Last summer I enjoyed a superb lunch at Lucky Cat Mayfair, Gordon Ramsay’s first Asian eating house that opened in 2019 and was inspired by the 1930’s Tokyo kissas and Shanghai’s drinking dens following Ramsay’s extensive travels throughout Asia. In creating Lucky Cat, Ramsay’s vision was to bring together the best cuisines of the region accompanied with exceptional cocktails in a special ambiance, something he has successfully created in his Mayfair restaurant.
Ramsay has however raised the bar even further with his fourth and latest Lucky Cat venture on the 60th floor of 22 Bishopsgate in the heart of The City, which opened last Monday and takes the accolade of being London’s highest restaurant with breathtaking panoramic views over London’s skyline, so high in fact, that you actually look down at The Shard.
London’s tallest building will in fact be home to not just one, but ultimately three culinary destinations and a world-class bar when Lucky Cat Terrace and Bread Street Kitchen Bishopsgate open later this year.
The restaurant and bar
The spacious 120-seat restaurant has floor to ceiling windows that show off London’s skyline and we were fortunate that it was a clear, sunny day on our visit. Sitting at our table right by the window we tried to work out what each building was below us. It certainly gives a rather different perspective to London from this height.
In fact, the interiors of Gordon Ramsay Restaurants at 22 Bishopsgate, designed by Russell Sage Studios, have been purposely created to showcase the unparalleled views over the city.
The use of dark finishes and subtle lighting help to minimize reflections from the tall windows. The main bar has a cosy feel to it with clever backlighting designed by Victoria Jerram, who has ensured that all the restaurant’s lighting has been discreetly positioned so as to create the perfect ambiance both during the day and at night so that the views over the city remain the focal point.
Both Lucky Cat and Lucky Cat Bar offer a special and unique Asian dining experience with a menu that features over 30 new dishes, including Soft Shell Crab Maki, Uni Toast and ‘The World of Wagyu’ with prime cuts from around the world. Some favourite dishes such as the Baby Squid and Grilled Miso Salmon, which we had, have been reimagined.
The 60 seat Lucky Cat Bar, which is open well into the wee small hours, has a comprehensive cocktail menu that includes the group’s largest selection of Japanese whiskey, their signature Lucky Negroni along with an exclusive martini menu with Citrus, Floral and Umami options. And like the Mayfair restaurant, they also stock an extensive selection of sake.
If you enjoy a more interactive experience, then may I recommend sitting at the open sushi bar where you can watch the chefs at work. But as much as I like a long lunch, I appreciate that not everyone has the time and so the Express Lunch menu is the perfect option for a quick lunchtime meeting, offering three courses for £35. Alternatively, if you fancy a more relaxed weekend meal, then a free-flowing brunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays.
If, however, you are looking for something a little more private, an exclusive private dining room that seats up to 18 guests and has its own private bar is available to hire.
In addition to the main restaurant, there is also the exclusive Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, which a 12-seat chef’s table experience, offering a modern twist incorporating Neo-Nordic and Japanese-inspired flavours and techniques. Then there is Gordon Ramsay Academy powered by HexClad on Level 58, where you can hone your kitchen techniques and culinary skills, from crafting Bao buns to perfecting steak, homemade pasta and the classic Beef Wellington.
Menus and wines
Back in the main restaurant, our friendly and helpful waitress Mariana explained the menu options to us but as we wanted to try a cross section of dishes, we opted for the à la carte menu, starting with some Baby Squid.
The international wine list is comprehensive and offers something for pretty much every palate with a decent selection of wines available by the glass, priced between £8 to £16, which is not unreasonable for London. We decided to pair each course with a different wine, taking advice from the knowledgeable sommelier, starting with a rather good 2022 German Schloss Johannisberg Gelblack Riesling Feinherb. This medium dry wine has a fragrant, fruity bouquet of lemon and peach with a peachy, crisp acidity and long finish and paired well with the squid.
We then had a tantalising Nigiri and Sashimi selection of salmon, sea bass, tuna yellowtail and wagyu, paired with a 2023 Australian Yering Station Village Chardonnay. This cool-climate Chardonnay offers citrus, white peach and a touch of flint, with delicate oak complexity adding to the citrus-fruit palate full of freshness and was a good choice to accompany the raw fish.
We were then presented with a tasty plate of Wagyu Gyoza dumplings and some delicious Hand Dived Scallops, a personal favourite. Next up was a tender Grilled Miso Salmon with wasabi miso and burnt orange, accompanied with a bowl of Egg Fried Rice and xo sauce, paired with an excellent 2018 Italian Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Pinot Noir from Tuscany, which is a full-bodied wine with firm, velvety tannins. The sweet, floral nose has aromas of vanilla, cherries, baked figs, strawberry jam and milk chocolate and was light enough to go with the salmon.
We rounded off our rather long lunch with the delicious, delicate Yuzu and Passionfruit Souffle, glass of Muscat De Beaumes and coffee, in what was an unforgettable meal that will be very hard to beat!
A visit to Ramsay’s new restaurant, with its welcoming a professional staff, is a real treat, be it for a pre-dinner cocktail or meal to celebrate a special occasion, I can’t recommend it enough and will leave the final word to the man himself, who commented:
“I’ve been lucky enough to open restaurants all over the world, but there’s something truly unique about London. It’s where my journey began, and it’s the city I’m proud to call home. Watching it evolve into a global culinary powerhouse has been remarkable. Building this beautiful space has been an ambitious project, but that’s exactly what makes Gordon Ramsay Restaurants so special – we never stop pushing boundaries.
“I couldn’t be more excited to open three of our most iconic restaurants, all reimagined, taken to new heights, and built under one roof, it’s a dream come true and a major milestone for our business. All that and a place where anyone can come and level up their skills in the kitchen, it’s unbelievable. To offer exceptional food and drinks with some of the most stunning views of London’s skyline is truly amazing. It’s about creating something extraordinary for those who share our passion for great food and this incredible city.”
The Details
Lucky Cat Bishopsgate by Gordon Ramsay, Floor 60, 22 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AJ, England.
Tel: +44 (0)207 592 1617
Website: www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com
Email: luckycatbishopsgate@gordonramsay.com
Located on Level 60 of 22 Bishopsgate, with its own entrance on the right hand side, the closet Tube stations are Bank on the Central and DLR lines and Liverpool Street on the Central and Elizabeth lines. The restaurant is open Monday to Wednesday from 11:30am to 1:00am; Thursday to Saturday from 11:30am to 3:00am and Sunday from 11:30am to 10:00pm.
Type of Restaurant: Asian Restaurant
Price Band: High
Insider Tip: Do try and get a table by the window if you can, as the views really are quite spectacular.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10/10
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based travel and motoring journalist and editor, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photographs courtesy of Lucky Cat Bishopsgate by Gordon Ramsay
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