From here, there and everywhere... The Ivy Soho, Oblix at the shard & Chai Wu

The Ivy Soho Brasserie has it all. Artworks, marble and onyx provide a relaxed, elegant backdrop for a vast, all-day British menu.

We decided to make a day of it, myself and my partner. Saturday came around once again, but this time the idea of a full meal at one restaurant felt too heavy, and to be a frank, a little bit boring. So we planned to venture out and try dishes from different restaurants. We often find comfort at The Ivy Soho Brasserie, as we're regular brunchers that opt to share their delicious truffle arancini balls, and the warm crispy duck salad between us, before rolling a dice to choice a different main (it's a good tip if you're stuck in a rut ordering the same favourite). And so the day started off at The Ivy Soho...

Dish no.1 - Lobster and asparagus eggs benedict.

The verdict: This was really indulgent, very luxurious, lots of flavour and the creamy orange yolk was perfectly seasoned. However, it wasn't really for me. I found myself longing for something a bit more refreshing and left quite a bit which my partner couldn't even finish. I do love lobster but I think next time I'll go for something a little less rich. 2/5

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Oblix West at the Shard

Rainer Becker’s signature style of upscale, sophisticated, urban dining. The menu showcases the best of British and European produce with dishes from its spit roast, charcoal grill and wood-fired oven.

Dish no.2 - BBQ black cod and coriander salsa.

The verdict: I can't seem to stray that far away from seafood, wherever I go it seems to be the most delectable option. The smokiness of the BBQ really enriched the black cod with flavour. Slightly crispy on the outside, it was smothered in a full bodied sauce which definitely needed the sweetcorn to balance out the richness. The only thing to mention would be that the outside of the cod holds the most flavour, but this wasn't an issue for me as I prefer light fish. 4/5

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Chai Wui of Harrods takes inspiration from the five elements of Chinese philosophy – wood, metal, water, earth and fire. The restaurant provides a warm fine-dining experience, whilst adding a luxury spin to the best of pan-Asian cuisine.

Dish no. 3 - Chai Wu's signature Beijing Duck & Lobster dumplings topped with beluga caviar.

The verdict: As you may of seen in my last posts (if not check them out!) on Hakkasan and The Ivy Asia, I’m a huge fan of dumplings. If you ever need a good place to order some, Chai Wu’s lobster dumplings are sublime. Ridiculously tender, sweet, meaty and packed full of flavour, several helpings of those could of been my entire meal and I wouldn’t of complained one bit. 5/5

It’s good to note...

They made a real effort to commit to a great experience, their signature duck is carved by a chef onto serving plates at your table which is a nice touch.

It’s served with a choice of fresh pancakes or mantou buns, but for the full experience we opted for both! An array of accompaniments also arrive alongside the dish; fresh pickle radish, cucumber, plum sauce, hoisin sauce, Szechuan sauce, and garlic truffle oil. The duck was heavenly. It fell apart in my mouth instantly and ignited the taste buds. The mixture of rich meat, sweet hoisin and fresh cucumber was genius, and the soft mantou buns and pancakes were great to pack full. A really hands on and flavourful experience. 5/5

Then we were off home, feeling joyful and definitely satisfied. Another memorable experience to add to our books. I wonder where we'll end up next?

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