abc kitchens at The Emory

Even by the high standards of the Maybourne Hotel Group (overseers of The Berkeley, Claridges et al), The Emory is lavish. A nude bronze statue welcomes you into a courtyard of palms and Japanese acers, and beyond, the hotel boasts a private member’s club for guests and an array of suites, the cheapest of which runs at about £1800 a night. The goal seems clear - to whisk the ultra-rich away from prying eyes, but put them still well in walking range of Harrods.

If you want a little taste of the high life, you can get it courtesy of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s abc kitchens, which is open to the public. Vongerichten already has a restaurant at The Connaught but this is a London debut for his core abc brand, which is hugely popular in the US and all over the world.

The abc kitchens interiors are just as striking as the rest of the hotel, with styling that is very of the moment. Yes, there’s Damien Hirst artwork on the walls. The seats are backed in plush cream bouclé. There’s something slightly space age about all the curves on show, whether it’s the bulbous glassware, the beautiful undulation of the timber banquettes or the copper pendants, which look like something the Jetsons might have lived in.

The signature abc style is about lightness, switching up traditional Gallic crutches like cream, butter and rich meat stocks for lighter dressings and juices. This is evident all over the menu with dishes that gravitate towards brightness and freshness. An enormous dosa arrives with coconut yoghurt and a lemon dressing for dipping, and it’s an excellent thing to tear at before the bigger dishes arrive. The best dishes don’t lack any flavour for the absence of dairy and stocks - we loved the crisp crab toasts, where white crab meat is lifted by dill and lemon aioli, as well as a hearty bowl of arroz con pollo that hums with lemon zest and black pepper.

Any problems were very minor - crispy sole tacos could have been on the crispier side, for example, and the battered maitake mushrooms felt a bit lacking in flavour. Aside from that, abc kitchens is already an extremely slick operation, right through to outstanding wine pairings. If you want to feel like a millionaire for a day, abc kitchens certainly fits the bill.

Abc kitchens is the flagship, all-day restaurant at The Emory hotel in Belgravia, and the first London outpost of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s world-renowned abc kitchens group. Between the artworks of contemporary legends such as Damien Hirst, abc invites guests to dine in this elegant restaurant, with views across Hyde Park.

Set in the heart of Belgravia, abc kitchens is Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s second UK culinary project, following his restaurant at The Connaught. After making his name in New York City, the renowned French born chef is bringing his vision of Upper East side chic to the edges of London’s most famous park.

Although designed by superyacht architect Remi Tessier, abc kitchens claims to have an approachable, vibrant interior, with a clear contemporary vision. What is for sure, the incredible views and modern elegant designs guarantee a perfect distinguished atmosphere for luxury dining.

Abc offers a wide set of choices with its modern international menu, which includes everything from dosas, to pea guacamole, to pizza and celeriac katsu curry. Vongerichten’s cooking takes on a huge range of global influences, delivering a wide-spectrum of dishes with dependable levels of precision.

For something more substantial, guests can try the zesty chimichurri tenderloin or the wagyu beef. But vegetarians are not left out here, with an entire dedicated section on the menu - the star choice there being the beer batter maitake mushroom of course.

When it comes to drinks, abc kitchens sticks to the theme and offers a very wide range of cocktails inspired by cultures from all over the world. Provided courtesy of The Emory bar, just downstairs from the restaurant, guests can choose from bar classics, or one of the bar’s signature Palomas.

Between the stunning interiors and the broad culinary offering, the renowned chef’s second UK venture offers an opportunity to experience outstanding luxury dining.