There is something about the anticipation of going up an escalator into a restaurant that I particularly enjoy. It’s like when you enter a hotel room, you really want that “WOW, I’m impressed!” moment.
What Riviera, the new London restaurant from the Emerald Hospitality Group delivers is the WOW moments.
For me it’s the huge floor to ceiling windows flooding the restaurant with natural light, the focal point bar which adds even more drama to the room and the delicately, seductive colour palette which shimmers like a mother of pearl in the sunshine.
Welcome to the Cote d’Azur, but in Mayfair! The art work throughout the three story establishment, (there is also a bar and terrace to enjoy), is from the Cote d’Azur from the 1960’s to 1990’s. There are soft blue hues of the sea even reflected in the cocktails. My spritz had Crème de Menth in it and I was dying over the retro throwback of it. It was also exactly the drink I needed on a very hot evening.
With a restaurant so beautiful you do always wonder if the food will match. The menu has nods to French cuisine. The garlic snails were great examples, served with lashings of garlic butter and a clever sliver of bread underneath them to mop it all up. There are also other less typically French dishes so I would call it modern European.
I had to try the £35 Caviar sandwich to start. I was curious and thrilled by something quite so decadent and it was exactly that, crisp, creamy, salty, smooth, fishy fried amazingness. It was really, very fabulous and if you love the smoked salmon blini situation – this is it on steroids! Would I buy it again, yes it made me feel special in every way!
The starters were not the only highlight! The delicate, tender Veal Chop was cooked so perfectly I barely needed to chew. With the mash that was most certainly made with 75% butter and the ratatouille I got sent to food heaven. The food here is as rich and decadent as the surroundings.
The wine was expertly picked by the Manager to accompany our mains, which allowed both the veal and turbot to sing. The food here is really good. The entire experience from the gorgeous front of house and her well received compliments to the individual art work in the toilets has been thought about and executed well.
I had great expectations for this visit as I loved Zuaya another restaurant in their group but Riviera is something else. It’s a high-end Mayfair restaurant that backs up its credentials, takes you for a smooth ride to the South of France and delivers you softly back to London life afterwards.
Check out Riviera at www.riviera-london.co.uk
Review and Images by Emmie Blower @emmiebhungry
Feature image courtesy of Riviera
