Best Contemporary European Restaurants in Blackfriars

Everything about the service was perfect. The only let down was the food - I ordered the Mauve aubergine, smoked coconut yoghurt, fragrant sticky rice. The sticky rice was cooked to perfection but the mauve aubergine with the smoked coconut yogurt wasn’t that great. I’ve had better meals at the restaurant. Aside from that the staffs are amazing and friendly. I will still return and try another meal.

The tasting menu at Frog was mind-blowingly good and far beyond what you would expect from a single Michelin star restaurant. The manicured dishes flow at just the right speed which is important given you munch through nine or ten plates including the amuse-bouche at the start and the petits-fours. The stand out dish for me was the crab timbale with a deliciously fresh herb sauce of blitzed lovage, sorrel, parsley and apple peel. The minute crab decorations were a lovely touch. This edged out the duck served with a remarkable umami mushroom "ketchup" and turnip puree. I particularly enjoyed the use of British ingredients like woodruff (similar to vanilla) which are not perceived as luxuries but have phenomenal flavour. The only miss on the food was the temperture of the lobster ravioli. We enjoyed the premium wine pairing and the sommeliere did a fantastic job of explaining the aromas and flavours and how they matched each dish. My main criticism is that given the price point for the premium wine flight (£250) there really should be more premium wines. Having memorized the labels some cost £20-30 which is definitely not premium. That said, well chosen and fun, but wine quality should be higher. The cod would have benefited from a Pouilly-Fuisse 1er Cru or Chablis 1er Cru from a south-facing slope which captures some tropical notes. My advice: buy a bottle from the list as these are much better value than the flights. All in all, the food and experience was on a par with Lameloise in Burgundy which has three stars.

Always an Impeccable Experience CORD by Le Cordon Bleu never fails to impress us! From the moment we walked in, the service was flawless, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. We were fortunate to be seated at the chef’s table, where we had the privilege of watching the impeccably skilled kitchen staff at work—it was like witnessing culinary artistry in motion. The attention to detail in both the food and presentation was outstanding, with every dish showcasing creativity and precision. The flavors were beautifully balanced, and the entire experience felt truly special. We can’t recommend this gem highly enough for anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience. We’ll definitely be back!

Best Sunday roast in London in a beautiful setting with wonderfully attentive staff

Monday nights are even better value as wines are at shop price but still has a great wine list and nice food.