Dining

The Landau

Set in the luxurious five star Langham Hotel, the Landau is no vacant beauty. Instead, substance lies beneath its striking appearance. The entrance to the restaurant is via the Langham Hotel and is definitely not one to be missed. You could take the alternative entrance via a small unassuming doorway through a side street but you would definilty be missing out on an experience in itself.

It’s a short walk through the gold-decorated lobby and down the beautiful, gleaming corridor to the entrance of the restaurant, where you will be guided to your seat via a corridor laden with floor-to-ceiling cabinets filled with rows of glistening bottles of wine. The Landau offers you the option to have a light and relaxed business lunch with a client with the help of the large open plan dining area and the bay window that allows you to watch London walking past. However, The Landau offers you the quieter side of the restaurant for formal dinners which sees the dining area parallel to a huge, wood-panelled wall adorned with beautiful, classic art. Large metal chandeliers hang overhead, almost medieval in style, helping to bring warmth to the white-tablecloth laden tables.

Unfortunately no music plays throughout the restaurant, but the friendly chatter is enough to create a romantic mood or fit to impress a special occasion with friends. The staff in particular is top class, as you’d expect from a five star hotel service, you are cared for in a professional but friendly manner. They’re happy to offer advice and show off an in-depth knowledge of the menu - impressing whilst putting you at total ease.

However, it is not the atmosphere that earns The Landau its stars but in fact the food, which is why you would be visiting the restaurant in the first place. Exquisite dishes to make the taste buds dance emerge from the kitchen to tantalise all the senses. However, they do some great set menus. The menu includes veggie and meat dishes but if you are confused by the variety available the salad of Blue Fin tuna, confit tomatoes, artichokes and quail’s eggs is delicate and beautiful and literally looks like a piece of art. The tuna comes in what can only be described as the best tuna mayo ever tasted, with slices of seared tuna meat placed on top. With the accompaniment of the artichokes and tomatoes this makes a great start to your meal.

The gratin of seafood with macaroni, basil, grapes and Setoise sauce (a Langoustine shell based sauce that’s rich and creamy) is to die for and perfect for your main course. With the combination of different types of seafood no two mouthfuls are the same. If you have room for desert, which you will once you see the desert list, dishes like the Granny Smith millefeuille and sherbet with chocolate oil are imaginative but do not lose what’s needed from a dessert – indulgent sweet flavours.

From The Landau’s wine corridor, you’ll know that it’s a venue that takes care in its wine selection – and you won’t be disappointed. Wine by the glass includes everything from a £20 glass of champagne – Billecart-Salmon, Nicolas Francois Billecart - through to a £7 glass of a decent white or red. Half bottles are also available. For the full bottles there’s a great range of champagnes, ranging up to a very pricey £415 bottle of Cristal. If you fancy a less extravagant option then the menu is wonderfully split up into white and red wines by region, covering every budget. A huge amount of thought has been put into this comprehensive list. It’s definately for a particular clientele, with it’s 1950’s saloon style glamour and old boy customer base.

More suitable for a mature business client who doesn’t wish to be surrounded by strobe lights and hounded by dance compilations and flourecent cutlery.

• Tel:+44 207 965 0165
• The Langham, Portaland Place, W1B 1JA
• www.thelandau.com/

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