Dining at sketch is a surreal experience. Unless you are actually seeking out the venue you’d probably just walk past what seems like an ordinary door … (but for the door man standing outside of it.) The interior of sketch is vast and consists of not one, not two but three dining experiences AND two bars. How it all fits comfortably over just two floors I have no idea!

Tonight Rehana and I were dining in the more formal and one-michelin-star-rated Lecture Room and Library. Upon our arrival, however, we were first taken on a tour of all the other areas. Quite overwhelming for me really and, after dinner, it was noted that we would definitely be back to visit the egg toilets … one of the foremost reasons that sketch was actually on my to eat at list!

We were one of the first to arrive for dinner in the Lecture Room and Library so before seating we were directed to a small anteroom of sorts where we were plumped for cocktails and provided with some very lovely amuse bouche. Unfortunately I couldn’t quite understand the waiter who delivered our food to us – him having the strongest French accent imaginable but the look and flavour of the amuse were enough to delight, so let the photos impress!

Don’t you just love the china!

By the time we emerged from the ante room we’d been joined by a few more diners. Though the space is large there are surprisingly few tables within the restaurant – so it strangely gave a sense of intimacy you otherwise wouldn’t expect. And, as befitting the Library theme, our fellow diners kept their conversation to a very low hum!

A nice touch to our table was a mini-table for our handbags! Awesome!

First dish of the day from the Tasting Menu (hey, if you’re going to only go once you might as well go for it!) was the Lobster (Lightly Cooked Lobster / Fresh Herb Liebig / Cauliflower / Lemon Jelly). Lovely and fresh and surprisingly refreshing.

This was followed by Scallop (Scallop Mousseline / Summer Truffle / Baby Leek / Artichoke Velouté). I’m so in love with truffle now that I can actually discern the flavour though served as shavings is not my favourite delivery method. You can’t see the scallop but it was perfectly cooked.

These two lighter dishes were followed by something quite heavy: Foie Gras (Pan-fried Foie Gras / Sauternes Jelly and Grapes / Paris Mushroom Shaving). Yummo. I’m developing a taste for a questionably un-ethical product! It looks messy in the second shot but trust me it worked well!

Pollock (Roast Fillet of Pollock / Salt-crusted Baked Potatoes / Red Wine Sauce / Cuttlefish) was lovely if a little unimaginative but much work had gone into our refreshing Granité (Riesling Granité / Green Apple Espuma / Coriander Salad)

Not a fan of lamb, but I am a fan of the gorgeous knife that came with our Irish Lamb (Slow-cooked Lamb / Vadouvan Butter / Aubergine, Melon and Serrano Ham / Lamb Sweetbreads and Garlic Cream Cheese) Heaps going on in this dish(es) that’s for sure. I didn’t not like it and for someone who loathes lamb that’s pretty good praise!

By this stage Rehana and I were nearly dying with the food we’d eating. 5 rich courses of savoury, we had the Cheese (Redcurrant Jelly / Cantal Cheese / Goat’s Milk / Roasted Nuts) and Pierre Gagnaire’s Grand Dessert to go!

The cheeseplate was I felt the least delicately plated of our meals. It was kind of like, let’s through some cheese on the plate and make it look like a pizza. I did, however, appreciate sketch’s style of serving the jelly

After a fruit bowl, presumably to cleanse our palette once more (because we weren’t already full enough!) it was on to The Grand Dessert which ended up being these 5 small desserts – Apricot and Rice Pudding, Peach and Lemon Quinoa, Liquorice Ice Cream and Cherries, Basil Ice Cream, Raspberries and Red Pepper, and finally Black Forest and Tapioca. I think!

And what meal would be complete without petit fours …

Overall, the food was quite lovely but oh so rich. We weren’t exactly overwhelmed by too much creativity or innovation in the dishes but we could appreciate the freshness of the food and the balance in each particular dish … I could see why it would receive a Michelin-star. Service was unobtrusive and sufficient if not overly helpful… maybe water could have been topped up a bit more responsively.

After dinner Rehana and I needed to work off some of the calories at dinner so went exploring a bit.

The Gallery, which is near where the Egg toilets are, was positively heaving. It was such a loud and busy contrast to the calm of the Lecture Room and Library! The toilets were entertaining and had piped music… but unfortunately smelt like porta-loos!