This seven-course tasting menu promises refinement and balance, along with personality that's easy to like. Each dish came with a duo of plates and its own trio of sauces or accoutrements, though often one truly elevated the main component, while the others simply offered a different taste. A quick amuse bouche started with a delicate combo of cured tangy ricotta, buttery cracker, piquant passionfruit chilli syrup and bright mango salsa that arrived with a chilled Chipollini onion, which offered a subtle sweetness. Paired with a nutty green sauce and tangy blood orange segment, the huckleberry potato chip added a fleeting crisp and whisper of earthy sweetness.
Next, the seared swordfish draws the eyes with its golden crust and meaty texture. The flavour leaned sweet and oceanic, paired with a carrot gazpacho and leek oil underneath that introduced an unexpected sharpness - the balsamic acidity clashed slightly with the fish's delicate sweetness. The cod was an elegant rebound, cooked beautifully for a tender and flaky texture, its natural sweetness lifted by a sprinkle of fragrant furikake. The lobster base enveloped the chewy pearl couscous, saturating it with oceanic richness. Delicate notes of fresh dill added herbaceous flair.
A shift in temperature brought the hamachi and crispy potato ring - a play of texture and restraint. The ring's deep golden hue and crackly crunch added a savory counterpoint to the soft, buttery hamachi slices that followed. Expanding on the same idea, the yellowfin tuna tataki brings more confidence with its bold sesame-herb crust, releasing a smoky aroma that pairs elegantly with the fish's saline depth. Served beside it, the tuna tartare was tender and bright, speckled with cucumber for texture and laced with wasabi-lime vinaigrette for lift. Support elements like fennel and gooseberry add bursts of colour and acid, while a smooth white turnip mousse introduced a gentle creaminess, anchored with a mildly sweet black garlic paste.
The butter-poached lobster was tender with a slight bounce, its natural sweetness enhanced by subtle butteriness. A crisp endive wedge, carrying an earthy herb oil, added refreshing bitterness and crunch. It floated in a kimchi radish broth - sweet, umami-rich, and lightly sour - elevated by a drizzle of dill oil that perfumed the dish with herbal lift. Beneath the lobster sat a creamy aioli, couscous, and root veggies. A soft, poppy-seeded crepe crowned the plate, adding a thoughtful textural touch.
If not lobster, it'll be crab. Its sweet, meaty texture was complemented by thin celery root carpaccio and scattered bacon bits for a crisp and savory contrast, respectively. Around it, a mosaic of puffed wild rice, candied orange peel, dill oil, buttermilk, and celery root gazpacho formed a tapestry of earthy and citrusy notes. Clementine and gooseberry brought brightness, and a peach chutney added tropical tartness, in addition to a thick beetroot paste.
The caramelized pear Marsala tart was the most complex and rewarding plate, its pastry base offered balanced sweetness and gentle boozy warmth, supporting melt-in-your-mouth beef short rib crowned with seared foie gras. The combination was rich but measured, its umami deepened by a silky red wine reduction.
The squab and foie gras that followed was nearly as impressive. The squab, served rare, was juicy and profoundly savory, its seared skin offering a gentle crisp. The foie enriched the lean bird, tying it together with indulgent silkiness. The accompanying Thai coconut pancake was a standout on its own - thin, aromatic, crisp-edged, with a gooey coconut center. The Thai curry lentils balance with spice, coconut milk richness, and subtle sweetness, while the wild berry jam adds tart relief and charred broccolini grounds the plate.
The lamb course continued the savory high. Cooked to a juicy medium-rare, it arrived with beautifully rendered fat and bold gaminess, assertive yet refined. The yogurt-mint chutney and duck jus were natural pairings, cutting richness with tang and savor. A carrot puree brought mild sweetness, while tender artichoke and lentil chaat masala lent earthiness and spice.
A cheese course built excitement for the desserts.
Finally, the dark chocolate panna cotta and ganache duo provided a fittingly indulgent close. The panna cotta melted silkily, revealing deep cocoa tones with fruit-forward nuance, while the ganache leaned boozier and more assertive. Butterscotch, crisp pearls, and white chocolate shavings layered with texture and warmth. Fresh gooseberries, macerated cherries, and tropical fruit offered brightness, though best enjoyed separately. It arrived in tandem with a lemon tart that countered the chocolate's richness with focused acidity and precision. Its soft crust and lightly torched Italian meringue created a harmony of citrus and smoke, while macerated strawberry, lemon and lime added juicy contrast. read more