Seattle eat your heart out, the texture of my espresso was like Guiness, as black and velvety as an opera cloak. Food was brought in hot under silver domes, but these were discreetly removed at the side table. Each dish was carefully explained by our waiter who clearly knew what he was talking about. The pace of the meal was well judged. When we asked for a pause we were left alone but not abandoned, help was never further away than a raised eyebrow.
People often complain that the prices in such establishments are prohibitively high.
But surely, to sit in chandeliered splendour, not cheek by jowl with other diners, with more staff than diners even when all the covers are occupied is never going to be cheap. I've never quite understood why people beef about the price of dinner, but don't turn a hair at paying astronomical prices at quite ordinary hotels just for the price of a room and bed for the night. Our four course luxury dinner for two came to one hundred and fifty pounds, inclusive of two glasses of champagne, two glasses of white wine, an excellent bottle of Burgundy, coffee and petits fours. The Oak Room Restaurant is open for lunch Monday to Friday from midday to 2pm and for dinner from 7pm to 10.30pm on Monday to Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday.