For the discerning gent walking through Belgravia, London there are many temptations. Of all his wants and needs, good food features as a frequent priority – and that’s regardless of where you happen to be in the world. The capitals’ exclusive Cadogan Place was the location on this venture through London as Elysium Magazine keeps the discerning gent mindful of where next to catch a meaty morsel or two.
The Jumeirah Carlton Tower is the place where you’ll find The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant. The hotel itself is an elegant affair and the dining option carries the theme on. It’s not only famed for Head Chef Ian Rudge’s renowned roast rib of beef, there is also a vast selection of wines and champagnes whilst the bar has developed a reputation for a specialism with gin cocktails – take your pick from the hundreds of gin cocktails available.
The Look, The Feel
Even though right on Sloane Street and within the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant has a relaxed feel to it, though it perhaps lacks the atmosphere of London’s more centrally located venues. Upon entering the first thing to catch the attention is the huge marble bar demanding centre stage.
The bar is sunken a few steps down from the restaurant seating, but otherwise everything is an open plan affair. Take your pick between formal restaurant seating or the more relaxed bar area – though the former is recommended if you’re planning a big feast. On this occasion, the bar was our preferred choice to glimpse over the impressive bar.
Once comfy, it was time to order the starters from the bar’s light bites menu – there are a range of small yet substantial nibbles to get the taste buds going. The crab and lobster spring rolls (£12) and the tiger prawn tempura (£14) caught the attention but other options include mini burgers, posh fish fingers and oysters.
The spring rolls were a delight – light and crispy to the bite and packed full of delicious crab and lobster pieces. This was the right way to whet the appetite. The tiger prawns carried on where the springs rolls left off – perfectly light tempura providing crunch and bite to the sizable succulent prawns. So far so good and now it was time for mains.
Main Event
The starters set the tone for any dining experience and after our first course the mains were eagerly anticipated. Up next was the crab and lobster burger (£22) and, because we were in The Rib Room, it had to be a nice piece of beef, the sirloin steak (£29). The benchmark was already high but when these two dishes arrived at the table we knew there was nothing to worry about.
The crab and lobster burger takes the title for most eye-catching – mounds of shellfish chunks formed into a thick burger patty lathered in thermidor sauce and lime mayonnaise in a soft brioche bun, packed with flavour. The sirloin was good sized slab of meat accompanied by Portobello mushroom and tomato, all griddled to char-grilled perfection. The potato comes with ‘RR’ branded on the face for the finishing touch.
Verdict
The Rib Room is definitely one of the highlights on the Sloane Street circuit. Under the grandeur of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel, the bar and restaurant venue is a favourite for international jetsetters and ladies and gentlemen of leisure within the capital. For the discerning gent there is plenty to warrant repeat visits – the plethora of cocktails created with added theatre and the varied options the come with dining at the bar or restaurant area. Next time the discerning gent is shopping in Knightsbridge or taking a stroll up from Victoria The Rib Room is great for long lunches or serious client entertainment.
Rating
Food: 4/5
Ambience: 3/5
Venue: 4/5
Style: British Classic
Contact: The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, On Cadogan Place, London, SW1X 9PY – Tel: +44 (0) 20 7858 7250