food time - savoy grill ♥

I found it pretty tricky trying to plan Ollie's birthday this year. I wanted to do something extra special for his 28th birthday and I know he has always wanted to visit Gordon Ramsay's Savoy Grill restaurant in The Savoy Hotel. I'll be honest, I had no idea what to expect when I booked our table online, I made a small note in the booking form that it was Ollie's birthday but I was not too sure what the menu or atmosphere would be like.

I decided to take a look at the menu and the interior images online to prepare myself. I have a habit of looking at a menu before I visit a restaurant just to plan ahead! When we arrived at The Savoy, my mouth dropped. The restaurant is inside The Savoy hotel and located next to the Dream Girls theatre show. It feels like you are stepping into Las Vegas in the 1950's. It is incredibly glamourous with bright lights and water fountains. As the doormen stood outside The Savoy, we were guided to the Savoy Grill and seated at our table.

It is probably best to ask for a table near a wall because we were seated between two tables of four. Although it would have been nicer to have a more private table, there was plenty of space between us. When I visited the Chiltern Firehouse last year, it felt like we were sitting with complete strangers - it definitely makes a difference if you have your table spaced apart! Clothing wise, you really can dress as glam as you would like. I wore a full length lace dress and I didn't feel overdressed at all. I did see a lot of families dining next to us though and they were dressed slightly more casual, it was certainly a popular location for big family holidays, which proves how popular The Savoy Grill is.

For pricing, the menu can get pretty steep but to be honest, I think the pricing is pretty reasonable. I decided to order the baked Dorset snails, sweet garlic, red wine and brioche crumbs for my starter. I have never tried snails before and I really love the idea of trying something different and quite unique. The snails arrived on a plate similar to a baking tray, I am sure there is a more suitable and professional word for the type of plate I was served, but for now - a small baking tray explains it pretty well. 

I really didn’t know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. The snails were bursting with flavour and the garlic sauce and brioche crumbs gave the snails a modern and wholesome twist. I couldn’t get enough of the snails and I even used my spoon to finish the sauce! I couldn’t believe that the snails were only £9.50, I was certainly expecting this starter to be at a higher price point. Of course this was one of the cheaper options for the starters, the average price for a starter at the Savoy Grill is roughly £20.00 and the caviar options are priced up to £180.00.

For Ollie’s starter, he decided to have the glazed omelette Arnold Bennett, now he really isn’t a big fish fan so I was pretty proud that he was branching out from his comfort zone. The taste of the smoked haddock was not too overpowering and the portion size was pretty big for a starter. When it came to ordering our main meal, I decided to pick the Pan fried scallops with confit chicken wings and roasted cauliflower. The presentation of this dish was immaculate, I love the pink shells and how the salt was evenly spread underneath for decoration. It is certainly Instagram worthy but more importantly, it was delicious. My starter was very filling so the scallops was a great choice for my main and we ordered a perfect set of sides just in case. 

We ordered truffle mash potatoes and Dauphinoise potatoes from the side dishes, we were certainly in the mood for beautiful carbs! I am not a fan of mashed potatoes but the texture of this particular dish was creamy and rich. Drink wise, I ordered a Pornstar Martini, even though this wasn't on the cocktail menu, it certainly pays to ask. At the end of the meal, the team quickly and efficiently cleaned our table and brought out a large birthday plate for Ollie. When we first sat down they actually had a Savoy postcard on the table which said 'Happy Birthday' inside - I really loved this little touch and it made the meal extra special. 

Overall, I am itching to go back to The Savoy Grill, the atmosphere is heavenly and it feels like you are in a classic Hollywood movie with a touch of British tradition. A black and white photo of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe also caught my eye as we were eating, it added the cherry on the cake for me. This is everything I would want in a classic, British restaurant. It is incredibly glamourous and the menu is styled and crafted to perfection. If you are looking for a special place to celebrate your birthday, promotion at work or anniversary, I can't recommend The Savoy Grill enough. Have you visited The Savoy Grill before? ♥