Aubergine

Alistair McVeigh (26 February 2008)

I went back to Aubergine last Saturday for a special occasion dinner having had an exceptional meal there about 5 years ago and have to say I was far from overwhelmed by the experience this time round.

We went for the menu gourmand with accompanying wines - all seven courses were okay and the wine choices were excellent. I agree with some of the other reviews I've read that it lacked the wow factor and when you're paying the best part of 200 quid a head I expect to be impressed and not be able to pick holes in the service. There was no amuse-bouche and I had to ask for more bread, no offer of more water after the first bottle finished early in the meal, no offer of cheese course. All quite petty but have to say these are simple things that should be a normal part of service in any restaurant.

Paul Churchill (7 November 2003)

Last night my wife and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary by having dinner at the Aubergine. Quite simply, and this is one hell of a claim, it was the best meal that we have ever had. Everything was perfect. In addition to all the usual being outstanding, as you would expect, such as the service, ambiance and food, there were one or two other aspects which were unusually good. Firstly, the house wine: quite often a source of disappointment in good restaurants. We had glasses of the white, a Rouilly 1er Cru, the red, a 1998 Bordeaux and copious amounts of delicious pink fizz. All of which were excellent.

When I produced a cigarette ( a disgusting habit, I know), the waiter materialised out of thin air with a lit match and disappeared again as quickly once the match had served its purpose.

The bill arrived, with the "optional" 12.50% already added, and the section available for any additional gratuity had been crossed out, with my total bill already penned in. Like many I am sure, I simply loathe restaurants that leave space for an additional gratuity when they have already added one.

Wonderful. Can't wait to go back. Don't need to many interest rate rises however, otherwise I may never be able to afford such a treat again!