You'd think finding a Beef Wellington in London would be easy, but it turned out to be the opposite…read morefor us. Thankfully, a friend tracked one down in Mayfair and we ended up at Gordon Ramsay's Heddon Street Kitchen.
The restaurant was busy and trendy, with a lively vibe that still worked well for families, especially with their ice cream bar. Kids eat free on weekdays, which is a nice touch. Unfortunately, the service didn't quite match the energy of the room - our fries were forgotten, and our food took over 45 minutes to arrive, which even the staff acknowledged.
What we tried:
* Beef Wellington - Beautiful presentation, but it fell apart once we sliced into it. The beef itself wasn't as tender as we were hoping for, especially given the hype and the name on the door.
* Tofu Poke Bowl - A rich aioli tied everything together nicely. The cucumbers added a refreshing crunch that kept it closer to the original poke concept.
* Sea Bream - Generous portion size, but the fish was overcooked and turned out quite dry.
* Kids' Mac and Cheese - Surprisingly excellent. It looked almost soupy at first glance, but the sauce was actually very creamy and cheesy, and the kids liked it enough to ask for seconds.
* Kids' Meatball Pasta with Tomato Sauce - The pasta and sauce were solid, but the meatballs were dry, as if they'd been overcooked or left too long.
The kids did get to enjoy the ice cream bar and loved being able to pick whatever their wild imaginations desired.
Overall, with the long wait times, missed items, and some overcooked dishes, the experience fell short of what I'd expect from a Ramsay restaurant. I wanted to be blown away, especially by the Beef Wellington, but left feeling underwhelmed.