Since attending a pastry masterclass back in January at Lucky Cat Mayfair, Gordon Ramsay’s superb Asian restaurant in Grosvenor Square, I have been wanting to go back and try their lunch menu.
Lucky Cat Mayfair was Gordon Ramsay’s first Asian eating house to open back in 2019 and is inspired by the 1930’s Tokyo kissas and Shanghai’s drinking dens following Ramsay’s extensive travels throughout Asia. In creating Lucky Cat, his vision was to bring together the best cuisines of the region accompanied with exceptional cocktails in a special ambiance, something I believe he has successfully created here in his Mayfair restaurant.
The restaurant’s drinks menu features Lucky Cat’s own curated cocktail range that includes their signature Lucky Negroni along with popular classics that feature an Asian flavour twist. They also have an extensive selection of sake.
Ramsay’s vision for Lucky Cat is to offer the best and has strong relationships with all their suppliers which range from top fish suppliers in Japan and Spain to beef from the acclaimed Lake District Farmers and Wagyu from Japan.
The comprehensive menu offers plenty of choice, from starter snacks, raw platters and salads to Maki rolls, Tempura and Dumplings and Bao. You can then choose from a selection of fish dishes, such as a Koren Spiced Black Cod (one of their signature dishes), Grilled Miso Faroe Islands Salmon or Hand Dived Scallops. And if you are particularly hungry then perhaps the Japanese Wagyu Sirloin Steak will satisfy you. Otherwise, there is always the Irish Ribeye, Spiced Lamb Chops or Beef Short Ribs.
We started with a plate of delicious mixed mushroom dumplings followed by a superb Sashimi selection which included salmon, yellowtail amberjack, akami and chutoro tuna, and sea bass.
For our main course we shared an excellent Thai Baked Stone Bass that sits in a mild green curry with mussels and sweetcorn and accompanied it with a side of Egg Fried Rice and Grilled Tenderstem Broccoli which complimented it well.
Our wine choice was a fabulous 2020 South African Thelema Chardonnay from Stellenbosch, which paired perfectly with our chosen dishes, given that we were having predominantly fish. Whilst I like to think I am pretty knowledgeable when it comes to choosing wine, I would recommend asking for some guidance as the Lucky Cat wine list is extensive and can be on the pricey side if you are not careful.
Executive chef André Camilo says that Lucky Cat is different to similar venues in Mayfair because they prioritise the food and the experience equally with every detail meticulously planned, adding:
“No one is doing what we’re doing. They’re not offering the variety and calibre of what our menu does, the expertly crafted cocktails or the ambiance that keeps people here all night. We are proud of our guest experience, and what we’re doing to continue Gordon’s vision when the team first created Lucky Cat.”
Selection of SashimiWhile desserts may not be commonplace at many other Asian restaurants, they are one of Lucky Cat’s specialties with a dedicated all female pastry team, headed up by Alice Hall. So do make sure you leave some room for one of their delectable desserts. I can recommend the Apple Treacle Cake, which is what we made at our Dessert Masterclass, so on this occasion we chose the Yuzu and Passion Fruit Souffle, which came highly recommended and did not disappoint and some naughty but nice indulgent Chocolate Truffles to round off our meal with an espresso.
Although we chose from the main à la carte menu, Lucky Cat offers a great value fixed price lunch menu for £38 per person which is available weekdays from midday to 6:00pm.
For those of you interested in expanding your culinary skills, the Lucky Cat team are happy to share their knowledge with their other masterclasses that also include sake, sushi and cocktail classes, where you will be able to learn some of the secrets behind Lucky Cat’s specialties.
If you are looking for a slightly more immersive dining experience, then Lucky Cat offers some semi-private options, such as the Chef’s Table which seats 10 and a bespoke menu completely tailored to your tastes. There is also the Kitchen Table that offers two menus and three separate private dining rooms that are perfect for private gatherings and special occasions.
Weekend brunches are becoming increasingly popular here in the UK, and so with that in mind, Lucky Cat recently launched a new Saturday brunch menu that’s available from 11:00am to 4:00pm, making the perfect start the weekend with friends and family.
Passion Fruit Souffle and Chocolate TrufflesThe brunch menu at £95 per person, offers a selection of signature Lucky Cat dishes as well as brunch exclusives such as an omakase sushi selection, beetroot and umeboshi with wafer and tomato and strawberry with tofu cream while enjoying bottomless prosecco and lychee bellinis.
This is a restaurant I could easily go back to time and time again. It has a cosy and inviting atmosphere that really appeals to me, and we were delighted with our choice of dishes and quality of service.
The Details
Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay – Mayfair, 10 Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 6JP, England.
Tel: +44 (0)207 107 0000
Website: www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com
Email: luckycat@gordonramsay.com
Located in Grosvenor Square, the closest Tube station is Bond Street on the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines just a 5-minute walk away. The restaurant is open Monday to Wednesday from midday to 11:00pm, Thursday and Friday from midday to midnight, Saturday from 11:00am to midnight and Sunday from midday to 10:00pm.
Type of Restaurant: Asian Restaurant
Price Band: High
Inside Tip: Try to leave a little room for one of the fabulous desserts.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9/10
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man On The Ground, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photographs courtesy of Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay and by Simon Burrell
Be the first to comment