Muse by Tom Aikens
London
Recensioni
An unforgettable birthday lunch. The service and food were both top notch, very friendly staff both in the kitchen and on the floor. Delicious food. Will hopefully return for the 10 course next time!
One of our London favourites. Great atmosphere. Welcome bites are always amazing and creative using seasonal ingredients. Both the long and short menus are great, very creative dishes with great added story telling. Wines and other drink options are always great. Staff is very friendly resulting in great dining experience. Atmosphere is really great, you feel at ease, not as serious and stiff as some of the other starred places while the quality is amazing.
I brought my partner from NYC to celebrate their birthday at Muse by Tom Aikens for the 6-course tasting menu lunch. Overall / Bottom line: It felt like the restaurant prioritized creativity and concept over flavor and satisfaction. While the presentation was beautiful and the ideas were ambitious, the execution often fell short. Portions were also extremely small—we left genuinely hungry, which is unacceptable at this price point. We’ve dined at other one-Michelin-star tasting menus with fewer courses and left far more satisfied. Combined with a disappointing birthday experience and a ~£300 bill for two, this did not live up to expectations. Birthday experience: This was particularly disappointing. I noted the birthday three months in advance and was told a cake would be provided. What arrived was closer to a small biscuit than a cake. Additionally, the waiter confused whose birthday it was, which was awkward given the prior notice. It felt poorly coordinated and took away from what should have been a special occasion. Price: Roughly £300 for two people (tasting menus at £105 each, plus drinks, 15% service charge, and a £2 donation fee). We had one cocktail, one mocktail, two bottles of still water, and tea. For that price, I expected a much more satisfying and memorable experience. The food: Each dish comes with a poetic name and story (e.g., “Love Affair”), but here’s a simpler breakdown: 1. Custard with caviar, pickled trout, cracker/cheese – Extremely salty. The trout was mediocre, and the cracker/cheese, while nicely presented, tasted processed. 2. Bread with three butters – Excellent. Warm sourdough with burnt leek, chicken, and regular butter. One of the highlights of the meal. 3. Ricotta salad – Fine, but very standard for a Michelin-level restaurant. 4. Cuttlefish – The standout dish. Slightly charred with a great sauce—well-balanced and genuinely impressive. 5. Pigeon with pasta (breast, leg, wing) – Flavorful overall. My pasta was too salty and heavy on garlic, though my partner enjoyed theirs. Wings lacked flavor, but the concept was interesting. 6. Rhubarb dessert (+ extra course) – Odd and unsatisfying. The textures didn’t work well together (freezing sugar shell vs. gelatin), the rhubarb was quite sour, and the portion was very small—we were still hungry by this point. 7. Petit fours (donut, whiskey gummy, custard tart) – Helped make up for the lack of sweetness in the previous course. Donut was dry, but the custard and whiskey gummy were enjoyable. Portions: Surprisingly small throughout. Even after all courses, we left noticeably hungry. At this level and price point, that shouldn’t happen, especially compared to other Michelin-starred tasting menus that are far more satisfying with fewer courses. Service: Service was attentive and detail-oriented in many respects—coats taken, tables reset between courses, etc. However, the experience started off oddly with repeated upselling (extra courses, upgrading to the 10-course menu), which felt overly sales-driven and out of place for a birthday meal. Final thoughts: There were a few highlights (especially the cuttlefish and bread), but overall the meal felt more focused on concept than flavor. For the price and occasion, it was disappointing.
My wife and I enjoyed our dinner immensely. After visiting 2 other Michelin star restaurants in London. This was the absolute best. Hats off to the chef and his staff, as well as the bartender and our service. Out waitress Elisa was very attentive and was pleasure to talk with. If you’re in London, you need to eat here
It was a truly special night. The team worked really hard to accommodate dietary needs and made us feel so welcome and special - the service was relaxed, friendly and totally professional. We loved that various members of the team came to tell us about the dishes - it was obvious the pride they take in their work. That is all before talking about the exceptional food - every dish was so perfectly crafted, amazing taste sensations, the care and attention to detail was obvious. Thank you
