Sketch wasn�t really on my list (had nevertheless "timeproblems" as I had "only" 8 evenings), will try it next time.Like also to try Claude Bosi at Bibendum, mainly for the setting.

Core is indeed a relaxed and a very nice experience.

Claude Bosi has been exceptional the last two times I was there.

https://www.troismec.com

* Michelin star, owned by French chef Ludo Lefevre.

Small restaurant, maybe 8 seats at the counter facing the open kitchen, and another dozen table seats.
We got the 5-course menu, which comes with many small bites, priced $110.

Only complain: we felt a bit rushed, we got there at 6.25 pm and paid the bill at 7.50 pm. For $330 including drinks & tips, I expect to have the time to enjoy the meal.




Amuse-bouches/bite-size:




-melon shaved ice, saffron syrup, chorizo cream

-mustard cr�me br�l�e

-crispy tapioca, passion fruit




Trois Mec Pizza (with pesto sauce)




Course 1:

Avocado sushi, salted cod, lime vinaigrette




Course 2:

Mushroom cappucino, caramelized egg yolk





Course 3:

Steamed turbot, cabbage, x�res, bee pollen




Course 4:

Crispy duck breast, walnut hummus, liquorice root




Pre-dessert:

Charcoal ice-cream, candied turnip (ok, I must say that it was simply a nasty dish)




Dessert:

Apple butter, creme de brie, toasted barley, hay




Petits fours:

Mango mochi

Chocolate tart



Shave ice, with delicious chorizo cream



Crispy tapioca




Mustard cr�me br�l�e



Steamed turbot



Duck breast




Apple butter, creme de brie, toasted barley, hay

Thanks for the review and pictures - I'm definitely adding Claire Smith to my list, even though I don't typically do fine dining in London.

As far as 'understanding' the rating discrepancy, I'm sure you do completely understand why. It's just not an answer that anyone likes.

We had in September lunch at Yauatcha Soho. It had one star at this time, in the 2020 guide it was relegated to a plate.
The restaurant is modern, the tables are placed near to each other. At least at Lunchtime it was Incredible noisy, some may say an authentic Asian atmosphere.


They have a lunch menu which is very good value but we choosed a selection a la carte.










Dessert was some sweet soup.

We liked out Lunch and I can�t really understand why the star was deleted. Food wise at was at least on one level with other starred restaurants I tried in the past. But it�s not the only decision I can�t understand in the 2020 London guide�...

I was there in early September, maybe we were there the same night . We did the long menu. We thought it was very good, not the best 1 star we've been to though. Honestly, although I enjoyed all the courses, my favorite part of the meal was the Vermouth with the 3 bites to start. It was just a unique way to start a meal in my opinion -- assuming you had the same 3 bites, the one I thought was really creative was the olive!

We visited Veeraswamy, the UK�s oldest Indian restaurant, open since 1926. It holds 1 Michelin star and I was excited to compare it to Quilon.
The restaurant is located on the mezzanine floor of Victory House at Regent Street. The flag is from the restaurant.

The restaurant is furnished classical.

They also have a nice private dining room.

They offer a pre-thearte menu which is relative cheap with 35 GBP. We took it as it offered dishes we wanted to try anyway.
First course: Lentil soup (unadapted on the menu since 1926):

I took Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) in an onion and tomato sauce as main course, the bread I ordered additional.


GF ordered Seabass fillets marinated with royal cumin and mint, wrapped in banana leaf and baked.


We liked the Paneer more as the fish was a little bit bland without real sauce.
Dessert were ice.


The cooking was classical and fine. Personally I liked my meal at Quilon more, as I found the food more "fancy". Nevertheless it�s a good restaurant.

Wife and I are pondering on returning to Alinea in Jan (we just went this past April). Have any of you done their top tier reserve wine pairing? We did the middle one and for the most part, enjoyed it. We split the pairing and I thought the pours were a bit on the light side.

Aside from that, we are thinking of trying Blackbird, Acadia, and Spiaggia.

We had dinner at Madame Pic, the Four Seasons Trinity Square fine dining restaurant. At the time of our visit it hold 1 Michelin star, in the 2020 Michelin it now holds 2 Michelin stars.
The restaurant is furnished modern and the tables were decorated nicely. It�s definitively fashionable.


We started with some small bites and bread with beautiful presented butter.





The bites were pretty good but nothing memorable.
We started with different textures of tomato.

It was pretty good but again it didn�t blow me away.
Next came lobster.


It was nice and the best dish of the menu.
3rd course was blue cheese with white chocolate.

To be honest this dish simply didn�t taste well and I think it didn�t really match. They sold it as a whole course, I think you need humor to call it a full course.
Now the dessert. I took their signature dessert, the White Millefeuille. Tahitian vanilla cream, Jasmine jelly and Voatsiperifery pepper foam.


I didn�t like it. It was too sweet and didn�t say me much.
Itakujy chocolate - chocolate cremeux and passion fruit sorbet.

It was better and pretty nice.
Petit fours.

OK, my birthday was 2 days later but why not....

Well, how did I like the meal? First with 95 GBP for our 4 course menu it was compared to other London restaurants not cheap. I remember the dinner as a not very memorable 1 star dinner. Surely not bad but nothing I would normally visit again. When I saw they were awarded 2 stars I first thought I didn�t read correctly. If this is a 2 star I even more can�t undertsand 2 star ratings of Core and Ledbury. For me absolutely no 2 star restaurant.

The new Italian Michelin is out. Regarding the restaurants I visited there are two changes:
- Glam Venice now holds 2 stars. Justified in my eyes
- Wintergarden by Caino lost its star. Very very justified in my eyes

Sushi Ginza Onodera in NYC also dropped a star because of the main chef relocating to Toronto. That said, I had lunch there a couple weeks back, and the meal was still absolutely phenomenal...a steal for $10 per course, gratuity included, at lunch.

I visited Gordon Ramsay around 7 years ago when Claire Smith was still chef. It still holds 3 stars at Michelin.
We started with some small bites:



Mocktails:


They they hadn�t a fitting tasting menu we choosed a la carte. Advantage was we could try different things.
First course: Scallops from the Isle of Skye - Ajo Blanco, Verjus, olive oil

and Ravioli - Lobster, langoustine, Salmon, sorrel

Both dishes were solid, personally I liked the Ravioli a Little bit mor.
Main course: Lobster

and John Dory - carrot, fennel, cockles, vadouvan

The lobster was the better dish, the John Dory not so great.
As the food was not very much (130 GBP were not that cheap for it) I decided to take an additional cheese course. Unfortunately I did what I often do when I take cheese. I ask for a selection through the trolley. What they did was one of the most boring selections ever I got at a 3 star restaurant. Side was a piece of bread, no chutneys or so. Sad�..

Pre-dessert

Dessert: Banoffee souffle

Gran Cru 75% chocolate

Petit fours:


The meal was good, but not great. Personally I liked both Ledbury and Core more. For me Gordon Ramsay is a solid 2 star but no 3 star.

Interesting there hasn't been any discussion on this yet: https://robbreport.com/food-drink/di...stars-2883698/

Both Sukiyabashi Jiro and Sushi Saito (both previously 3*) have been dropped by the Michelin guide because they don't allow public reservations. You either need to be a regular, a guest of a regular, or (and only if you are very lucky, this isn't a guarantee) staying at one of Tokyo's best hotels (Aman, MO, Pen etc.) and get the concierge to book you a seat.

Thoughts?

Am surprised they didn't change earlier. And doubt they care about the stars at all. After all, they won't have any problems filling their seats and I hope more Japanese restaurants go this route since some bookings are getting so hard to come by

I agree they won't be bothered by the loss of stars. In fact they probably welcome it as it stops wealthy but culturally and culinary naive foreigners showing up. I wonder if Amex would be able to make bookings? Probably not by the sound of that article.