Quietly tucked away inside The Kensington Close Hotel, this restaurant offers a peaceful haven away from the fast pace of the city.

The Venue
It is hard to imagine the quality of food and service that you will receive upon entering the Blue Smoke Steakhouse. The restaurant is located next to the sports bar in the hotel and has been designed with a North American theme with cornflower blue walls, coloured lights and black and white prints of the legendary Rat Pack – a strange combination to say the least!

The Atmosphere
Let the gentle tone of Frank Sinatra ease you into your evening. The music is played at a comfortable level and the atmosphere is formal. Service at this restaurant is impeccable as the staff are friendly, attentive and well-informed.

The Food
The food at Blue Smoke is outstanding. Once seated, diners are offered a selection of bread – all fresh and very moreish. The pan-seared scallops make an excellent light starter and are served in a rich cheese sauce - surprisingly the creamy sauce combines well with the juicy scallops creating a unique dish. The pan-roasted crab cakes are very tasty and contain lovely fresh crab meat – they’re also seasoned to perfection. Diners are then presented with a pear and champagne sorbet to cleanse the palate – this is subtle and a nice surprise to the meal.

There is a range of fish and meat courses offered as a main, with seafood dishes ranging from £16 - £21 (£35 for a whole lobster) and meat dishes from £18 - £27, depending on the size and cut. The fillet of sea bass makes a delicious choice. The two pieces of fish are beautifully presented with creamy curried potatoes and a little scoop of tomato risotto – again the combination works really well, the fish is super fresh and the creamy yet light potatoes and zesty rice melt in the mouth. The beef filet mignon is divine and tender, and is served with a pink peppercorn sauce that’s flavoursome and fragrant. Desserts are quite heavy compared to the other light dishes, but the New Orleans banana foster is a sweet tooth’s dream! Little chunks of banana with caramel sauce and ice-cream – bliss! The Florida key lime pie is nice and zesty but a little on the stodgy side.

The Drink
There is an excellent selection of wines and other alcoholic beverages available. The house white is light, easy to drink and ideal for fish dishes, whereas the house red is smooth and complex and perfect for steak.

The Last Word
The Blue Smoke Steakhouse is a very good restaurant – the food is excellent and the service is unrivalled. It is a shame that the restaurant is located next to the sports bar – it would be nice to see it move to a more glamourous location in the hotel, as this is what it truly deserves.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (1) image gallery (2)