Every girls needs a makeover every now and then, whether it’s a new haircut, new make up or loads of a few carefully selected items of clothing. Well, The Georgian Restaurant in Harrods was like a fine lady who already looked elegant but fancied a new look that was in keeping with her usual style…I mean she’s been open since 1913 so after over a hundred years it was time for a bit of a change.
She was pretty happy with her original art deco ceiling so she’d keep that…but some of her furnishings and her carpet were looking a but tired and faded for a grand London restaurant. She knew the perfect person to give her a new look…her old friend, Christopher Guy Harrison who’d been coming to visit her and eat at her famous carvery for years.
She knew Christopher could be trusted with her precious interior…he’d designed aspects of The Beverley Wiltshire, The Savoy and the glittering Bellagio in Vegas, after all…
Christopher was honoured to be asked by his old friend and he knew that he could give her a new look that was truly special without her losing her identity. Taking inspiration from the 1920s and 1930s he set about crafting the perfect new look for the fine lady restaurant.
Christopher created over 500 pieces of handmade furniture especially for her.
And she was especially pleased with the Chris-Cross chairs, one of Christopher’s signature designs. The Georgian Restaurant totally loved her new look, it was feminine, elegant and classic, yet chic and modern. The rich aubergine and silvery grey palette totally suited her…just her colours! And she was pleased to say goodbye to the pink chairs that had become a little washed out.
Now the Georgian Restaurant and I are old friends too, my parents used to take me to the buffet carvery (which by the way will be back soon due to popular demand) and I was happy to see her looking so good with her new look. Mr S and I had visited around Christmas time to check out her afternoon tea but she invited me back to try her lunch menu, along with my friend and fellow blogger, Mina from King’s Road Rocks.
And with the Georgian Restaurant’s new look celebrations were in order and we decided to go for some of the most decadent choices on the menu…starting with Harrods signature rosé champagne.
Clearly, she knows me well as she’s included several of my favourites on her menu and I started with a seared tuna carpaccio with aubergine purée, caponata dressing and baby basil cress.
A deliciously light choice which I really enjoyed.
Mina saw one of her favourites on the menu, a dish that was really the height of luxury and fit the occasion perfectly. She really enjoyed her foie gras terrine with smoked duck breast, rhubarb and cucumber and a truffle muffin.
With champagne, foie gras and truffle already on the table, lobster was next up and my main course was a delicious lobster salad with courgette flowers, minus 8 wine vinaigrette and candied black olives. The juicy hunks of seafood were cooked to perfection and drinking pink champagne and eating lobster always makes me feel happy. Added to that the gorgeous surroundings of the Georgian, and the company of Mina, and I couldn’t be happier.
Mina also loved her meaty monkfish with finely shaved slices of Parma ham, melon and yuzu gel.
Just like her new makeover, the Georgian Restaurant’s menu is traditional with a twist of modernity and the addition of the yuzu gel was something quite exciting and different. Mina also really enjoyed her perfectly crisp truffle chips, as a really moreish side dish.
A beautiful silver pot of mint tea and a plate of delicate petit fours finished us off nicely; I loved the fact that the cakes were a selection of favourites but in miniature versions.
Mina and I loved our friend The Georgian Restaurant’s new look, and the menu of exquisitely prepared dishes complements her beautiful interior perfectly.
The Georgian Restaurant
Harrods
87 – 135 Brompton Road
London
SW1X 7XL
The Georgian Restaurant treated us to a complimentary lunch