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An Asian Feast at the Buddha Bar, Knightsbridge:
I was invited to the launch of the Buddha Bar in Knightsbridge at the end of October 2012. As it happens, I’d already accepted another invitation that evening so turned up very late and rather tired. And, it was full to the brim of glamorous twenty-somethings wearing skyscraper heels and dresses that looked as if they’d just come off the designer racks at nearby Harvey Nichols or Harrods. Now, I like to dress up a bit, but I did feel conspicuously under-dressed on this occasion and didn’t stay for very long!
What food I saw at the Launch though looked delicious and I was thrilled to be invited back to sample their menu properly.
Of course it always helps to start with a champagne cocktail, and this one, called Bubble Wrap was particularly pretty – a blend of strawberry & raspberry puree, rose and raspberry cordial, elderflower liquor, a touch of Belvedere, and Champagne.
Downstairs to eat, in the very beautifully and exotic dining area, watched over by Buddha and the Dragons who seemed to know exactly what I was tasting and did a much better of tweeting than I did (well, come on, I was far too busy eating!). I do like edame beans though and these were served two ways – as pictured with salt and with a soy dressing. The crispy sushi was delicious too, although I’ve noticed wasabi in my photo which I don’t think I discovered on the night!
There was some rather fabulous sashimi, beautifully presented – and another platter of sushi. These were sharing plates so I didn’t taste every piece of fish, but I can vouch for the deliciousness of octopus and salmon sashimi.
Perhaps my favourite dishes of the evening – the crispy spiced squid and tempura prawns came with the Buddha Bar signature chicken salad. And at that stage I’d probably eaten quite enough!
But then again who could fail to enjoy lobster…
By the time we got to desserts I was quite grateful for the delicious platter of fresh exotic fruit
And totally incapable of eating the creme brulee trio or the perfect pear with ice-cream or even the exotic pineapple dessert
A fabulous evening of gourmet pan-Asian dishes served with style. The Buddha Bar is somewhere for a special occasion, when you want to dress up and eat well in glamorous company and exotic surroundings without leaving London. It’s food you can linger over in an environment that lends itself to spending time drinking and enjoying the ambience.
Buddha Bar
145 Knightsbridge,
London,
SW1X 7PA
The price for sushi in this city is way way out of control. It really doesn’t have to be nor need to be this expensive. Buddha Bar’s prices are stratospheric for nothing special at all. A California Roll for £20 quid …like come on here. It’s one of the simplest and least eclectic rolls invented.
The décor is nice, and the bartenders are super cool, one of them even does magic for his customers, and they don’t mind a complimentary drink here or there, which is quite refreshing in a city full of tight wods. There own Buddha Bar beer bottles are a cool Buddha man shape yet the beer tastes like a Grolsch. But the extremely high food prices far out-weighs a worth-the-money dinner experience.
One could say well a place like that is only for rich people, but let’s look at it from a normal rational perspective. No matter how rich someone is, does it make sense for him to pay £100 quid for a liter of fuel? …or £50 quid for a pack of cigarettes? …or £30 quid for a Big Mac you see my point? Sushi prices are now beyond the point of normal, worthy, rational …it’s at the point of ridiculousness.
I recommend to go there on a full stomach and just drink at the bar sitting on a bar stool ONLY.
The fish looks amazing, Fiona! I bet I’d love Buddha Bar. I think I’d have to have at least 1 (Read: 2 or 3) of those Bubble Wrap drinks!
I’m adding the Bubble Wrap to my cocktail list, it sounds fabulous! Buddha Bar sounds like quite the place to see and be seen!:-)
lol so that you and stevie both coming over to visit and hang out at Buddha Bar then?
Great post.. but you had me at the cocktail to be honest!
Stevie, I could see you with that champagne cocktail…and an extremely glam LA style dress and heels.