Is This The Most Glamorous Restaurant In Knightsbridge?

Phones at the ready: La Maison Ani is a picture-perfect spot serving up some fabulous French fare, says Martha Davies.

Restaurant Review: La Maison Ani, Knightsbridge

There’s no doubt about it: elegance is the name of the game at La Maison Ani. It might be the least you’d expect from a French eatery, and certainly one that occupies a coveted spot between Knightsbridge and Chelsea, but this lavish restaurant certainly delivers. 

Tucked away inside Jumeirah Carlton Tower, La Maison Ani gives the capital’s most Instagrammable restaurants a run for their money. Think watermelon-pink banquettes, swathes of rich wood, and an open kitchen complete with a marble-topped counter. Stately potted plants stand guard beside the tables as immaculately-dressed diners peruse menus. Somehow, it all feels as if it would fit right into an episode of Gossip Girl, with the city’s elite languorously discussing their social calendars over martinis and forkfuls of lobster salad.

Both of these, in fact, are on the menu; the latter is the restaurant’s specialty. Also popular, according to our waiter, is the steak tartare, the harissa prawns, and the onion soup– though these are just the starters. There’s a lot to choose from (and it’s worth noting that you’ll need to come armed with a rather hefty budget), but if you want to see and be seen, there’s no better place to be.

We began with the lobster salad, and it was easy to see why it’s so popular: fresh and citrusy, it provided the perfect opening chapter to a luxurious meal. The yellowtail carpaccio was a brilliant accompaniment, and we had to stop ourselves from ordering a second salad (the blueberry, feta and mint option, to be exact) since they all sounded so tempting. Luckily, the portion sizes are more than generous, and a few rolls of fresh bread (served, I couldn’t help but notice, in a pink basket that perfectly matched the seating) proved more than adequate to start things off.

Following a short break spent sipping on some crisp white wine and marvelling, again, at the decor, we tackled the main course. La Maison Ani centres largely on French cuisine, but it offers a range of pizzas, too – not to mention two burger options, plenty of pasta, and a dizzying selection of fish and meat dishes (though these, like the lobster, will make a large dent in the aforementioned budget). After much debate, we settled on the truffle rigatoni, the dover sole, and a few extra treats in the form of potato gratin and grilled asparagus. It turned out to be a rather brilliant combination: the fish and veg were both light and zesty, while the pasta and potatoes were rich, creamy and utterly indulgent. We might have been sitting in one of the most stylish spots in London, but it felt as if we were halfway to the Côte d’Azur – or a sun-drenched piazza in Rome, if the rigatoni was anything to go by.

While La Maison Ani’s a la carte menu is extensive, its dessert offering certainly follows suit. Whatever catches your eye, however, you simply can’t leave without sampling the Hokkaido cheese ice cream. Yes, the tarte tatin promises to be a hit, but the ice cream is like liquid cheesecake, served with some spectacular roasted strawberries and a dish of biscuit crumbs to sprinkle over the top. Gossip Girl glamour or not, it’s simply glorious.

The Final Word

Splash out at La Maison Ani and you can expect a fabulous French meal with a few surprises along the way. Not to mention some interior design inspiration, too…

BOOK IT

Jumeirah Carlton Tower, 1 Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, London. lamaisonanilondon.com