Elvira recommended Galvin at Windows to me just under two years ago but I’d never quite managed to make my way here. Elvira really rated the experience and I must say she was quite right to do so.

Rehana and I started our evening with a drink at the bar. The restaurant and bar is situated on the 28th floor of the Hilton at Park Lane and with the large windows in the bar (and in the restaurant) it has prime views over the sights of London. Before visiting Galvin I never even realised that the Hilton went up that high! Stunning views.

I could tell that Galvin was aiming for something grand – a Michelin star perhaps? Extremely attentive staff, the posh surroundings, the amuse bouche (seems stock standard for the more higher class restaurants these days), foam on food … even dining off the special set menu Rehana and I were in for a treat. In fact the set menu is one of the best I’ve seen in any restaurant with some really decent options.

Our amuse bouche tonight was a lovely butternut squash, truffle oil and parmesan foam. Such intense flavour though the fact it was cold was a bit of a surprise. Following this amuse bouche was our starters: Slow cooked hens’ egg, warm salad of Charlotte potatoes and smoked haddock, whole grain mustard beuerre blanc for Rehana and Ravioli of braised beef short rib, roast beetroot puree and horseradish veloute for me. Both dishes were suitably fou fou in their presentation but at least for once the taste lived up to the presentation. Rehana’s hen egg was perfectly poached and my ravioli was filled with some very nicely cooked beef rib. The horseradish wasn’t as strong tasting as I expected it to be but other than it was a perfectly balanced dish.

For mains Rehana and I were both tempted by the Fillet of royal bream, gnocchi, shellfish and trompette. More foam on this dish! Loads of taste and the gnocchi was actually pretty tasty (considering I don’t really like gnocchi at all). One problem – there wasn’t enough of it! Ha ha!

2009 seems to be year for chocolate desserts for me. Normally it would be the last choice on the menu for me but I’m having this love affair with fondants for some reason. The fact it was accompanied by salted caramel and praline ice cream didn’t hurt any either. The melty chocolate bit of the dish was perfect and though I’ve actually tasted a better chocolate cake at Volt (seemed creamier and more melt in your mouth) it wasn’t half bad. Very rich dessert though. Rehana went for the more mature (heh heh) cheese option which came with an interesting selection of crackers.

Dark chocolate petit fours accompanied our mint teas and home made marshmallows our bill. What a perfect end to the meal.

The only very minor negative to tonight’s experience was that I felt the waiters didn’t spend time explaining our food to us. Normally you get an introduction once your food is delivered which was something we didn’t really get tonight.

This is definitely a restaurant for a special occasion with loads of things going for it: the views, the food, the service, the thoughtfulness, the location.

UPDATE: On January 2010 gained Michelin star. 🙂