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Core by Clare Smyth London Reviews
I'm a little tardy in writing this review since we were in
I'm a little tardy in writing this review since we were in London late March to celebrate my wife's birthday. We had the pleasure of dining at Core on her birthday thanks to AMEX Concierge securing a reservation for us. We received a warm welcome from the host and were escorted through the beautiful bar area and past the open kitchen where we were greeted by the staff. We walked up a few stairs to a lovely dining room of 15 or so tables and got the best table IMO. Every detail is considered at Core, from the decor to the tasteful table setting. Service was on point, pleasant and timely with water and cocktails to start. Everyone on staff were impeccably dressed. We decided to go with the Classic and a Seasons menu. It's been over three months since we were at Core and we still talk about how this was top level cooking and for us, the best we have enjoyed. Every dish was excuted perfectly in taste, texture and temperate . After dinner, we had a cocktail and more after dinner deserts while we waited for our driver. We left full and happy! An exceptional experience and again; the best fine dining we have tried over the years, can't wait to return. Cheers!
Core is pricey but brilliant
This was the third visit to Core for my wife and I. As usual it was perfect. Pricey, yes. But with everyone operating at the top of their game it was money well spent. A wonderful experience from start to finish.
Perfection
Hard to ever say a meal or restaurant is the best I have ever experienced but I can say I have never had better. Not a thing I could suggest to improve. Bravo!
I am afraid to say - Disappointing!
I would start by saying that I write this review objectively and based on my experience of many Michelin Star restaurants around the world (this is my 7th 3* restaurant and I have dined at many 1* and 2* restaurants too). The restaurant is a short walk from the tube station and relatively easy to find. On arrival we were warmly greeted. As we entered we were shown a bar area to the left (which was empty), and had assumed that having arrived well in advance of our reservation time that we would have been given the option to take our aperitif there. We were however shown immediately to our table. First impressions is the restaurant was very light and airy, but the tables seemed to be very close to each other. Due to this fact it was very difficult to have a conversation without being overheard and without overhearing others. Whilst I am aware that at this standard a restaurant calculates the number of staff prorata to the number of guests, it almost felt that the waiting staff were outnumbering the diners and their way of moving around the small dining space made it feel very busy. There just seemed to be a lot of activity which was very distracting. We took the tasting menu, and I won’t go into details of each dish, but I would say that for the first time after dining in a 3* restaurant I didn’t come away with one dish that gave me the wow factor. That said the food was executed and presented perfectly, it just didn’t inspire me. I noticed after the first few dishes that the plates were taken away literally as soon as the cutlery was put down, and the next dish followed extremely quickly thereafter. It felt uncomfortably rushed to the point where it actually began to annoy me. Whilst it is nice to have an attentive waiting service it felt as though they were standing waiting for the dish to be finished, and as soon as it was it was whisked away. I understand to get the timing between courses right is one of the hardest elements to manage, however we were not given time to savour one course until the next arrived. At the end of the meal (literally 5 minutes after finishing the final dessert) we were presented with the bill (without us asking for it). Again this felt really rushed, we were not allowed the time to sit and reflect upon experience, nor were we asked if we would like at digestive, it was simply assumed that as we had no plate in front of us we were finished and duly presented with the bill and card machine!! Clare Smyth you really need to work on the timings, our tasting menu only lasted a mere 2 hours from arrival time to departure time! Considering the £700 price tag, maybe you could afford your guests a little more time to savour not only the food but also the environment. On leaving the restaurant I was handed my jacket, again a first for me. Even at home if I have guests I hold their coats for them to put them on when they are leaving! Overall, food good, service very hurried! Would I visit again? - I doubt it unless they relax the speed and allow guests the time to enjoy the experience.
Wow! Food incredible…Clare adorable…staff attentive…place amazing. Non arrogant and warming.
Wow ! We had a picture with Clare………wow wow wow ! She signed a menu… This was my wife’s 50th Birthday present. She has always loves Clare Smyth since seeing her on TV and following her. Myself wife and son had the original tasting menu. From entrance you are greeted professionally but not arrogantly , so important when dinning in prestigious places and most get this bit wrong in my opinion. The staff are all lovely and extremely attentive, but not over the top. We had the wine pairing and for the first time ever we were topped up where needed which was a revelation….at hestons last month they skimped on this part which was extremely annoying. Well done on the pairing side , really lovely to see. It felt like your experience was more important than just profit! The food was beautiful, of course it was, delicious and incredible , again of course it was. Toilets delightfully clean , always a must and staff polite , professional and not arrogant. We stayed at the hari hotel , 15 minutes taxi so not to bad and from reviews the local one isn’t great. Hari is an excellent 5 star. Clare and team we cannot thank you enough for taking time out at the end of the night to say a brief happy birthday to my wife it made her night and year very special. It was not expected and totally appreciated. My wife was a star struck by it and shed a few happy tears. So very very special and kind of you.
1st Anniversary done in style!
Early evening Saturday visit, very welcoming staff, super chatty & friendly! Across from the main dining space is a big glass screen separating the kitchen from the restaurant, so you can admire the chefs attention to detail! Food was sublime, my wife had the Core Classics & I had the Core Seasons tasting menus. Core Seasons stand out dishes - langoustine starter, herdwick lamb, carrot sorbet & their take on a malteser was epic! Core Classics - Potato & Roe, ‘Lambs Carrot’ & the Merrifield Duck with beetroot was next level delicious! They also serve little treats at the start & end, the last of which was kinda like a chocolate fondant in a tart, a strong contender to rival the malteser for best desert!! Their cocktail bar is also well worth a visit, Lucy in the Sky is lovely & the bar staff clearly know their stuff! And once again very chatty, friendly, happy people! Top marks & maybe we’ll make this our annual anniversary treat!
Another fabulous visit
Core by Clare Smyth On Saturday we enjoyed another delightful visit to Core where we would once again experience food and service of the highest level. This was however the first time we’d been since they underwent a major refurbishment so we were very excited to see all the changes. On arrival we received a fabulous welcome from Alina before being escorted via looking at the new bar where we would later enjoy a digestive to our table. We stopped at the kitchen to chat with Jonny , Millie and our old friend Antonio. We didn’t have to go far to our table as we were given the honour of being seated at the Chef’s Table which can become quite noisy with a constant flow of guests wanting to say hello and have pictures taken with the team. It also meant we wouldn’t get to see the changes made in the dining room. A complimentary glass of bubbles got us underway nicely before an array of snacks arrived including a Lobster Roll , pea and mint gougere and the Core fried chicken. There is a choice of two tasting menu’s and an a la carte. My wife chose the Core Classic while I opted for the Core Seasons. Sommelier Gareth recommended an absolutely stunning wine to pair with the majority of both menu’s in the form of a Naude 2010 from South Africa. The Core Classics menu featured all the favourites and included a fabulous new main course of Merrifield Farm Duck with cherry , almond , beetroot and timut pepper. My Core Seasons menu included one of the best asparagus dishes ever with morels , wild garlic and duck egg yolk. I did swap my dessert so that I could enjoy the delicious Irish Coffee with milk chocolate , hazelnut and whiskey that was simply heaven. We then moved to the bar and was looked after by Vincenzo who had returned to be the new bar manager. Here we were to finish with the amazing Irish Coffee Cocktail where you choose your own whiskey , essence and topping. This along with petit fours brought an end to a fabulous afternoon. It was great to see some old faces as well as some new ones especially Molly and Nathan who looked after us superbly. Thank You Clare , Jonny , Millie , Gareth and all the team and look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Latest Favorite Meal of a Lifetime
Everything about our dinner experience at Core was first class. From the courteous and friendly staff to the beautiful and delicious food, we had an evening and meal we will never forget.
Perfect
This was simply perfect. The food and service were faultless. The room is elegant and beautifully done. From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave you are spoilt. It is done with almost a relaxed but professional elegance. Food descriptions aren't done to make you feel as though they are doing you a favour or talking down to you, as is the case in some equivalent restaurants, but to inform and tell the story. The wine pairing was great and we had two different menus and different wines to match. Attention to detail is superb and everyone is there to make sure you enjoy your evening to the max. The food on the plate looks quite simple at times but is complex and each ingredient is there for a purpose. Every plate is elegant and beautifully presented without forgetting that flavour and taste are the number one priority. We spoke to Clare Smyth at the end and she was very relaxed and truly charming. Everyone of the staff were professional, informative and added to the experience. Expensive but when you see the quality of the room, the number of staff and the elegance of the food you can understand why. Would I come back, the answer is obviously yes as this is the best meal I have ever had.
Honestly, this is one of my most memorable and amazing
Honestly, this is one of my most memorable and amazing meals that I've had. A 3 star Michelin restaurant with a chef whom is consistently present with her staff and has the passion and empathy to say hi to her guests while making her menu financially accessible to more people considering the status of her food. It was a genuine pleasure to be serviced by the waiting staff and chefs. Clare Smyth is a major reason to visit, but her staff and their warmth and professionalism is on another level of service. Genuinely, it broke my mind the way we were treated. I ordered the classic menu while my date had the seasonal spring menu. We also ordered a bottle of wine! Overall, cannot say enough amazing things about my experience here.
Spent over £1000 and was asked to move after 2.5 hours.
Excellent service and food ruined by being asked to move We were very much looking forward to our lunch at Core having stayed up several nights to book a table due their difficult booking procedure. (They release tables around 6 weeks before booking dates and they seem to go in seconds). Once we had secured our table we very much look forward to the day and we weren’t disappointed. A huge array of staff welcomed us to the restaurant. Nothing was too much trouble and the food and service was impeccable. I loved the fact that a lot of thought had gone into the UK provenance of the dishes. The clams from Scotland, the potted shrimp from Morecambe, etc. The creativity of the dishes was exemplary. We went for the tasting menu combined with the wine tasting and looked forward to a leisurely afternoon of culinary excellence which was forthcoming. Unfortunately the lunch came to an abrupt end after 2.5 hours when we were asked to move to the bar before even finishing out tasting menu. We ate our dessert in the bar. No-one else was asked to do this. In fact the table next to us left 45 minutes later. And the table who arrived first left after another hour. While the impeccable service, food and drink continued at the bar, the whole ambience had changed. And the lunch ended very differently to how it began. If we’d ordered a la carte it would have made more sense for us to be moved on. But the fact that we were moved was inexcusable and completely changed our perception of the day. I implore Core not to take customers for granted, to allocate at least three hours for tables with tasting menus. Please look at your competitors and make it special for your customers. Recommended. But order a la carte unless you don’t mind being moved.
Culinary masterpiece
Absolute cream of the Michelin crop! Beautiful experience, food looked stunning, full of texture and flavours. For special occassions!
Five stars all round for this fantastic experience!
We finally managed to book dinner at Core by Clare Smyth for last night and it was well worth waiting for. The bar area was beautiful and so was the dining area. We were taken through by friendly staff and even got a wave from Johnny Bone, the Head Chef, as we passed by the busy kitchen. As soon as we were seated Alessandro took care of us and was very helpful in explaining the options. We chose Core Classics -7 courses of the dishes for which Core is most well known. Afterwards we were so pleased with our choice because every dish was a winner. We particularly liked the potato and roe but in fact each dish was a surprise and a delight. We chose to select our own choice of wine rather than the wine pairing and Hubert, the Head Sommelier, was very helpful when we perused the extensive wine list. We were all extremely happy and felt that the whole team deserved congratulations in creating such beautiful dishes as well as such a great ambience in which to enjoy them. Five stars all round for the fantastic experience! I cannot end without mentioning the one area at Core which clearly needs attention. That is the ability of a patron to make contact - either to make a reservation or to confirm a reservation already made. A restaurant as superb as this must surely be able to set up a system where phone calls can be answered by a human being. I found it impossible to make contact with anyone in order to answer questions which were not dealt with on the website, or to make a booking. Eventually I used the Centurion service at Amex , as they were prepared to keep trying on my behalf and they succeeded. Then during the week prior to my reservation date I called personally at least 6 times over several days. The reply always asked me to call back as no one was available to take the call. On 3 occasions I left a message reconfirming- with my number and email address - and asked someone to call back or email to say the message had been received. Nothing! No contact. When we arrived at Core last night I had no idea whether or not our reservation had been cancelled or confirmed. Please Clare, can you arrange for a human being to answer all incoming calls? It would make such a big difference. Thanks in advance and for a lovely experience. Michael
Excellent evening
We have been trying to book this restaurant for ages and finally got lucky at short notice. The experience was excellent from the hearty welcome we received right through to the chefs waving us farewell. Every little detail was covered. We chose the seasons menu which seemed to feature every one of my wife's favourites from crab through turbot to venison. However, we agreed that the Jerusalem artichoke and crispy sweetbreads were the highlights. Service was excellent, as you would expect. It was a little fussy to start with, with our food being served immediately after our gin and tonic, but this seemed a small mistake. Chef herself was present to greet customers, which is always a good sign. We will return - assuming we can get a booking!
Overpriced for the experience
Located at short walk from Nottingham hill gate tube stop. Entrance rather confusing as one sort to apartment block and other to restaurant. Number of people have been standing trying the wrong door. Warm welcome with nice view of the kitchen as you came it. Very cramped setting, tables felt very close together compared to other three Michelin stars and really felt the cramp/ over crowding when the restaurant was full at 7.30pm onwards. Also could overhear conversations - not that we wanted to but due to proximity of tables especially with some louder clientals. Bread was good- standard stuff as well as butter. Amouse bouch was good but started in the wrong order. Chicken skin should be first as least interesting and lobster roll last as best. The crab claw dish with consommé was good- the intensity of the consommé was amazing. The crab claw was average as was the sabayon. Jerusalem artichoke was nice with a rather sweet artichoke Veloute. The turbot was again average - cucumber salad was nice with potato and nice sauce, couldn’t identify the oyster in the dish. Pork Cheeks was below average- fatty pork portion which we both felt was overly fatty - was a bit gamey with an overpowering sauce Mains of venison- sauce was too intense, metallic venison with an ok haggis Palate cleaner of carrots was nicer than the main desert Desert was ok - the honey comb was nice. The ball mimicking the Maltese was average. Service was good but here was so many staff , it should be-They added to feel on overcrowding and didn’t help when the restaurant was full. £700 for a core season menu for two a bottle of champagne was overpriced for the experience. Cloak room had some issues at the end- wrong scarf with jacket and manage to initial lose the correct scarf as fallen on the floor which is a real downer after the meal with staff franticly trying to find items. Should be more organised as there are atleast two staff at the cloak room!
Mind blowing!
Overall, we had the most incredible experience at Core last night! Walking into the dining room where all the kitchen team, including Clare Smyth, greeted us warmly with a wave was a very special moment. The restaurant director Rob, head sommelier Hubert and the entire floor team were so welcoming, and looked after us exceptionally well throughout the night. We chose the Core Seasons tasting menu (with the addition of the black truffle linguine) plus the associated wine pairings. Every single course from canapés to the petit fours was utter heaven. The black truffle linguine was absolutely stand out, as was the veal sweetbread, venison and of course the signature Core-teser. The wine pairings were well chosen by the expert sommeliers. Watching the kitchen in action throughout the experience was such a treat. Everyone worked with such professionalism, meticulous attention to detail when plating and the clean down process was so impressive to observe! The playlist in the bathroom was so much fun with some perfectly chosen anthems! Sadly our experience did not start as well as hoped with my husband arriving early for a pre dinner drink in the bar, only to be quite rudely turned away by a member of the front of house team and told to return at the time of table reservation. I entirely understand that the bar was full, but a more polite approach would’ve been appreciated, perhaps with a suggestion of where else to get a drink nearby. I do feel that the whole experience should begin from the time you walk in (as with other 3 stars we have visited) and sadly this wasn’t the case for us. However we did not let this detract from the phenomenal experience that was to come from a team that should be very proud of how they look after their diners. Clare Smyth is a total icon and we felt privileged to enjoy her hospitality last night.
An amazing experience, truly memories making
An amazing experience. Excellent dishes, quite original flavours, presented at perfection with the perfect service. It feels cosy, home feel, the staff is so friendly. Absolutely love the turbo with kelp and oyster sauce, the jerusalem artichoke with malt and black truffle and finally the poire williams (aka Clare Smyth ‘s take on Eton Mess). The Venison with haggis was interesting - an acquired taste A well deserved 3 Michelin stars. Well done 👏
Thank You
I’ve been to Core by Clare Smyth twice now, and on both occasions the experience has been sublime. The kitchen and floor staff go above and beyond. In regards to the ‘potato and roe’ dish, how they have managed to make the humble potato taste the way it does will make you appreciate how hard they work in the kitchen to achieve that level of perfection. As for the Rhug Estate Venison, it is one of the best dishes I have ever eaten. Enough said. Obviously reviews are a matter of opinion, but based on my experiences I choose to believe that Core by Clare Smyth is not only one of the best restaurants in London but possibly in the world. I will be back as soon as I can get a reservation, which is fairly difficult for obvious reasons.
Fabulous
One of the best experiences I have had in London in the recent years. The food is meticulously creative and tasty. Great selection, atmosphere and staff. Looking forward to visiting again
One of the best restaurants I've ever experienced
An absolute stunner! Wonderful neighbourhood, beautiful restaurant, excellent wines and some of the best dishes I've ever tried - the level of the food is absolutely outstanding, worldclass, phenomenal, especially the scallops, potato and roe, lamb carrot, main coure with fish and mussels, pear dessert have fascinated me. The service is very approachable, friendly and professional. It's been the perfect evening for us and we'll come back as soon as we can.
Took my wife here to celebrate our first big trip since the
Took my wife here to celebrate our first big trip since the pandemic. From start to finish the experience was extraordinary. Clare Smyth's cuisine and service embody excellence across the board, and truly she is one of England's greatest chefs. Booking was by the numbers. While you have to be ready to get a table when released, thankfully, it was not impossible. We took the tube to Notting Hill, and it was a pleasant walk to the restaurant through some lovely neighborhoods. Upon checking in we were greeted warmly and taken to our table. Two tasting menus were offered - the classic tasting menu and the "Core Seasons." We got one of each, why not try each dish? We also got a wine pairing. We prepared our palates with some champagne and cocktails, and sat back to enjoy the experience. Each dish was a breathtaking melange of color, expertly arranged and plated. The flavors and how all the ingredients were sublime. The wait staff were very knowledgeable about all the wines served and we enjoyed their stories of the provenances of each vintage. On the way out we got to meet Clare and thanked her for a wonderful evening we would not forget.
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would.
My bf and I have a few shows we watch together, Top Chef being one of them. So when I saw a reservation for lunch open for this restaurant while we were on vacation, I knew I had to book it. We traveled by metro to the restaurant and got there a little early. The hostess was very gracious and let us store our bags in the front closet. We had the earliest reservation, so there we were quite outnumbered by the wait staff. Once the restaurant filled up a bit more, I watched in wonder at a well-oiled machine. Everything from the escort to the restroom, to pulling out chairs, to describing every single dish was impeccable. Now, the food, every single dish, was delicious, well balanced, and presented like an absolute work of art. We started with 3 pieces of amuse bouche to get our palates ready, and my palate was still not ready! The scallop tartare has probably ruined me. I don't know how, if or why I would ever eat scallops after this. To say they were fresh would be an understatement. Potato and Roe, every time I go to a fine dining restaurant, I am always amazed by all of the flavors they can put into a modest food such as a potato. The roasted cod was delicious. The lamb carrot was quite a surprise as the carrot was magically stuffed with roasted lamb. The venison was very tender and juicy. The Core Apple was magical, as it looks like a fuji apple but is a delicious stuffed mousse. The Wild Strawberry is also a beautiful optical illusion as it represents a caprese salad but is a refreshing dessert. Just when I thought I couldn't fit in another morsel, here comes the Petit Fours. With my second stomach that's usually reserved for desserts, I managed to devour a chocolate tart that was reminiscent of a fresh baked cookie and their wonderful jellied wine. This reminded me of a super potent wine jello shot but way more refined. I can not recommend trying to secure a reservation to this restaurant if you're on vacation and want to splurge on a Three Michelin Star meal.
I booked for 2 people for Core Restaurant at 9.
45pm, my plane was delayed by over an hour to return to London, so I asked the restaurant and asked the attendant if I could change my booking or come half an hour late. She said she could change my booking but will charge me a cancellation fee or keep my booking for half an hour. I received an email prior to half an hour to say I will be charged $300GPD cancellation fee and they stoped picking up my calls. It's disgusting!
What an amazing experience we had.
This review is a bit late as we were there in October 22'.. You walk in and immediately you are transported. We were lucky to snag an afternoon lunch resv. Which was absolutely perfect time. The sun coming through the restaurant.. the food was just so beautiful .... next couple of hours were pure joy ...all the senses engaged. Can't wait to come back to see what's next..
Outstanding food and exceptional service
Outstanding food, impeccable staff. We had two of the core classics tasting menus and found everything to be sublime. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish - the food was served by friendly and knowledgable staff, and the sommelier was wonderful. Because the environment is quite pared back and relaxed, the entire experience felt like such a special and memorable event where we could enjoy each others company and focus on the excellent food!
The pinnacle of fine dining
Exquisite food, beautifully presented in wonderful surroundings all come together perfectly to provide one of the best fine dining experiences you could possibly hope to enjoy. Absolutely stunning. Impeccable service from professional and knowledgeable staff who couldn't do enough to make your evening perfect. Food was cookery at it's confident best and everything from amuses bouches, to the final petit fours was stunning- the delicate combination of flavours and the creativity in their presentation is breathtaking. Yes it is expensive but the best always is, this is why it is also good value for money- the sum of all parts in providing the perfect evening has to be worth every penny.
Total Indulgence
Ok, so when you eat at a 3 michelin star restaurant you know for sure that the food is going to taste good. It tastes better than good! It’s sublime! Great ambience! Great service! The taster menu was a tad one note and whilst I absolutely loved it, I couldn’t help feel that the whole experience ever so slightly bordered on pretentiousness. In view of the cost, I thought the service charge was unnecessary. Having said all that, it was still a joy!
Absolutely phenomenal
I had been frantically and endlessly searching the reservation system for months to nab a spot here, having been told at other restaurants (SOLA, A Wong, Ynyshir) that it was possibly one of the UK's best, as well as having 3 Michelin stars and the beautiful food presentation. Finally, I was in luck when I found a time last minute at the end of January; I grabbed it in a nanosecond. I came here for dinner and words cannot express how stunned I was. The canapés were fabulous, especially that chicken with a slightly sweet, crispy skin - worth dying for. The classic combination of cheese and truffle was used for a gougère that was delightfully rich and in my opinion, should get anyone feeling excited about the whole meal. Pity it ended in a single bite. The crab starter was excellent; a gorgeous creamy but light crab mousse was enhanced by the delicate flavour of the caviar. Along with that was one of the most intense crab soups I've ever tasted - an exquisite trio. The signature 'potato and roe' whilst sounding deceptively simple, was a real work of art, you have a perfectly cooked creamy potato complemented by a gorgeous buttery sauce, that was enhanced even further by that delicate, salty flavour of the roe. The Jerusalem artichoke was one of a few dishes in my time that demonstrated that it was possible to produce a spectacular flavour without the help of meat or fish. A perfectly cooked piece of artichoke with a rich, earthy sauce; combined with the distinctive flavour of malt, voila! you have a vegetarian dish at its best. The meat dishes, especially that venison were astonishing. Considering I wasn't a big fan of venison up until now, this dish completely changed that. The faultlessly tender and succulent piece of meat accompanied by haggis and a chestnut cream tasted as good as it looked. The desserts were among the most artistically presented I've ever seen. The pear and verbena dessert - a true example of a masterpiece that simply looked too beautiful to eat! The crunch from the meringue, the soft texture from the jelly and the natural fruity, herbal flavours meant you had a dessert that was refined, elegant, refreshing and above all delicious. The 'Core-Teaser' (play on Malteaser) was as original as a dessert could get. A sumptuous chocolate and hazelnut mousse-like base was topped with a white mousse and sugar clouds that melted the second they enter your mouth - divine. This honestly was one of the best meals I've ever had. There genuinely is no room for improvement. It's a 3 Michelin star restaurant for a good reason but not only that, it really is at the top of the top. Get yourself down here and try for yourself, you'll be thinking about it for days! It was also such a delight to receive such a warm, friendly welcome and farewell from Clare Smyth and her team, an already outstanding evening was just made even better.
Superb Saturday evening to celebrate a 60th Birthday.
Superb Saturday evening to celebrate a 60th Birthday. We chose the Classic Tasting menu, also available were the Core Seasons menu and A La Carte menu, so catered for all (well, all able to and prepared to dig reasonably deep. We were first to sit so were a captive audience for both front of house and the kitchen brigade when we arrived and received an enthusiastic welcome from all, Clare was stood by the pass commanding the troops like a general! The four different amuse bouche were lovely, particularly the jellied eel (well this is London after all). The menu was lovely, particularly the "potato & roe" and the "venison with haggis" the sauce was fantastic. The meal was topped off with petit fours, or as the menu said "The End" of warm chocolate tart and wine gums, made with actual wine, brilliant. On the subject of wine, we didn't have the pairing, I'm a bit of a lightweight, so we had three individual glasses chosen by the sommelier who made some excellent decisions in conjunction with us. All in all a fantastic experience from a team of exceptional kitchen and front of house staff moulded together by the general. Yes it's pricey, but if it's your thing easily worth the money, some people spend huge amounts on following football teams or buying clothes, if that's your thing great, spend your money as you see fit,....for us it's the best quality food, keep up the good work.
Exceptional in every way
Oh my what a wonderful experience… had lunch at Core on Saturday and from start to finish the experience was exceptional! The service was first class but not over the top, and the food produced was just of the scale. By far the best restaurant I have been too, I will be back very soon. But to all the team a big THANK YOU….
Superb evening
Second visit to Core, and even better than the first! The welcome by all the staff, including Clare as you enter the plush dining area with a view of the glass fronted kitchen, is a the first sign of the excellence that awaits the diner. Pre dinner amuse bouche are a wonderful way to start the meal. Then the seasons tasting menu, with every course bursting with flavour and superbly presented by the excellent staff. There's a very comprehensive wine list, or there are wine pairings available. Certainly deserving of its 3 Michelin stars !
Creative Cuisine
I'll describe this place as being beautifully presented and having wonderful style. Their wine pairing is incredible, and the atmosphere is stunning!
Excellent!
Prestige and how a restaurant should be run. The service, the food, the staff. Impeccable. My 2nd time here and better than the last.
Words can't describe what a beautiful, delicious, and
Words can't describe what a beautiful, delicious, and perfect experience our dinner was. As soon as you enter the door, to every minute of the well choreographed dinner to our departure - perfection. There is an abundance of staff and one has to admire the level of efficiency of the staff's movements around the dining room. A finished plate never sat on the table for more than 30 seconds before someone came to whisk it away and clean the table. Each dish was presented perfectly and staff was knowledgeable and energetic to present the next course. The dishes were phenomenal tasting. The creativity, beauty, and just overall taste of each and every dish. Nothing was heavy, while most dishes were quite bright. The desserts were just ok but the rest of the meal more than made up for it.Chef was in the kitchen and was able to even get a quick greeting on the way in and out. Would come back in a heartbeat.
Extraordinary experience
Words can't describe what a beautiful, delicious, and perfect experience our dinner was. As soon as you enter the door, to every minute of the well choreographed dinner to our departure - perfection. There is an abundance of staff and one has to admire the level of efficiency of the staff's movements around the dining room. A finished plate never sat on the table for more than 30 seconds before someone came to whisk it away and clean the table. Each dish was presented perfectly and staff was knowledgeable and energetic to present the next course. The dishes were phenomenal tasting. The creativity, beauty, and just overall taste of each and every dish. Nothing was heavy, while most dishes were quite bright. The desserts were just ok but the rest of the meal more than made up for it. Chef was in the kitchen and was able to even get a quick greeting on the way in and out. Would come back in a heartbeat.
An enjoyable evening
As the first booking for dinner is 6.30 and the doors only open at 6.30 there is no chance to have a drink at the bar before. That said, the welcome is friendly and efficient, as one would expect. There is a whole host of young, enthusiastic people to take care of you and explain all about the origin of all the ingredients and the thinking that went into choosing them. Everything was well presented and from the amuse-bouche up to desert was delightful. The signature desert was not as good as were expected, but pleasant enough. Wine was overpriced and a huge service charge took the shine off things somewhat. Why not simply price ‘service included’. I say the same with every place, anywhere in the world that adds service. One cannot serve oneself so why bill it separately? We eat at dozens of starred restaurants all over the world each year and Core is certainly decent enough, but I think the staff made it a much more enjoyable experience.
Everything I wished it would be
Visited today Saturday 7th Jan, we had the classic tasting menu and we were completely blown away. The restaurant is beautiful and the staff are all welcoming and knowledgeable. This is an unpretentious restaurant serving world class food with matching service. To top our visit we saw Claire, who went out of her way to talk to us, you could feel her passion and pride and she is genuinely warm and welcoming. Well done Core, you made us feel welcome and we didn’t want to leave. We are planning our return.
Set your alarms to get reservations because they get booked
Set your alarms to get reservations because they get booked quick! I was fortunate enough to get reservations about 2 months out for our trip to London for a birthday dinner. We were excited to dine here after seeing Chef Clare on Chef's Table on Netflix. Dining at Core was a wonderful experience. Our host grabbed us to get seated after we had a cocktail in the waiting area. Right when we entered the dining room, we saw Chef Clare and her friendly staff members waive and greet us with the most welcoming hello! I enjoyed her open kitchen layout to see the chefs hard at work. We decided to pick one of each on the tasting menu so we can try a variety of Chef Clare's dishes. I love that we have the option of choosing different tasting menus when it was just us 2 dining. Typically, high end restaurants require you get the same tasting menu for the whole table since it's easier to prepare. All of the dishes had it's own unique taste with a gorgeous presentation. The sauce for her signature potato dish was divine and the potato was cooked perfectly. Be prepared for a TON of dessert dishes. I wish they offered more savory compared to sweets. The staff was very knowledgeable and gave us a full description of each dish while serving us. I highly recommend giving this 3 Michelin Star restaurant a try!
Loved this restaurant and would definitely try to go back
Loved this restaurant and would definitely try to go back when I'm in london! I say try because reservations are hard to come by. There were two menus to choose from and we got one of each so that we could try everything! The classic tasting was fine, but between the two we both enjoyed the core seasons menu more. The service was great and although I was scared of finishing really late (our reservation was at 9/9:30) time surprisingly flew by quickly and I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be. Presentation was phenomenal as well!
I tried doing the no-reservations thing at CORE twice, back
I tried doing the no-reservations thing at CORE twice, back before the Covids, but they only ever had seating at the bar, not in the main dining room. Like an idiot, I passed, both times. I was a little worried that a couple was allowed to enter with their baby, but the infant was seated far from my table, so, few worries. And now that I've finally been properly seated, I found the food, service, ambiance to be exceptional. Of course, there are plenty of exceptional restaurants, worldwide. Here, I was very pleased to see that Chef Clare Smyth, who I believe to be one of only 4 women who have ever earned a third Michelin star, has selected her restaurant staff to include women and men of various diverse backgrounds, on both sides of house, at all levels. The kitchen (and staff) is fully visible to the patrons at the Chef's table, but every diner gets a glimpse as they walk by.It is not until you've visited a handful of these super high-end restaurants to realize that Chef Smyth's diverse staff is extremely rare.I'll have to return soon.2022 09 23. M3.
Connect with users posting reservations for Core by Clare Smyth London
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If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Core by Clare Smyth London at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Core by Clare Smyth London page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* FulfilledThread16, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* FulfilledThread16 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to FulfilledThread16 for any questions Peter may have as FulfilledThread16 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* FulfilledThread16 now uses their connections at Core by Clare Smyth London to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If FulfilledThread16 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, FulfilledThread16 receives the $200 reward which is credited to FulfilledThread16's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Core by Clare Smyth London!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.

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