The Connaught, London, England UK

Thoroughly enjoyed at the lobby lounge within The Connaught Hotel in London's Mayfair.

The recommendation came in crystal clear: you must get a martini at The Connaught Hotel.

Few recommendations were given so passionately, and I decided to stop the property for this cocktail prior to my night out.

The itinerary suggestion delivered – what a fantastic experience. Excellent martini made right in front of me in a bustling, overly posh atmosphere where I felt privileged to secure at table at 5pm. This was a unique and exciting experience, and I thanked my friends for their guidance on it.

Anyone who enjoys a martini should find time to visit The Connaught Hotel during their stay in London.

But I digress…

On my way out, I noticed their lobby lounge had 2 club sandwiches listed on the menu: a standard version and a vegetarian variation. If that martini blew me away, their club must come with similar pizzazz and finesse.

The next day for a very late lunch, I stopped by The Connaught to procure their club and enjoy what I hoped would be a well-executed creation. And for novel excitement, I opted for the vegetarian version – a twist I had very high expectations for.

Every seat taken at 3:30pm, once again I felt lucky to be sitting in such a posh and packed establishment while it pored rain outside in true British fashion.

So well presented, I appreciated the unique plate chosen for the quartered club, as well as the bound triple toothpick approach to secure each portion together. Creamy and nutty avocado delicately shingled very well against the thinly sliced tomato and hearty artichoke. The “protein” portion of this meal delivered in the way I was hoping for, while not overpowering the softness of all of the other ingredients. Loved that artichoke. Fluffy and crispy lightly toasted bread was placed with an almost perfect attention to ratio.

The real star of this dish was the sauce usage. Not listed on the menu, I had to ask the waiter what this divine ingredient was: chipotle peppercorn mayo. Smokey, sweet, not overpowering, perfectly additive.

The French fries became an addictive accompaniment that I tried my best not to nosh on, failing miserably. Crispy, crunchy, with a delicate interior. Not overly salty, nor oily.

Impeccable service, and once again, a smashing experience.

I loved my meal, and promised myself I would be back.

Location