Outlaw's at The Capital

Fishy business

Nathan Outlaw, one of the most celebrated British chefs opened his London outpost "Outlaw's Seafood & Grill" at The Capital Hotel in Knightbridge last year. But within a year it has since changed to" Outlaw's at The Capital", all grilled items have been removed from the menu and refocused on fine dining and especially on seafood items. So it seems like the grill concept didn't really take off and I guess at a historical and prestigious hotel just behind Harrods, people would be expecting top level fine dinning rather than simple grilled food.

The Capital Hotel

fish cakes

I went there with a couple of friends for lunch, for my starter I ordered the grey mullet, pickled red cabbage and horseradish yoghurt and I was just left a little shocked. Just as how the menu described it: Three items on the plate looking uninspiring, it looked like something cooked from a local bistro rather than a fine dining restaurant run by one of the most respected chefs in the game. The grey mullet itself was cooked well with solid seasoning, but I really expected a lot better form a restaurant with a Michelin star. 

bread

grey mullet, pickled red cabbage
and horseradish yoghurt

crispy hens egg, watercress,
pumpkin and Cornish salami

The main: Hake, lettuce and warm tartare sauce was a little better. The hake was moist and soft, cooked at the perfect level. Lovely texture from the lightly cooked lettuce and it worked really well with the warm tartare sauce, a good balance of flavours without being too sour with the potato and capers offering a nice contrast of harmony. A great use of classic combination flavours.

Hake, lettuce and warm tartare sauce

petit four

But in the end I must say I left the restaurant a little disappointed, the whole meal just lacked any real inspiration and refinement. I expected so much more in what is supposed to be one of the finest seafood restaurants in London and it failed to deliver. Service also could be better, while it was friendly, a few errors such as forgetting the bread basket and topping drinks up when requested not to. For a similar price tag, you can get something a lot better elsewhere such as Launceston Place and Social Eating House, I am still puzzling why Outlaw's at The Capital got awarded a star and voted best value lunch from the Good Food Guide unless I happened to visited on an off day.

Food 2.5/5

Head chef: 
Pete Biggs

What I paid: 
£30 per head

Average cost without drinks and services:
£27 lunch menu
£55 dinner menu


22-24 Basil St, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1AT

http://www.capitalhotel.co.uk/restaurantbar.html