Savoy Grill open again

After extensive renovation and a delayed relaunch, the Savoy Bar & Grill in London is finally open for business again.

Eager for the opening, 11,500 diners had already booked their tables in advance.

Although the hotel opened last month as planned, the restaurant was forced to stay closed due to “structural issues” until yesterday (29 November).

The menu, created by chef director Stuart Gillies and head chef Andy Cook, focuses on traditional French and British gastronomy with dishes such as foie gras torchon with spiced chutney and toasted brioche, followed by the likes of beef Wellington or lobster thermidor.

The wine list has a very definite Burgundian slant with two sections devoted to white and red wines from the region. There is also a selection of aged clarets from the super-seconds and certain first growths.

The list, while not vast, takes in all styles of wine from a wide selection of countries, including England, with the Bacchus Reserve from Chapel Down’s stable alongside Australian Chardonnay and Austrian Grüner Veltliner.

The Champagne selection features a host of the UK’s favourite names such as Pol Roger and Bollinger including the 2000 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Française – £575 – and a 1966 Pol Roger vintage, also £575. There are also three vintages of Cuvée Winston Churchill on offer, 1996, 1998 and 1988, with the 1998 being offered in magnum.

Despite the refit, the original table plan has been kept in place so the regular tables of Sir Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Elizabeth Taylor remain undisturbed.

Rupert Millar, 30.11.2010