foodierudy

Arbutus - my first Michelin experience! Strange, I live in a city blazing with stars, but have never before eaten in one (well, not as a paying diner anyway…). Arbutus opened in May 2006 by the team who previously ran Putney Bridge Restaurant. The whole idea is value for money - high quality food and service in a relaxed atmosphere. Sounds clichéd, but I think they really pulled it off. We arrived a little early, and after leaving our coats with the friendly reception staff, we moved two steps further to the bar. M remarked how simple the place looked. The atmosphere was quiet and subdued. Staff wear jeans. Jeans! In a Michelin-starred restaurant (how cool is that!). Since we were waiting for A & L to arrive, we decided to get started with a nice glass of wine (Riesling, Anton Bauer, Berg Vineyard 2005). Arbutus have a concise, manageable wine list with about 50 varieties covering the whole gamut. A unique feature of the list is that, not only are many available by the glass, but all wines are available in 250 ml carafes. What a great idea! - how many times have I had to resort to water or “a glass of house red, please” because of the outrageous prices charged for a bottle of “Chateau-de-Ripoff”. A & L arrived soonish after and we moved to our table, with the friendly barman promising to follow with our wine. So far so good. Read the rest of this entry »

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