ViajanteDefinitely top of my listReasons:
- the appetisers were absolutely delicious and that was even before our courses started!
- the wine pairing option was really very good and I loved the fact they didn't limit themselves to wine for the last course....
- the staff are very attentive and knowledgable of the food and cooking techniques
- the food is bold and adventurous but not so adventurous that it confuses your taste buds and doesn't taste "good"
- there is no truffle in sight (such an overpowering taste and seems to be used in all top restaurants!)
- the setting of the restaurants is totally not pretentious
- we went for 6 courses with pairing and although we were full we weren't uncomfortably full
- the food is truly superb! And menu is earthy, natural and clean.16/05/2013 00:00:00We had very pleasant lunch.We had very pleasant lunch. Service was very attentive but not over the top. The 6 course tasting menu was most enjoyable, with some interesting combinations. Yes we will be returning12/05/2013 00:00:00Michelin Qlty, Supper Club AmbienceAmazing food, Amazing Service. Not only do you get to see Nuno Mendes in action, as kitchen is open to the dining room, he serves the food along with every other staff member. All hands on deck, from hostess to head chef, your table is serviced by everyone! Feels and acts just like a supper club, yet the food is Michelin star quality. What a fantastic night! Door opened for me twice by the head chef, very cool touch! We then went for drinks at the bar, and there came Nuno again with some sample desserts! I was impressed! Worth the high price tag!11/05/2013 00:00:0012 course food and wine odysseyViajante was just as fantastic as hoped. 12 courses turns out to be about 16 with the amuse bouche & petit fours, so come hungry, but everything is so perfectly sized & paced that you don't leave stuffed, just the right amount of joyfully full...
Highly recommend wine pairing, chosen with dedication to bring out flavours. A meal here is a wonderful experience to share with friends & discuss, you could just as easily people-watch the whole time, as the service & choreography in the room from the staff, & the table visit from Nuno Mendes is a class act to behold.
Fantastic restaurant. Fully deserving of its 59th best in the world plaudit, can't believe it's my local. I shall be back when I have another special occasion & the money to spend!11/05/2013 00:00:00My first visit to this restaurantMy first visit to this restaurant and I was absolutely blown away by the majority ofthe food here, there were a couple of real eye openers as far as the flavours were concerned. When you coupled this with the relaxed style of service and friendly knowledgable staff it made for an amazing evening, it is now on my list of places to return to, and to be fait they should have 2 stars!!10/05/2013 00:00:00Great unique experienceOverall an outstanding experience of extraordinary unusual tastes and delicious foods. Quite expensive and could be priced a bit less. Nevertheless, it was worth it.10/05/2013 00:00:00Great staff and food ....goodGreat staff and food ....good wine and saki pairings and despite never being convinced old town halls make good restaurant venues this one works...
Even debated the merits of the deep fried mars bar with chef and would be interested to his take on it10/05/2013 00:00:00fantasticWe had a good time at the restaurant, It was a new experience trying these melecular cousines; we enjoyed every minute of it.09/05/2013 00:00:00Excellent DinnerEnjoyed a great dinner with friends here. It's all suprise menues. Very inventive, great skill and very friendly service. a must for foodies.20/04/2013 00:00:00Excellent and InnovativeJust had the 9 course tasting menu on Saturday (NB. must be ordered by 1230pm) at Viajante.The ambiance in Vijante is relaxed and decor simple yet sophistocated (though not pretentious). Had Autumn Leaves (aperitife) - recommended for anyone who likes an old fashioned - and wine tasting which was not the best I have had (Hibiscus) but reasonably priced. The food I would describe as fresh and original. Ingredients and preparation as opposed to any sauce/butter drive the taste whilst the iberian pork for example is one of the best I have tasted and a rather unique cut too. Very welcoming place and highly recommended20/04/2013 00:00:00Viajante reviewExcellent food, lots of small 'snacks' prior to the 3 course lunch. Each item was delicious, the service very attentive. They dont give a choice or a menu - instead they get your dietary requirements/allergies and bring out the various courses that they have designed. You also get a nice printed menu at the end of the meal with all the items youve consumed.
£35 for lunch is good value for the quality of food, though it did take us around 2.5 hrs from start to finish so it isnt a place you can go for a cheeky lunch.19/04/2013 00:00:00Amazing experience!The food was outstanding. We went for the 9 course blind tasting menu which takes to you on a culinary experience. The portions were on the small side but that's because of the amount of food you'll be getting altogether including the amuse bouche. The highlight dishes were pig tail & crackling and the cucumber, lemon ice and milk cream palate cleanser. The service was great the staff were attentive and we had the head chef Nuno Mendes who presented a course at our table. Highly recommended but you'll need to save up for this as its pricey but well worth it!18/04/2013 00:00:00Where are the stars?Thank you for a memorable, wonderful meal! Every course of 6 was just brilliant. Wine pairing was impeccable. Your staff was courteous and the kitchen was generous with "amuses bouche" and in excellent form. I'll be back and expect to see stars. Michelin, where are you?12/04/2013 00:00:00Amazing taste sensationsI can't recommend the 12-course tasting menu enough. Your tastebuds will be tantalised after 5 amuse-bouche delicacies. The menu changes, but expect to discover tastes and textures from the supposedly simple ("carrot") to the sublime (scallop, amaranth, liquorice, caraway...). I loved the food, and really enjoyed the service - perhaps odd, as great service should be unobtrusive. But if you're lucky enough to get a table in front of Viajante's open kitchen, you see perfect dishes emerging one after the other, carefully finished, then brought to your table with reverence. But it's a happy reverence: the waiters and sommeliers seem to be genuinely enjoying being part of Viajante. They are smiling, and when you leave, you will be too!12/04/2013 00:00:0012course menuWe were a party of four seeking a special experience. And what an experience! The level of service was outstanding, and the food was exciting and well tasting. We opted for the wine pairing, and the wine and the food complemented eachother perfectly.06/04/2013 00:00:00Our lunch at Viajante wasOur lunch at Viajante was mind dazzling in a positive sense. Taste, flavor and the the presentation of the food was a great experience. Expect the unexpected.06/04/2013 00:00:00My wife and I chose ViajanteMy wife and I chose Viajante as it was the most easterly michelin starred restaurant in the city and we were not disappointed. The bar was excellent and is worth a visit in its own right. We had the nine course tasting menu with beverage pairings and we enjoyed each course and all the additional canapes that were served.
Would definitely recommend a visit.03/04/2013 00:00:00Amazing Food!I have returned to the restaurant second time in 2 weeks for their 9 course menu. Out of all the top restaurants I have tried in London in years. This is actually on top of my list. Will recommend it to anyone :)31/03/2013 00:00:00Never fails to pleaseThis was the second time we went to this restaurant. This time we took out parents. Menu was excellent. The waiters were pleasant and knowledgeable. Great ambience. Gorgeous furnishings.
There are a few things that feature in the menu that were the same 6 months ago but we were very happy to see them again.31/03/2013 00:00:00AmazingWe had the 6 courses with the matching wine and the food and wine were all fabulous. The desserts were the best I and my partner have ever had. The bread also was incredible - I didn't know bread could be that good.
Every mouthful was a taste sensation.
There were a lot of fish/seafood courses/tasters but you could say anything you didn't want at the start for them to substitute.
The portions were tiny so you don't leave feeling completely bloated. The six courses with the tasters in between were just enough to make you feel you've had just the right amount to eat. I wouldn't go there if I were starving as you'd be wanting more. It's more for people who love the taste of food and interesting food combinations.31/03/2013 00:00:00Easy to book and good value.Easy to book and good value. I was surprised (especially since the other places I had lunch/dinner during my stay in London were almost as expensive and quite far from the quality of this one). Service was good and nice. The only thing was that we were 5 people and they could not accommodate us overlooking the kitchen... but I guess that is just a minor detail :)
It was a bit slow (it took us 3 hours to lunch) which kind of cut our day in between, but other than that it was a great experience!29/03/2013 00:00:00Very innovative, friendlyVery innovative, friendly and informal restaurant. Each course was a revelation and a pleasure to experience the variety of ingredients and clever execution of flavours and textures. Would love to return for the full on 12 course dinner tasting menu. Room could do with some attention but service and food were excellent.24/03/2013 00:00:0012 course tasting menu is a must!relaxed atmosphere while enjoying delicious and special dishes.
The wine pairing was a bit too expensive for the quality of wines served.23/03/2013 00:00:00Superb restaurant. As goodSuperb restaurant. As good as it gets in my opinion.
cheers
sam22/03/2013 00:00:002nd time aroundOur 2nd time at Viajante,, and it was as magical and exquisite as the first. The biggest thing about this restaurant is that while being very creative and high-end, they go out of their way to ensure that they are making you happy.
It's not a self-centred chef restaurant. It's a place where innovative, unbelievable food is created in plain view, in order to make your meal an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.17/03/2013 00:00:00The room was cosy, simpleThe room was cosy, simple and elegant, no white starched table clothes to deal with. The first thing that took me aback though was how calm the kitchen was, everything being cooked and compiled in near silence with chefs working around each other on the same dishes with seamless movements.
The service was relaxed, attentive and professional. Instead of having one waiter servicing us all night different members of staff (including chefs) gathered plates, laid cutlery, poured drinks etc which again seemed to happen like magic.
The food itself was heavily focused on fish and pork (no problem for me there) and every dish tasted fantastic, in particular the razor clam linguine was delicious, as was the desert simply named 'milk'. Great!16/03/2013 00:00:00Amazing foodI never write reviews but i felt that i had to for this restaurant. Words can't describe how good the food was. Especially the lamb saddle :p16/03/2013 00:00:00So glad........that we followed up on two recommendations to visit Viajante. Not an area we usually visit but definitely worthwhile. Loved Viajante. The food on the 9 course lunch menu was sensational and well matched to the wines. The ambience is excellent - relaxing and friendly - and we enjoyed the vibe much more than at some Michelin starred restaurants where the staff seem in awe of the food rather than proud and enthusiastic about it as was the case here. We had a great view into the kitchen to see the meticulous preparation. Definitely one to recommend and a very different food experience.15/03/2013 00:00:00Viajante Bethnall GreenThe restaurant has an open Kitchen and many of the tables have a good view, the service as you would expect is excellent and the chefs serve 2 or 3 dishes themselves which is a nice touch. The food is the main reason for visiting here, we had 6 course tasting menu. There are numerous appetizers before you start which makes it about 11 courses. The food itself is experimental as with Nuno Mendes' other Ventures and again some are excellent some don't quite come off. I find anything including Pork he excels. We had cocktails which were delicious and the wine was Ok not amazing. I think£70 a head for a tasting menu such as this it's pretty good value and whilst you probably wouldn't keep coming back its a good place for a special occasion.15/03/2013 00:00:00Magnificent food, excellent serviceMy experience at Viajante was great. The food is varied, everything's perfectly cooked and there are excellent surprises in the blind tasting menu. The ambience is lovely, ideal for a romantic evening or a meal with friends. Service was outstanding, attentive but not obtrusive. I definitely recommend a visit!14/03/2013 00:00:00Amazing meal!Such intense and interesting flavours! The service was attentive and efficient. Even though there are many courses, one did not feel over fed. The kitchen kept sending out such innovative dishes that you looked forward to what was coming next! Would highly recommend!13/03/2013 00:00:00Outstanding menu de degustation.
IOutstanding menu de degustation.
I would like to have alternative for another ocasion.09/03/2013 00:00:00AwesomeExcellent restaurant. Great food and service. Lovely decor. The variety of food was superb with good choice of drinks and fantastic service. Great value for money. Can't wait to go again.09/03/2013 00:00:00Birthday LunchExcellent special occasion venue. Charming staff, who seem genuinely enthusiastic about the food and the wine.08/03/2013 00:00:00FabulousMy second time at Viajante, and almost as perfect as the first time which was faultless. As the last time, the food was unique, well presented and of outstanding quality, evidently lovingly prepared with great attention to flavours and detail. Staff is very efficient and friendly. The only critisism I would have is that the music was inappropriately chosen and too loud. I think a restuaranrt like this can do without music alltogether.07/03/2013 00:00:00Perfect nightI brought my other half here for his birthday, neither of us had been here before but from the moment we walked in we were made to feel welcome. We sat down in the bar for a cocktail first, the waiters were very friendly and helpful with drink choices. We did ask for olives that never arrived but after the meal it was probably a good thing! The meal we had was 6 course but it felt more! The dishes were creative and tasted amazing. My boyfriend doesn't eat seafood but he trusted the chef to prepare shellfish dishes which went down really well. The champagne we were recommended was lovely as was the whole feel of the restaurant. Definitely be going there again.06/03/2013 00:00:00FantasticSecond time here for a tasting menu and it was as exquisite and sublime as the first. Great attention to detail with the dishes and the textures and flavours really are fantastic. Treat yourself and visit Viajante.23/02/2013 00:00:00A fantastic afternoon at ViajanteUnusual, innovative, exciting and modern, we had a fantastic 9 course lunch at Viajante. With 17 different dishes over 9 courses the meal was everything I had expected and had been looking forward to. Vegetarians are catered for equally as well as non vegetarians, with similar effort and innovation being applied to the vegetarian tasting menu's.16/02/2013 00:00:00Fantastic lunchThis was our second visit to Viajante and it was just as special as the first. This time we had the three course lunch with the wine pairing, it was a delicious, challenging and exciting experience. I would really recommend the wine pairing as the specially selected wines really add another dimension to the dishes. We had a view of the kitchen this time and enjoyed watching our dishes being prepared with meticulous care. Service was courteous and friendly, with staff very knowledgeable and able to answer questions on the food and wine. Although expensive I still think Viajante is good value, due to the exquiste food and excellent service.16/02/2013 00:00:00A surprising gemWe had a superb nine-course blind tasting lunch menu, full of surprising innovations. Each course was excellent. Its hard to find any fault with this restaurant.15/02/2013 00:00:00Went for the 9 course tastingWent for the 9 course tasting menu and with all of the entrees it turned out to be 16 courses! Go with an empty stomach or else you'll feel bad that you can't taste everything.
Each course was very good and I was happy with the portion sizes for a 9 course menu, never felt that I was getting skimped. Being Portuguese influenced there was a lot of seafood (and some very different parts of fish that I'd never normally eat) so if you aren't a massive fan then I'd avoid. The food was good and the service excellent, however I felt that the food was a little overpriced when compared to other top dining experiences that I've had.09/02/2013 00:00:00Expectations exceeded at Viajante.Outstanding presentation and incredible food.
I booked dinner for two for my girlfriend's birthday and she was not disappointed (neither was I!).
We went for the six course option (without wine pairing) but with all the amuse bouche it seemed like a lot more.
I would certainly recommend this place for a special occasion. Chef Nuno Mendes knows how to amaze and delight!08/02/2013 00:00:00Amazing foodWent for the 9 course menu which was amazing but also overpriced.08/02/2013 00:00:00We had an amazing time withWe had an amazing time with the delicious food and easy- going service. The staff gives you the feeling to be part of the whole restaurant. You can have a look how the chefs plate their dishes and the 9 courses menu is not too much nor too little. Impressive is also the combination of wine and food. Overall we had a great time and would always take the time to come back.03/02/2013 00:00:00Probably the best food I haveProbably the best food I have had in London. Simply outstanding.02/02/2013 00:00:00Amazing tasting menuWent to Viajante as bday treat for my mum. Service was very attentive and the only flaw was that one of the main dishes was served and the pairing wine was served a few minutes later(the waiter rushed to serve it as soon as he noticed). Went for the 3 course tasting menu but in reality we were served around 7 plates as starters are included. As expected on a tasting menu portions are small but by the end of it we were completely satisfy! Food was amazing and the chef very friendly. It's not a cheap meal but then it's not an everyday restaurant either. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to try a restaurant with a Michelin star!02/02/2013 00:00:00A wonderful revelationJust occasionally you are confronted by an absolute delight. The decor and ambience are calming and the staff very relaxed. Moving into the dining room you are immediately drawn to the bevy of chefs working in a calm and meticulous fashion. Dinner itself is a selection of 6, 9 or 12 individual dishes served as a tasting menu. You can also chose your own wine or go with the sommelier recommendation of a wine per course. The food was exceptional. Another joy was the knowledge of the staff, who are all encouraged to eat at the restaurant.
All in all, a wonderful evening and one of those seminal food events you get in your life. I would heartily recommend this restaurant for: ambience; food; service and culinary brilliance.29/01/2013 16:00:00Outstanding food with a veryOutstanding food with a very minimalistic decoration works just fine.
I'm one of those who don't like to watch what is going on on the kitchen area, but if you do like, this is can also be part of your experience.
The restaurant uses blind menus (3,6,9 or 12 courses), I loved the idea to receive the menu list on a paper sheet in the end, because its not always easy to identify all the ingredients even if you receive a brief explanation before each course.26/01/2013 16:00:00The Best Place I Have ever BeenNot only is the atmosphere and ambience unambiguous, the service you receive from everyone there is friendly and goes all out to make you feel like the only person in the restaurant. Lastly, but definitely not least the food is out of this world delicious, original and perfect in every way. Every restaurant should take a leaf out of Viajante's book.26/01/2013 16:00:00amazingone of the best meals I ever had, down to the lemon-ice-cucumber palate cleanser!25/01/2013 16:00:00