It's not often we're left speechless. In fact, it's rare, very rare. As we sat al fresco and took a gulp of the tomato-based concoction presented before us, no words needed to be exchanged. To this day (a week or so later), we remain none the wiser as to what the Tomatini is comprised of. We could taste a blissful blend of bruschetta-like flavours- fresh, tangy, aromatic, plus a notable hit of alcohol. As Bloody Mary critics, it's something we would never have chosen for ourselves. Thankfully, the waiter insisted, and so, our first sip on the intimate terrace of La Petite Maison will remain etched in our memories as our first time left speechless. And that was only the beginning.
Thanks to Mayfair's esteemed status, many restaurants in its area are given an undeserved accolade. Upscale elegance can bring with it snobbiness and subpar food. However, La Petite Maison is one of the exceptions. This is the type of place that makes you feel special- it's hard not to when the waiter arrives with a theatrically large pepper shaker to top your cocktails off with some seasoning. Quality surpasses snobbery here, a fusion of Mayfair's grace with a breath of fresh air from the French Riviera, resulting in dishes that are deserving of the crisp, linen tablecloth they are placed on. The menu is a blend of French, Italian and Mediterranean influences. Think sun-soaked artichokes, zesty lemons, meaty olives, juicy tomatoes, and the finest of meats and seafood. In their own words, the ingredients used "are sourced with painstaking attention to detail. They are prepared with techniques of extreme care and precision, à la minute, to protect their integrity. And they arrive at the table the moment they are ready."
It is one of those menus that is notoriously difficult to whittle down. Everything sounds equally delicious, so we left it in the hands of our kind waiter to decide on what dishes would be best for us. The Burrata was first to arrive, topped with cherry tomatoes, leaves of basil and a drizzle of olive oil. Burrata is a typical crowd-pleaser, it's creamy cheese, after all. Yet this dish managed to exceed expectations. The burst of flavour from the tomatoes and basil was something you simply couldn't recreate with ingredients from your local shop. They were undeniably fresh, and paired with the soft cheese, it was nothing short of incredible. The plate was clean in a matter of moments.
To follow were two salads. The first was of Green Lentils with Apple and Burnt Tomatoes. To our surprise, we realised this was the first dish we have tried that paired apple and tomatoes together. A simple medley of ingredients, but one that works so well. The other salad was of Corn and Pomegranate. Again, an assortment of various sweet flavours that merge seamlessly together in each bite. If you tend to skim past the salads on a dinner menu, our advice would be to refrain from doing so at La Petite Maison. A healthy choice, indeed. However, these are not salads as you might know them.
For a larger plate, we decided on the Salt-Baked Sea Bass. The fish fillet was delicate, cooked to a buttery perfection and topped warm medley of tender artichoke and cherry tomatoes. The subtle drizzle of herb-infused olive oil ties everything together, giving it that fresh from the Med finish. Our final savoury dish of the night was the Marinated Baby Chicken, which we nearly overlooked. Has anyone ever been truly blown away by chicken? After one bite we sat, eyes widened, and yet again, left speechless. It seems that in fact, one can be blown away by chicken, and if you, like us, are under the impression that "surely chicken can only be so good", you must come here and try the succulent, juicy, perfectly salted dish that is the Marinated Baby Chicken. Arguably one of our best meals to date.
Last but not least, we shared a generous dish of Crème Brûlée, cracking open the caramelised topping to reveal the creamy, silky custard with hints of vanilla underneath. Comforting, elegant, and wonderfully moreish- it summed up our meal, and was the perfect ending to a flawless evening.
La Petite Maison, we will be back.
