THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Room at The Halcyon

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Room at The Halcyon Restaurant Review:

The Halcyon is a discreet townhouse hotel in one of London’s smartest addresses---Holland Park. The downstairs restaurant, somewhat unimaginatively called The Room at The Halcyon, is a large, airy room with a stone-paved floor and a small terrace at the back. It’s been through some changes recently with the arrival of young Toby Hill, formerly at Gordleton Mill in Lymington, Hampshire, then at Gordon Ramsay. Fish is now a clear favourite: a list of seven starters included a startlingly good red mullet and saffron soup with croûtons and rouille, and ravioli of lobster and langoustine with a shellfish vinaigrette (with a £5 supplement). From the main courses of four fish and three meat dishes, a sauté of John Dory was perfectly timed, coming with crispy bacon, braised lettuce and a chicken and foie gras velouté; while the caramelised breast of duck comes with baby vegetables and Chinese five-spice sauce, reinforcing the light spicy marinade of the duck. Hill has made a name for his desserts, but these are overcomplicated in presentation and incorporate too many tastes, with spun sugar spinning everywhere in his pistachio parfait with caramelised fruit and rum syrup. Hill has also transformed the bar menu which now incorporates dishes like tempura of vegetables and king prawns with soya sauce along with the old favourites of battered cod with chips with a pea and truffle purée. Set 2-course lunch £18, 3 courses £23; set 2-course dinner £35, 3 courses £43; Bar menu 3 courses £17.50.