
Bar Boulud, SW1X 7LA
- 020 7201 3899
- Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA (streetmap) (osm) (gmap) (bingmap) (streetview)
- barboulud.com
- noon-1am Mon-Sat; noon-midnight Sun
A bar and bistro in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel. It is the second establishment of the same name to be opened by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud (the first is in New York City). Heston Blumenthal's Dinner can be found in the same hotel.
The bar/restaurant is accessible both via the hotel and the street. The space is low-ceilinged and dimly-lit, much like many hotel bars. The clientele were a mixture of hotel guests, businessmen, and casual diners. Staff were attentive but not overbearing.
Laura and Matt visited in October 2011 for dinner. Reservations are recommended for dinner — we had made one for 7pm, but arrived just after 6pm to sample the bar and cocktails. Laura started with a Belle Poire cocktail (£12.50), which was delicious and sherbety. Matt chose a BrewDog IPA (£4.75).
At 7pm we were taken to our table, and presented with complimentary baguette, olive bread and ciabatta slices, which were all very fresh and high-quality. For dinner, Laura ordered a Piggie Burger (£12.25), Matt a Frenchie burger (£12.25), and two portions of French fries (£3.50 each). We both thought the burgers were the best we'd ever eaten — less like a burger and more like steak haché served in a brioche bun. The fries were also excellent — crisp and perfectly seasoned.
For dessert, Laura chose a gateau Basque (cake served with brandied cherries and vanilla ice-cream, £6.50), while Matt had two scoops of ice-cream (£2.75 each) — caramel and coffee. Matt thought the ginger biscuits that came with the ice-cream were amazing. Laura enjoyed the gateau — a sort of posh custard tart.
Laura's verdict: With wine and tip, the bill came to £93 — expensive for burgers and fries, but we reckoned it was worth it.
Accessibility: if you use the entrance on Knightsbridge (as opposed to going in via the hotel) the entire floor is step-free. There is step-free access to the toilets.
See also:
- Evening Standard review (Fay Maschler)
- Guardian review (Matthew Norman)
- Independent review (John Walsh)
- Independent On Sunday review (Amol Rajan)
- Metro review (Marina O'Loughlin)
- Observer review (Jay Rayner)
- Chowhound thread
- eGullet thread
- A Girl Has To Eat reviews: 1, 2
- An American In London review
- A Rather Unusual Chinaman review
- Burgerac reviews: Piggie burger, Frenchie burger, Yankee burger
- Cheese And Biscuits review
- Dos Hermanos review
- Epicurean review
- Essex Eating review
- Food And Drink In London review
- The Food Judge review
- Gourmet Chick review
- Gourmet Traveller review
- Grumbling Gourmet review
- Hungry In London review
- Laissez Fare review
- Musings Of A W8 Housewife review
- Out Of The Frying Pan review
- Sybaricious review
- Tom Eats Jen Cooks review
- Twelve Point Five Percent review
- Will Eat For Money review