West London restaurants are plentiful, but Pearl is something quite special. Located in a vintage 1912 banking hall, the building was once the headquarters for the Pearl Assurance, but is now part of the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel (pictured).

Chef Jun Tanaka has headed Pearl since its opening in 2004, and has built a reputation for his amazing food. The chef works hard to combine the best seasonal ingredients in ways that bring out the most subtle and delicious flavours.

The restaurant is on a massive scale with impossibly high ceilings, stout columns, and marble throughout. Its sleek and luxurious atmosphere is accentuated by oversized furnishing and a long glass bar.

The room positively glows from the reflection off the hundreds of strings of pearls that are all over the restaurant; long strings make up curtains that separate little booth areas, long strands trail from the ceilings, and shorter strands dangle from lampshades like so many champagne bubbles. Over a million pearls grace the elegant interior of Pearl, and it is truly an amazing sight to see.

The menu is fresh and innovative. Lunch offerings include thinly sliced Rump of Charolais Beef, Beetroot & Walnuts with Pickled Shallots and Roquefort Dressing, Roast Smoked Salmon with Watercress Risotto, Grilled Spring Onions & Pickled baby Mooli, and Poached prune and Almond Crumble with Almond Ice Cream.

The Tasting Menu also has both beer and wine recommendations, and includes highlights like Caramelized Scallops with Parsnip Puree, Apples, Cauliflower, and Semi Dried Grapes, Cured Duck Breast with Watermelon Feta and Peanuts & Satay Sauce, and Hazelnut Chocolate Parfait with Yoghurt Sponge.

Dinner offerings include Sweet Corn Custard with Chicken Oysters, Celery & Leek, and Smoked Mash Potato, Black Radish & Pineapple Vinaigrette, and Chocolate Tart with Ginger and Pink Grapefruit Sorbet.

The presentation of the food is immaculate and intriguing; you will be well pleased by the care that obviously goes into the preparation and plating of each dish.

Pearl is a shining example of modern French cuisine.

Visiting Pearl

Address: Pearl, 252 High Holborn, Holborn, WC1V 7EN

Telephone: 020 7829 7000

Opening Times

Monday to Friday 12:00-14:30, Monday to Saturday 18:00-22:00

Pricing

Lunch £28.50 three courses, Dinner £49 three courses, tasting menu £55

Photo courtesy: Jim Linwood

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