Fera Good Deal | Fera at Claridge’s, 49 Brook Street, London W1K 4HR

I think that tree may need some water

It never really occurred to us that high-end restaurants do set menu deals for certain websites. Yes, we get bombarded with offers in our inbox but to be honest, we don’t usually have time to look at them too closely – but we will do now!

Did you know you could have had a three-course meal with a glass of bubbly for £35 per person in Fera at Claridges? Well you could. And luckily we did (this offer is now over although there’s a tasting menu one and tonnes of other restaurants to choose from.)

The space previously occupied by a certain Mr Gordon Ramsay, is now in the charge of another culinary superstar – Simon Rogan (of Michelin starred L’Enclume fame). He has named the restaurant Fera at Claridge’s (Fera meaning ‘wild’ in latin) and since doing so, it’s become a massive hit with an Instagram frenzy and tables difficult to secure.

So in we went on a dreary Monday evening at 7pm after our day jobs. Our hearts were heavy as we recently lost our beautiful beloved cat and were finding it hard to enjoy eating out, knowing he won’t be there when we come home.

Once through the ‘gentleman’s club-esque’ red velvet curtain we were in a whole other world. The first thing you notice in this dining room is a dry, bare tree stood in the centre of this decadent and stunning room. The green and grey walls, bare tables and amber glass panels in the ceiling all ooze understated style. Staff with huge smiles led us across the bouncy carpet to our table, everyone did their utmost to make us happy and service was swifter than anything we’ve seen in a long time.

Flowers and foam…

We nibbled on warm dark stout bread with brown butter and sipped our champers whilst waiting for our food, soakeding in the refined atmosphere. To start I went for the Spring velouté with smoked pork, turnip, ramsons and herbs – a Goldilocks style bowl with a beautiful pea green broth, every element packed with flavour.

Oh my farmers!

Ade’s Farm offerings sounded meaty but was in fact a plate of seasonal veg straight from Aynsome Manor Farm – all punchy, fresh and crisp. Ade’s a real carnivore but he fell in love with the depth of flavour and texture from this ‘plate of greens’ as he bluntly put it. Then again Simon Rogan is well-known for his wholehearted use of vegetation – be it foraged or farmed.

Small but perfectly formed!

While the wine list was impressive and not too daunting in price, we decided to try the cocktails that follow the same foraged and floral theme of the menu. My Pershore cox apple, anise hyssop and raspberry vodka (£15) matched my main course perfectly.

Ade’s Lovage, herb sugar, rye whisky (£15), Fera’s take on an Old Fashioned was strong enough to render a horse unconscious – a real sipping cocktail. Brave to serve a cocktail with no garnish whatsoever, just straight up in a dangerously delicate wafer-thin glass, be careful if you chink glasses together in here.

A work of art

Although she was having fun, Chicken had to split so she could take a leek…

Next up was the very light and delicate dish of Plaice in anise hyssop, mussels, celery, chard and beetroot. Ade had Reg’s corn-fed chicken, BBQ leek, onions and celeriac cream – I must admit I was pretty jealous of this dish, so hearty and comforting, the chicken so flavoursome and perfectly cooked. Ade fell in love with both his main course and the very opulent Studio William ice tempered carbon steel knife.

Smokey chocolate… It’s witchcraft I tell you!

Dessert choices were made for us, it was like someone somewhere is trying to cheer us up. The Smoked chocolate, peanut ice cream and verjus caramel was heavenly, the smokiness of the silky smooth chocolate packed such a punch that Ade said it was like eating the best chocolate ever, while sitting next to a huge bonfire in my dad’s back garden in the beautiful Surrey Hills (and yes that is a good thing!)

A strawberry moment…

English strawberries with meadowsweet and sweet cicely was so very summery with super sweet berries, surprising mysterious crunchy bits and a wibbly wobbly set custard.

The best bit? You’re not treated any differently than people ordering from the regular menu, they discreetly slip the set menu inside the A4 bound proper a la carte one so no one knows you can’t actually afford the full-price menu.

We didn’t know whether to eat it or plant it…

Another plus is you don’t miss out on the little extras. We had a little floral amuse bouche each served on a smooth plank of wood – au naturel. Ade’s blue cheese and mine chick pea. We were asked straight off if there’s anything we can’t eat, bizarrely our French waiter said he hates cheese too.

You even get petit fours – pine nut fudge (or pineapple as our waiter mispronounced) and a blackcurrant meringue. Yes the menu is limited with deals like this compared to the extravagant tasting menu, but it allows you to experience what Fera is all about for a really good price.

Now we’re going to pay more attention to the Star Deals from Bookatable, there’s Roux at The Landau, Picture and even The Ritz. This discovery is going to make giving restaurant recommendations so much easier.

feraatclaridges.co.uk
49 Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR

Telephone: 020 7107 8888
Email: reservations@feraatclaridges.co.uk

Opening hours: Lunch between 12:00 and 14:00,
dinner between 18:30 and 22:00, seven days a week.

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We ate as guests of Bookatable, this does not affect our review in any way. We always write with complete honesty.