L'oscar Restaurant

Handily located close to Holborn station, is the in-house restaurant of new luxury hotel L’oscar. L'oscar’s shell may be classic, its interiors are anything but, with velvet drapes, soft purple furnishings, crystal butterfly taps in the loos and staff dressed in baroque blazers recalling the OTT glamour of the late 90s and early 00s: Changing Rooms on acid.

The intensity of the interiors is contrasted with a menu of straightforward but well-executed dishes, beginning with an indulgent starting snack of blue cheese wrapped in puff pastry. From the starters, we were impressed by half a dozen briny oysters, while a duck and shitake ravioli arrives as a singular plump dumpling, concealing shreds of rich duck tempered with a helping of creamy cabbage.

We skipped the grill offerings (options include ribeye served with snails and garlic or 8oz bavette with chimichurri) and instead tried flaky Cornish cod served on a peacock-print plate and finished off with a thin crust of dill which added a pleasantly bitter undertone.

For dessert, a delicately assembled mille feuille tastes more indulgent than its dainty size initially suggests, thanks to the inclusion of sweet caramelised apple and thick blobs of vanilla custard.

An extensive wine list means there’s plenty of room for splashing the cash, while those looking to make a night of it can always check in to one of L’Oscar’s equally extravagant bedrooms.

Found on the ground floor of the L’oscar hotel, L’oscar Restaurant is the bustling and vibrant heart of the building. The aesthetics of this restaurant will be the first thing to command your attention with its illuminated onyx bar and dramatic decor that is inspired by the oldest cafe in Venice. The walls and ceiling are lined with gilded panels, mirrors and striking original artwork.

Once you have absorbed the grandeur of L’oscar’s decor it is time to explore the menu. You could start with a crispy duck salad served with watercress, watermelon and pickled vegetables, or sample the L’oscar steak tartare, finished with a quail egg yolk and accompanied by beef dripping toasted granary. Main dishes allow for some sophisticated comfort with dry aged steaks teamed with roasted bone marrow, Meantime beer battered cod or roast racks of lamb. Those looking for something lighter may prefer the Spring vegetable linguine or the Beyond Meat vegan burger. Sides of sprouting broccoli, minted new potatoes and buttered spring greens are tempting extras. To finish, fine apple tart with Calvados ice cream or the salted caramel tart with gingerbread ice cream could be a satisfying finale to your experience. To describe the wine list as extensive feels an understatement, you will have a varied choice of wines - many available by the glass. Despite being an extensive list, the carefully curated structure of the wine list allows you to discover exactly what you are looking for.

With the charm and sophistication of a Parisian cafe, this food-lovers lair is an impressive destination for a decadent breakfast, a bistro-style lunch or for intimate evening dining, or perhaps you may even want to head insite for a late night dessert and a glass of something special.