38 Groom Place, London, SW1X 7BA
Harden's says
Opened in early 2020, this new venture from Tom Aikens features a seasonal tasting menu; each floor of the two-floor restaurant on Groom Place will have an open kitchen.
Harden's survey result
Summary
Tom Aikens’s “intimate townhouse restaurant in Belgravia” has a “pleasant location away from the busy streets” where you eat on two floors, with some of the seating perched counter-style and with other diners sat at tables. “The concept of the menu is that it is based on Tom’s upbringing” and the result of the multi-course offering is “truly world-class cuisine” with “amazing depth of flavour” all provided with “exceptional service”. There is a trade-off that was more evident in feedback this year, however: it’s “great… but very expensive!”
Summary
“Tom Aikens is back to his brilliant best!” at his “chic little Belgravia mews house”, where he’s created “an outstanding small restaurant with open kitchen”. Set on two floors, “tables are a bit close”, but the “intimate” style is a selling point for most diners (especially at the chef’s counter), as is the fact that there’s “plenty of interaction with the chefs including patron Tom”, all of whom “serve and explain with a remarkable personal touch”. The menu – “exquisite food, delivered with passion and skill” – draws on Tom’s upbringing – “love the story-telling… a truly special experience”.
Summary
“Tom Aikens gave us a night of culinary genius on a plate. Unforgettable” – his “original, informal and fun” two-year-old Belgravia HQ continues to deliver a “superlative” experience. The “incredible plates of food are full of little flavour bombs” and “whilst the menu inspiration of dishes tied to his life story risks getting a little passé if you’re a regular, Tom does cook it well” (“it’s great that he is often actually there in person”). There’s “lovely trendy décor on both floors, and it’s a fantastic experience on the ground floor stools slap bang in front of Tom and the chefs who are so friendly and engaging”. Top Tip – perhaps reflecting Tom’s health-conscious, ultramarathon leanings, “dietary intolerances are well catered for” and “vegetables prepared in interesting and exciting ways”.
Summary
“A welcome return by Tom Aikens” – his “bijou” new Belgravia HQ debuted in January 2020 and was the best high-end opening of the year. Occupying a slightly wackily converted Belgravia townhouse, it’s very “cosy” with just 25 seats over two floors: six are at a counter on the ground floor overlooking the open kitchen and part of the entry lounge. As the name hints, culinary themes are inspired by musings on Tom’s life and upbringing (“don’t expect to recognise the dishes: eg ‘Conquering the Beech Tree’”). In the evening, choose from a seven-course (£95) or 10-course (£145) tasting menu: at lunch there’s also a three-course (£50) option. Results are “exceptional” (“even if the long background to each course is a bit OTT and risks being self-indulgent”) delivering “genius”, “light, fresh flavours” (“those looking for rich sauces and luxury ingredients will be disappointed”). And the experience is further enhanced by “an excellent sommelier, with a flair for wine pairings that enhance each course without a push for trophy wines that dominate the food”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Muse by Tom Aikens?
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £42.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 15.00% |
Restaurant details
Muse by Tom Aikens Restaurant Diner Reviews
"A solid one-star, delicate cooking and inventive flavour combinations - but it doesn't ever threaten to push beyond the one-star mark. Pleasant service if not stellar, and a cosy if slightly cramped room. "
"Very special dining. Atkins is present and visits with diners. Ambiance is very good."
38 Groom Place, London, SW1X 7BA
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 6:15 pm‑8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:15 pm‑8 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm‑1:30 pm, 6:15 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm‑1:30 pm, 6:15 pm‑8 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑1:30 pm, 6:15 pm‑8 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
