The genius concept is simple: visit 5 different places, eat 5 different dishes, wash down with 5 different cocktails (this year supplied by Sipsmith's - winning!) and have a blooming good time.
This type of event is exactly what we're about, being able to try so many different cuisines and types of cooking all within a few yards of each other.
Stop 1 - Piccolino - 21 Heddon Street W1B 4BG
There was a choice of two dishes in each eatery so we chose both and were expecting a small tapas sized portion. Instead we were presented with very generous bowls of the chicken & summer veg pasta and mushroom risotto with a truffle jus. Both extremely tasty and filling.
Although there are guidelines of an hour in each place, you can spend as much or as little time in there so eager to see what the next place offered, we set off the 10 metres to the next stop.......
Stop 2 - Heddon Street Kitchen - 3-9 Heddon Street W1B 4BE
Stop 3 - Frescobaldi - 15 New Burlington Place W1S 2HX
We both opted for the lighter dish of Grilled Calamari with Chorizo on Potato Puree instead of another pasta bowl of Tagliatelle with Aubergine & Sun Dried Tomato.
Calamari and tentacles were grilled perfectly, chorizo is never ever going to be wrong in my opinion but the potato puree i could have done without, it didn't quite tasted cooked enough and wasn't seasoned at all so that was left on the plate. We both agreed this was tasty yet small, perfect for this point in the evening.
Stop 4 - Icebar London - 31-33 Heddon Street - W1B 4BN
Excited about a little jaunt in the Icebar and wondering what would be on the menu.....reindeer? moose? frozen vodka sorbet? It was a slight disappointment when we were led down to a small Swiss Chalet style eating area which was ironically really warm...going for Swedish sauna effect maybe? The extremely enthusiastic waitress then presented us with a wooden menu and waxed lyrical about both dishes so much so that i wanted to remind her she wouldn't get any additional commission from selling these items as they were all included!
The Duck was cooked pink which was perfect and juicy, the accompanying were perfectly fine and addition of a little ducks heart was pleasant. We both agreed the cheesecake could afford to be a bit 'bluer' That is to say the cheese could be stronger not that we wanted it to start telling rude jokes.
This course had nearly finished me off in the fullness stakes so thank god the final one was only 2 metres away.
Stop 5 - Momo - 25 Heddon Street - W1B 4BH
Funky tunes are being played on turn tables built into a piano and we were served with a Middle Eastern mezze which was perfect. Bite sized tasty morsels of merguez sausage, smoked aubergine puree, cheese filled pastries and lemon chicken.
The event is such good value for all the food and drink you receive not to mention being able to stroll into some of the best restaurants in London at your leisure.
The Restaurant Hopping tours are also located in other parts of London so next year we need to get tickets early and sample the rest as you know you're guaranteed a fantastic evening.
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