the greenhouse

i’m glad we live in an age where google maps exists, because without it i’d have spent all day wandering around the back streets ofmayfairlooking for the greenhouse.  the beautiful little restaurant was in the backstreets and mews of one of london’s best areas and was only identifiable from the street because of a discreet sign with a copy of the restaurant’s daily menu proudly on display.

it seems like some of the best restaurants aren’t open on the weekends so require you to sacrifice either a weekday holiday or a busy weekday dinner. â both are not ideal options so i had high hopes when i finally managed to get a day off to visit the greenhouse. â hidden in the middle ofmayfairdown a mews and then a small short little walk in a leafy promenade, i had good feelings already. â after all, exclusiveness has its charms.

located in the most posh area of london-mayfairyou are going to find the greenhouse restaurant. the restaurant is situated a metres from hyde park with closest tube staion green park and hyde park corner. 
the cuisine in the venue is mostly french and the meals are prepared with organic, fresh and natural ingredients.

i would recommend to try the welsh organic lamb(shared for two persons) combined with bottle of their various wines from all around the world. 
the two course meal is 80 pound pp and the three course is 90 pound pp.

the greenhouse inmayfairoffers unique and contemporary interpretation of the french cuisine. the entrance matches its name, just like you are entering into a garden.. unique to the place and different from other places i have went. the kitchen is lead by chef who was recently appointed the second michelin star 2014, a big congratulations and after the meal i wasn’t surprise why they got it. the food is refine, modern, balanced and delcious. we booked for the set lunch offer on toptable and it was worth it… before we start a beetroot meringue filled with wasabi mascarpone was serve… airy, light and amazing wasabi and beetroot was a perfect combination. with this served to get ready for the main meal, let see what they have in the current set lunch.

first beetroot with capers, horseradish and smoked duck fillet and crab with coriander, rocket and artichoke. the beetroot was amazing.. fresh, sweet and slightly acidic married well with the horseradish with a hint of luxurious truffle and savour smoked duck.. i dish i just enjoy every single bite..the crab was fresh and sweet and the foam of rocket and artichoke adds that depth of flavour but the downside was the saltiness of the pasta which was abit too strong for me.

for mains its lamb with coconut rice and pineapple and whiting with curry, spinach and pequillos. the lamb was tender, savoury and still retain the lamb profile which amazing went well with the sharp and creamy tropical coconut rice…

the whiting was flaky, sweet and super fresh and the peppers and curry adds that nice heat and aromatic character.. the downside is i think a crispy skin would have elevated the fish and a little bit more curry would be perfect but overall a delicious, light dish. for dessert its cox apple with hazelnut ice cream, caramel crumble follow by their petite four. usually i’m not a big fan of apple crumble but this was delicious, tart apples cut by the slightly salty crumble and nutty hazelnut was perfect balance of texture and flavours….

the petite four were perfect in complimenting your tea or coffee such as the raspberry crumble, lime marshmallow, passionfruit jelly.

the greenhouse without a doubt deserve that second star, the dish had the right balance of flavours and texture… refine, simple and contemporary… with a set lunch at only £25 for three course is one place you must try when in london!

words and photography by marina benjamin i first ate at the greenhouse in hays mews,mayfairback in 2003, when bjorn van der host presided over the kitchen. already the food was inventive, yet confidently simple, and anyone with a half-decent palate could see that michelin stars would soon be raining down on the forward-looking kitchen. one duly arrived that year, and its guiding rays have been drawing the well-heeled of residentialmayfairthough the greenhouse ’s unassuming wooden doors ever since. the décor, too, has moved upmarket, but without sacrificing comfort. cream leather chairs and banquettes are clean-looking and functional. and the glass-fronted installations of twigs, covering several walls, feel more arts & crafts than high art. the greenhouse is also pleasantly unstuffy. a relief to anyone who disdains those austere – and i think chilly – ‘cathedrals of food’ where no one speaks above a whisper for fear of attracting a glare from the maitre’d.   the night i went along

the restaurant is situated in a maze ofmayfairstreets. as you leave the pavement, you enter a lush, tropical garden with a wooden walkway. it's a fabulous entrance that fills you with a sense of anticipation. once inside the restaurant, the botanical theme continues, with pale green leather chairs and leaf motifs on the glass and walls. but the effects are subtle, this is a chic, elegant room, hardly the rainforest cafe!