Harden's survey result
Summary
“Not quite as exceptional as we had expected from the reputation and three Michelin stars” – not to mention the stratospheric prices: the London outpost of this much-celebrated French chef and holder of the Legion d’Honneur continues to receive a mixed rep. Located in the heart of Mayfair in the former grill room of this most blue-blooded of hotels, it was given a pink-and-blue makeover in 2022 by Paris-based Pierre Yovanovitch, marking a break with its traditional old-school looks (“not to my personal taste, but fine if you like that sort of thing”). Marco Zampese was appointed Head Chef in 2018 and Executive Head Chef three years later and he provides an eight-course menu for £225 per person (or you can opt for a cut-down six-course version for £210 per person). Fans say “there is genuinely excellent food here – albeit not entirely consistent, and at a price” (“initial dishes were not amazing, but then the kitchen turned the afterburners on and the rest was glorious”). Sceptics, though, are far too numerous to ignore, with a number of diners finding results “astonishingly unimpressive even without the price tag…”; “astonishingly ordinary and insanely expensive…”; “absolutely coasting on reputation which is long past being deserved – for undiscerning billionaires or someone else’s expense account only”.
Summary
A “magical place with extraordinary food”, is how fans view the Mayfair operation of this celebrated French chef (holder of the Legion d’Honneur no less), which for about a quarter of diners in our annual poll lives up to its Michelin billing as one of London’s premier dining rooms (they awarded it three stars in 2021). Her occupation of the main dining room of this blue-blooded hotel has always been somewhat controversial, however, and its ratings continue to plummet ever since its elevation to the Tyre Co’s top award. It doesn’t help that a dreadful recent makeover has turned this gorgeous, period chamber into something “very corporate feeling” (“and as for the colour scheme, what were they thinking?”). Most problematic, though, is the fact that the cost of a meal has become “holy cow expensive!”. Even those who consider her cuisine “flawless” think the final bill is “insane” and more than a third of reporters nominate this as their most overpriced meal of the year (“it was very disappointing, smacking of chef not present and outrageous charging, particularly the criminal charges for wine pairings”).
Summary
“Yes, the food is very, very good” – the tasting menu is “absolutely incredible (every dish a piece of art and served on stunning crockery)” – according to fans of this superstar French chef, who has presided over the main dining room of this most blue-blooded of Mayfair hotels since 2008. Her reign has always been a little controversial here – for example, no-one is wild about the uneventful recent makeover of this fine, period chamber. But since its elevation to three Michelin stars, prices have become “extortionate (and with numerous supplements on the menu!)” and those diners who feel “this all-round exceptional experience is worth every penny” vie with the 2 in 5 who feel “the wallet-destroying prices are beyond extravagant” – “if I have to sell a kidney to eat here, I expect the food to win my heart… I’m not sure it did!”
Summary
“The food is sublime”; “exceptional service” is “very friendly and interactive”; “… but WOW! the bill!!” – that’s the headline story this year on this famous French chef’s London outpost in this most blue-blooded of hotels. Despite numerous “exquisite” dishes featuring in reports, very many reporters feel “the costs verge on criminal” (and that “once you have seen the prices, it’s difficult to get past them as the food just doesn’t compensate for the full-blown attack on your wallet!!”). It doesn’t help that the restaurant was recently elevated by Michelin to three stars, and that an “interesting but not amazing” experience can now seem well below par (“how this dining room has the tyre maker’s top rating is beyond us”). And those seeking an old-school Mayfair environment should also look elsewhere: “the days of the Connaught of old are well and truly over”, with “a conscious decision to move away from the previous old-style look” – a move dismissed by critics as “suburban lounge décor in what used used to be one of the handsomest dining rooms in London”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Hélène Darroze, The Connaught Hotel?
Carlos Place, London, W1K 2AL
Restaurant details
Hélène Darroze, The Connaught Hotel Restaurant Diner Reviews
"There is genuinely some excellent food here - albeit not entirely consistent, and it comes at a price. A slow start with snacks that were not really at three-star level, a couple of initial dishes that were not amazing - but at some point in the meal the kitchen turned the afterburners on, with the last three savoury courses and the dessert glorious. Pleasant service, though with a couple of slips. The dining room is not to my personal taste, but fine if you like that sort of thing. "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £125.00 |  |
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 210.00 | Always available | 6 |
| Menu2 | 225.00 | Always available | 8 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £60.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £9.00 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 15.00% |
Carlos Place, London, W1K 2AL
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 8 am‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am‑10 pm |
| Friday | 8 am‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am‑9 pm |
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