Launceston Place

Exceptional taste and value

This is my fourth visit to this Michelin starred Launceston Place in Kensington. You might wonder why I keep returning to this restaurant and the answer is simple: Launceston Place produces some of the finest cooking in London, and when price is also factored in, you are getting probably the best quality food in terms of value for money. At least that is for me anyway, having eaten at most of the Michelin restaurants as well as some of the highly regarded places in London.

Launceston Place

canapes

bread

dill and cucumber

I returned for lunch and opted for the set lunch menu, it was its lunch menu from my first visit that got me "hooked" to this place. Even at just £30, the food you are getting isn't short of any quality and can rival some of the al la carte options from high profile restaurants elsewhere. My starter of quail was moist with very interesting ingredients combination of corn and grapes but it worked brilliantly with the sourness to balance off the gamy flavour. The smoked legs on the side offer lovely earthy and smoky aromas, it was a very impressive starter.

quail, new season corn, grapes and truffles,
hay smoked legs, sauternes reduction

slow cooked duck egg, pea fricassee,
bacon and pea cappuccino

tartar of smoked haddock, granny smith apple,
 mooli, pickled cucumber buttermilk and horseradish

Cornish sloe, padron pepper brandade,
brown shrimp, squid and fennel

For main, I had the Romney Marsh lamb served with courgette and basil with a touch of Mediterranean essence. The lamb loin was really tender and well seasoned, the spiced couscous was blended expertly, full of wonderful rich tastes. To finish off our fabulous lunch, we had some fantastic selections of cheeses and followed this by a well executed fromage frais. The milky texture worked wonders with the strawberries and the surprisingly delightful sweet and bitter orange skin ice cream.

Romney marsh lamb, courgette and basil,
tomatoes, spiced couscous

chicken breast, wild garlic, mushroom puree,
 rosemary potato and pastilla of its leg

cheese board

cheese affair

lovage ice cream

Fromage frais, strawberries, rhubarb, sourdough gallette
and orange skin ice cream

English raspberry delice, white chocolate aero,
caramelised chocolate sorbet

It was another wonderful experience at Launceston Place, what really hit home for me was the amount of effort, technique and attention to detail which went into the lunch menu, it was no less compared to its dinner service, which is far too rare these days. Just because it is a set lunch, it doesn't mean you should take your foot off the gas and produce some half decent plates of food. If you are seeking a top notch dinning experience but not willing to splash out crazy money, I can't think of a better place than Launceston Place in London.

Food 4.5/5

Head chef: 
Tim Allen

What I paid: 
£60 per head with 2 glass of wine

Average cost without drinks and services:
Lunch menu: £30
Tasting menu: £70


1A Launceston Pl  London, Greater London W8 5RL

http://www.launcestonplace-restaurant.co.uk/