Muse by Tom Aikens

This was a fantastic dining experience that will be remembered for quite a while. A visit to a Tom Aikens restaurant had been on our list for a time now so therefore when we read about his latest venture it really appealed to us and we couldn’t wait to go. This all came to fore on a delightful wednesday lunchtime. We arrived at hyde park corner and made the short walk to the restaurant which is in a fabulous corner setting of a mews. We were given a friendly welcome on arrival and were shown into the ground floor area which has a small lounge area plus availability for five people to sit at the chef’s kitchen counter. Then after a brief chat we were escorted upstairs to the main restaurant area. This is where you’ll find seating for twenty people (6 at the counter & 14 on tables). We took up the kind offer of being seated at the chef’s counter as this gives you a great opportunity to see all the hard work that goes into creating their amazing dishes close up. There were two choices of menus on offer a three course lunch or our choice the seven course tasting menu. We started with a gin & tonic while we were presented with a fabulous selection of snacks titled Forever Picking along with Bread & the heavenly homemade butters.

Forever Picking

Bread & Butter

This led us onto our first course the PUMPKIN a Soup with dumplings , mussels & trompettes. Straight away you could taste the amazing flavours and see the fabulous attention to detail that went not only into this dish but to all that was to come. We followed this with the WILD DUCK with custard , brioche & foie gras which once again was a flavour sensation. Before the first course we met with sommelier Angelo to recommend a glass of wine for the following two dishes and it’s fair to say he came up with a couple of great suggestions.

Pumpkin

Wild Duck

The next course was titled SPROUTS but I can tell you now you’ll never have them like this as together with cabbage , bacon & bread sauce they were delicious. Now it was time for a lighter dish and the beautifully cooked DOVER SOLE with broccoli , seaweed and a champagne foam. This led us to the main course of PHEASANT which was accompanied with chestnut , celeriac & cranberry and was yet another stunning plate of food. Congrats also to Angelo for the fabulous wine pairings with this dish.

Sprouts

Dover Sole

Pheasant

Wines & Port

I’d now like to pause for a moment and say how the service and friendliness from Tom , Seamus , Julien , Danny & Angelo was absolutely first class and they really do everything to make your lunch a memorable occasion. We now move onto the supplemented CHEESE course which was a fantastic truffle baron bigod accompanied by chutney , crackers , biscuits & jams. The cheese was paired with a fantastic Tokaji Aszu 2011 sweet wine and a 10 year old tawny port. Now it was time for dessert which had a nice Xmas name EGGNOG with gold , white chocolate & rum that was absolutely delicious.

Cheese Course

Tokaji

Eggnog

We finished with coffee and a fabulous selection of petit fours to bring to an end a truly fantastic dining experience and as I said at the beginning one that we won’t forget in a hurry. I would therefore highly recommend a visit to this amazing restaurant where the attention to detail and flavour of the food is of the highest calibre. I will definitely be returning as soon as possible in the new year.

Petit Fours