Taking stock of a decade doing delicious justice to classic Italian dishes, Theo Randall has reopened his restaurant at the InterContinental after an interiors refurb and the addition of a few new menu items. Great news! And the best news about the reopening is that Chef Randall has managed to maintain all the qualities that already had made his eatery one of my favourite places for Italian food.
The main dining area of the restaurant has been made more intimate with brass screens and a subdued colour scheme. A new Kitchen Table for eight with views into the kitchen has been introduced and is coupled with the opportunity to enjoy at the table special tasting menus created 24-hours beforehand. There’s a new second private dining room for up to 40 guests now as well. Separated by sliding door, when connected together the two private rooms can host seated events with 60 guests or drinks receptions for 100. This new dining space is also where regularly scheduled masterclasses with Theo. The bar’s been redesigned too and now features a sommelier’s table for large group entertaing or casual pre-dinner drinks (including one of the best Negroni’s served in town).
Nice digs! But the real reason you ought to re-visit Theo Randall is the chance to dig in to the food. New signature dishes include a sformato di Fontina (baked Fontina cheese soufflé with spinach, cream and black truffle); taglierini con gamberetti e carciofi (handmade pasta with brown shrimps, artichoke, chilli and butter); ravioli con cime di rapa (ravioli of turnip greens, ricotta and pecorino di Pienza); and Trota salmonata (roasted wild rainbow trout with slow cooked fennel, datterini tomatoes, Italian spinach, capers and Taggiasche olives).
While there you’d be wise to peruse (and sip from) Head Sommelier Vittorio Gentile’s wine list – a rich, elegant and far from ordinary read with an excellent range of natural wines from young artisan winemakers and an extensive selection of Italian wines by the glass.
Theo Randall at the Intercontinental is located inside the InterContinental London Park Lane, at One Hamilton Place, W1J 7QY. Find out more at theorandall.com.
