by a complimentary shot glass which consisted of cauliflower soup with a cold cream cappuccino top and crème fraiche drizzled with truffle oil which could be sipped as an espresso or be taken as a ‘down it in one shot’, which at first seemed all a bit alien to me. Although my companion and I were apprehensive we decided to take it in one and unexpectedly found that it was a tasty tickler that cleansed the palette before the main course, surely a definite conversation starter for any business meeting. Throughout our visit I was pleased to learn that all the food was sourced from local farms and markets which guarantees it to be fresh and of good quality. I ordered the crackling pork served in sauce of port wine with broccoli dish for my main course and was once again satisfied with delicious taste, my companion also complemented the Salmon dish she ordered which made the meeting flow with ease. With bread that was on-coming throughout the entire meal, the sourdough that was presented to us surprised me once again as it more common in the US – quite a treat indeed! When it came to choosing desserts the vast amount of choices left me wanting to try them all, but I eventually opted for the warm potted Valhrona chocolate, oat porridge and bay leaf ice cream, which was in fact one of the best things on the menu, the combination of different flavours left me yearning for more. The only thing I hoped for were slightly larger portion sizes.
Clientele
While there is a strong British element to the menu, there’s definitely an international twist to it. Although, the menu catered for most tastes there was no safe option, so any potential client would have to be quite adventurous and hold a sophisticated palette.
It’s a great place for dinner meetings as the tables are not too close together which means there is plenty of privacy. The part of the restaurant that proves that it’s a suitable spot for board meetings or company nights out is the cleverly tucked away semi private room; called the ‘Chefs Office’ where tables of up to ten are invited to dine and oversee the activities of the kitchen via strategically placed plasma screens.
Location
Situated between notably fashionable Kensington and Gloucester Road, Launceston Place is a faultlessly placed to enjoy the hot spots and charm of the neighbourhood before wining and dining your client. The nearest station is Gloucester Road which is conveniently a mere five minutes away from the restaurant.
Cuisine: British with an international twist.
Dress: Smart, casual
Payment: All Major credit cards accepted
Capacity: 80
Average Price including drinks: £45-54per person
Opening hours:
Mon - Fri 12:30pm - 2:30pm and 6:30pm - 11:30pm
Sat 6:30pm - 11:30pm
Sun 12:30pm - 2:30pm and 7pm - 10pm
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