The Ledbury

World-class standard

Truffle and mackerel canapes

Yes, another Ledbury post, what can I say, it is my no1 Fine Dining restaurant in the UK and I try to at least visit once a year. Under the creative eye of chef‐patron Brett Graham (working with head chef Tom Spenceley), The Ledbury has reinvented itself in recent years, especially following its two-year closure during the pandemic. It reopened in 2022, recharged, refreshed, but without surrendering its soul. What makes The Ledbury exceptional is how its food navigates the tension between technical precision and bold flavours. Below captures my 26th visit.

Scallop tempura

Crab

Sweetbread

Bread and butter

Lobster

The kitchen shows off stars like wild lobster with N25 caviar; it delivered a powerful depth of fresh shellfish aroma, looked simple on the plate, but it delivered on every level. The main of deer came in 8 ways, the loin was tender and crimson, glazed in its own roasting juices, surrounded by vadouvan spices that lend warmth without cluttering the deer’s flavours. Each dish pulses with layers—­tender textures, contrasts of sweet, acidic, smoky, umami—all balanced so deftly that nothing dominates, everything resonates. Even vegetables, often a supporting act elsewhere, have starring roles here—the mushroom dish, for instance, brings textures from the fungarium to the plate with an earthy sweetness that lingers long after the last bite. 

Egg and truffle

Mushrooms

Deer

White chocolate

Mille feuille

Service and atmosphere are no afterthoughts here, but vital parts of the experience. The staff manages to feel simultaneously impeccable and welcoming. Without hesitation, I would rate The Ledbury as world-class. It’s operating in the rarefied tier of restaurants that don’t just impress with individual dishes, but that add up to something beyond—ambitious, deeply felt, impeccably executed. Even though prices are high (300pp before drinks!), the value comes in sheer craftsmanship. It’s the kind of restaurant where meals linger long, where you want to linger—not because you’re kept waiting, but because every moment is part of the pacing.

Food 5/5

Executive chef: 
Brett Graham


Average cost without drinks and services:
Tasting menu: £285 


27 Ledbury Rd, London W11 2AQ

http://www.theledbury.com/