Located just off Marylebone High Street, Xavier Rousset's newest venture "is the kind of place where lunch makes things better and the sort of restaurant that, increasingly, London does really well," says Jay Rayner in The Guardian.
As is to be expected for a restaurant set up by a former sommelier, Blandford has an exhaustive wine list, but you do not have enjoy wine to appreciate the cooking.
"Everything looks exceedingly tasteful and refined, but once you dig into the menu, you realise there is much more to this place than presentation," says Time Out.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The section entitled Raw includes offerings such as "Sicilian red prawns bathing in Amalfi lemon oil have that paintbox crimson and surprising sweetness" while the Vegetable section offers up a gazpacho "in which the flavours of lemongrass and ginger subdue the metallic clang of raw green peppers," says Fay Maschler in the Evening Standard.
The courgette flowers stuffed with goat's curd are "remarkable," says Grace Dent also in the Evening Standard, while the risotto served al dente, buttery and earthily fungi-strewn was also "very impressive".
"Don't expect volume even with the big plates. But do expect to want to lick your plate," says Time Out.
The menu is essentially "Italian without feeling the need to bulk things up with pasta" and while full size dishes can set you back £14, they remain a bargain, says Rayner.
Blandford Comptoir, 1 Blandford Street, London
-
‘If regulators nix the rail merger, supply chain inefficiency will persist’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump HHS slashes advised child vaccinationsSpeed Read In a widely condemned move, the CDC will now recommend that children get vaccinated against 11 communicable diseases, not 17
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
-
8 restaurants that are exactly what you need this winterThe Week Recommends Old standards and exciting newcomers alike
-
Jane Austen lives on at these timeless hotelsThe Week Recommends Here’s where to celebrate the writing legend’s 250th birthday
-
David Hockney at Annely Juda: an ‘eye-popping’ exhibitionThe Week Recommends ‘Some Very, Very, Very New Paintings Not Yet Shown in Paris’ testifies to the artist’s ‘extraordinary vitality’ and ‘childlike curiosity’
-
Critics’ choice: Watering holes for gourmandsFeature An endless selection of Mexican spirits, a Dublin-inspired bar, and an upscale Baltimore pub
-
The Peninsula: London’s first billion-pound hotelThe Week Recommends As the capital’s super-luxury hotel scene continues to expand, the respected brand is still setting the standard
-
London’s best breakfasts and brunchesThe Week Recommends However you like your eggs in the morning, these memorable restaurants have you covered
-
Critics’ choice: Seafood in the spotlightFeature An experimental chef, a newspaper-worthy newcomer, and a dining titan’s fresh spin-off
-
The Mini-Mayfair package at Mandarin OrientalThe Week Recommends Keep the kids entertained with a family-friendly stay at one of London’s swankiest hotels
