For sheer opulence, charm and exciting and exotic dishes, book a table at W’Sens

INTERESTING name. Interesting place. More than that actually. An innovative approach to food in a most appealing atmosphere.
Enter through the elegant front door into a spacious lobby/bar. This Grade II listed building on Waterloo Place – between Piccadilly and Pall Mall – which used to be a bank has now acquired a very different look thanks to the ingenious design by Imaad Rahmouni.
Thin leather ‘curtains’ in strips and interesting furniture arranged the proper way, so you are not sitting next to somebody else’s companion, account much for the feeling of opulence. Exotic but yet very continental.
I owe its discovery to a good friend who invited me there. We started with Tempura of Tiger Prawns, Plantain chips, sweet chilli and coriander sauce (£11) and Salad of artichokes, confit oranges and fresh coriander (£9).
The presentation was superb which was matched by the quality of the food. To follow my companion had Scallops ‘a la plancha’, Garlic Croquettes with a light aioli (£25) and I the Roast Lamb Cutlets, Tomato Compote (£22) highly recommended by the waiter.
He was knowledgeable about the dishes which is not always the case in many restaurants.
Again both presentation and taste were simply excellent. For desserts (£7.50), I can recommend the Crispy Banana Brulee, Passionfruit Mousse and the Crumble of Caramelised Apple, and ‘Turron’ (nougat) ice cream.
The bar wine list is small but well balanced ranging from £15 for a bottle of house wine to £32 for an Ainsworth & Snelson Chardonnay ’03, Yarra Valley and £28 for the Coudoulet de Beaucastel ’01, Cote-du-Rhone.
All the wines are also offered by the glass and I had a good Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc (£6.25) and Sally had a glass of Moet Brut (£8).
There is a large selection of cocktails (including non-alcoholic ones) and beers. The restaurant wine menu is extensive with choices from France, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa and America. Being a fan of Chateauneuf-du-Pape I noticed that they have four choices of this lovely big and gutsy Rhone wine ranging from £55 to £190 per bottle.
The beautiful and colourful dishes are the inspiration of twin brothers Jacques and Laurent Pourcel who, I am told, designed the menu combining southern Mediterranean cooking with the evocative flavour of the East, fragrances like mandarin, saffron, vanilla and star anise. And indeed it works. Delicate tastes of delicious food magnificently presented.
If you have something special to celebrate or just want to have the feeling of being in a grandiose setting, then phone charming Jean-Christophe Chantraine and reserve ‘the gold room’ for two.

W’Sens
12 Waterloo Place, St James
London SW1Y 4AU
Phone 020 7484 1355 fax 020 7484 1366
www.wsens.co.uk
reservations@wsens.co.uk
Opening hours:
Breakfast 7.30am – 10 am Mon-Friday
Lunch 12 -14.30 – Mon – Friday
Dinner 7pm-11pm 7 days (Sunday 10pm)