Exceptional from start to finish.
Given that it's such a small venue (there were 12 people seated during the night we went) the ambiance is quite cosy and familiar, almost like you're at a dinner party rather than a restaurant. The two fellas serving as hosts/waiters/sommeliers/etc. were great - very friendly, knowledgeable, efficient.
The food itself is wonderful. Each dish was delicious. All well constructed and nicely presented, none overwrought. Every course was a highlight in its own right, but standouts included:
Spring white truffle linguini
Fillet & pressed featherblade of rose veal with jersey royals, early English asparagus & wild garlic
Souffle of vanilla & wild strawberries with gariguette sorbet
The three-round dessert finale (pre dessert, dessert and petits fours) was a fantastic finish to the meal. If you weren't full by the time you got to dessert, the amply proportioned souffle made sure you were.
The wine list is not outrageous but certainly adequate. I think there was probably less than 100 bottles on offer - which is obviously a lot, but not like some top class restaurants. The wine list is well curated, though, and covers all the bases. Instead of having a different wine with each course, my partner and I opted for an Argentinian blend - the producer escapes me - that was delicious. The vintage was 2010, the vineyard in Mendoza.
It is a fairly expensive meal at Marianne, but certainly more reasonable than some other restaurants of this caliber. The total for our meal, which included two tasting menus, a GBP 58 bottle of wine, two bottles of water and one espresso, came to GBP 270. (That figure includes service charge.)
Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my experience at Marianne. I would happily go again and will definitely recommend the place to others. I can see this place becoming even more popular, so I'm glad I got to visit while it is, having opened in late 2013, still relatively young. read more