Why I'll go back: An intimate, delectable, visually appealing tasting menu that is not flamboyant, but truly focused on the food, with an approachability that is enhanced by the personable staff of this inevitably Michelin-star rated restaurant.
You HAVE to order: The wine pairing. There are actually two, and a third one with sake. These can be hit or miss, even at great restaurants. Aulis did a fabulous job complementing each dish, with the wines being delicate enough so as not to compete with the main attractions.
Tony's Tip: Aulis books out a few months, so if you are visiting London or looking to experience the restaurant for a special occasion, get on this early!
I feel privileged to help finally put Aulis-London on the Yelp map. It has been open since 2017 but has somehow escaped the palates and pens of Yelpers. My wife and I stumbled upon this unassuming spot a year ago as we were short-cutting down the narrow St. Anne's Court in Soho (also formerly home to Trident Studios, where David Bowie recorded several of his iconic albums). It looked like our kind of place, but of course, there was no chance at slipping in last minute on either of the final two days of our trip. Now here we are a year later and we were able to snag the last two seats of the evening this past Friday (reserved in August for this November seating). Those two seats would not have been available a year ago, but Aulis bought its next-door neighbor, blew out the space further, and expanded the counter from 8 to 12.
Upon entering, you're warmly greeted, then seated in a small but stylish lounging area where a pre-dinner cocktail is available and several amuse-bouche morsels are served as culinary foreplay for what is to come. It is a nice way to ease into the experience.
By the way, we had no idea who Simon Rogan was when we discovered Aulis, nor did we when we booked. Only after that did we discover the guy is a 3-Michelin star legend with restaurants all over the world, including four representations of Aulis, which was originally Chef Rogan's test kitchen up in Cartmel. So, Aulis London is a rare opportunity to experience his amazing talent without having to trek up north or to one of his other restaurants in far-away locales like Hong Kong, Malta, or Phuket, Thailand (opening in December).
The experience at Aulis is relaxed, yet sophisticated, and the two Charlies took care of all of 12 of us with professionalism and humor that made the evening really comfortable. Each course (8 in all not including the starting roster) was savory, with a range of textures throughout the evening. Some arrived with a simple presentation (scallops, "Aulis" fig leaf mousse) while others were visually vibrant (turbot, duck). Favorites of mine were the truffle pudding and lamb belly starters, the scallops (so delicate) and the Tumworth cheese "ice cream." My wife loved the dill brined gem lettuce with horseradish and shimeju mushrooms and the 14-day aged Creedy Carver duck (accented with cabbage, beetroots and a raspberry vinegar). Amazingly, we agreed that after 13 courses, we felt absolutely satisfied, but not uncomfortable by any means - a testament to the quality of the ingredients, the portioning, and the success of the restaurant in providing a rich experience without indulgently rich dishes.
It might be expected that dining like this does not come cheaply. The feast itself was GBP350, but with two cocktails, two wine pairings and a service charge on top (we passed on an after-dinner spirit and coffee), the evening ran us over GBP800. So, it's definitely up there. For us, however, dining is how we indulge, and recurring memories of special evenings like the one we just enjoyed at Aulis make that money well spent. Six years in, Simon Rogan is still awaiting proper recognition from MICHELIN with a second star-rated restaurant for Aulis to accent his now 3-star rated L'Enclume in Cartmel. Perhaps the larger space with the intimate pre-dinner lounge will win them over. Regardless, trust me when I say that you will have a Michelin-worthy experience at Aulis. More importantly, you'll be reminiscing about your meal for years to come, which is the real mark of a stellar restaurant. Wishing Aulis continued success and you a uniquely rewarding evening at easily one of the best restaurants in London. read more