I TESTED One of LONDON'S MOST EXCITING Restaurants - Ikoyi (2 Michelin Star)
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Today, we travel to London to discover Ikoyi for ourselves.
It’s a restaurant that refuses to be labeled, and loves to keep people guessing.
It’s why they’ve been called the most misunderstood restaurant in Britain.
In 2022, Ikoyi received their 2nd Michelin star. Head chef is Jeremy Chan, and the managing director is Iré Hassan-Odukale.
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Watch me critique my restaurant - • Critiquing MY OWN MICH...
Follow my journey on instagram: / alexandertheguest
My name is Alexander. I’m the co-owner of a ONE Michelin star restaurant, and I’m on a mission - to find inspiration in gastronomy. I love fine dining, good wine and sharing what I know with other people.
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Check out my restaurant:
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Got my Hot Pocket out the microwave and ready to watch Alexander
A Michelin star Hot Pocket i hope
@mystery2156
Of course! It's a massive tortellini filled with truffel whipped ricotta with a 48h chianti fig reduction and seasoned with the finest Korean bamboo salt.
@@MrWhangdoodles sounds like something i wouldn't eat (which means its probably michelin worthy) 😅
Can of soup for me.
😂👌
I love this footage. Personally, I would appreciate the portion size and the dishes themselves. I also thought that the area you were given was fantastic and the tableware was very stylish. Definitely a place I would love as I like to be surprised and experience something I was not expecting. What a fabulous venue xx
I like the progression from elegant to rustic, it allowed me to be more relaxed as I went through it.
Agree 👍 ATG is just an Uber-Snob 😂
@@geirarnesen6531 If you're paying $450 for a 14 course menu and the presentation gets progressively worse half-way through I'd say you have every right to be slightly disappointed. It has nothing to do with being a snob
When you give a restaurant 1 star and the next week the restaurant gets 2 Michelin stars. That’s the biggest slap in the face you could get XDD
That was 5 years. The 1 star reviews he showed was 2017. 2022 they had 2 Michelin stars. Also the reviews were saying the food didn’t taste good, two that I read said they were from West Africa.
I think chef Jeremy will now gift you a bottle of his finest Krug because he'll take on board your comments fully regarding portion sizes.. he'll now halve all his portions and double his profit margins!😂
The lighting was too dark but the food looked amazing, from what you could see.
It is much better in the main room. I find private rooms souless.
They should have lights in the room that get dimmed by a switch when the waitor/waitress enters, putting focus onto the center of the table as they say out the dishes. That way, they can turn the lights back up as they leave
Absolutely loved seeing the inclusion of Alex Pole, he's a genius metalworker and I've been incorporating his scraps into my pottery for a while now. Fantastic stuff as always, Alexander!
ATG is great for highlighting all the artists for sure! That's why this is the best High end food review channel for me, it's 3-star attention to detail in the video reviews themselves as well!
You can tell these reviews are so fair that the restaurants will watch them and think, you're totally right.
The presentation on the back end definitely dropped, watching people clean a kitchen as you are still finishing your meal is not a vibe at all (kinda says 'we wanna go home, so hurry up please, we don't care how much you're paying...' - That bill for 3 people (obviously due to the wine as always! ;) ) was massive so you would think would want to make you feel special to the end.
I don't own a resto but a good rule of thumb for clients paying this much to me is that no one should start cleaning until ALL guests have left surely?
Either way, seems like they're on the path to 3 stars, and probably all the details like the presentation and everything just need time to catch up with the creative mind of the Chef! Which I'm sure they will :) 🙏
*Finishes Chicago Town 'Mini' Pizza numero dos
I went in 2019 and really enjoyed it. My two guests were Nigerian though and they weren't as impressed, because they were expecting more traditional takes, whereas it was all pretty new for me. I went to Akoko last weekend and liked that foray into West Africa a lot too, as did everyone else, including two who had never been to a Michelin starred restaurant before.
Damn! A new video just when i was about to start dinner, GREAT!
The sake you got Daruma Masamune is one of my favorites. It's a Koshu or aged sake and gets better the older the sake is. The 10/15 year age one would remind you of a old sweet wine.
UNFORTUNATELY we had a similar yet worse experience than you ... The caviar razor clam and beet dish was incredible (that was the only one) the first few bites were nice but servers didnt explain what it was clearly and left me utterly confused. After the caviar dish I got served a Lobster with ITS POOP SHOOT STILL INSIDE!!!? I thoroughly dont think that they deserve two michelin stars. (Thats schoolboy error not michelin level error) Time between courses was extremely long and over 45 minutes on multiple occasions. Lunch was a waste of money because they wanted to pump out the food and prep for dinner. After the cooks in charge of the first courses finished their courses they were responsible for they dissapeared into the back never to be seen again. Making service times suffer drastically. After eating the lobster shit I was no longer engaged and just disgusted and felt ripped off. Plating was haphazard like you experienced refined and then rustic all over the place. Complex but not delicious in some cases. Overall I would recommend to stay away from this place. 👎👎👎
Yep poop sort of stops any experience, better to leave and come back in future or never. Just did that with a great AirBnB as well. Kindly leave and wish them all the best.
5:21 why did you put in a photo of Drake 🤣
Can't believe they already edited it out
This reminds me of when I went to Moments, a 2* in Barcelona. I told my wife it was "So good. So complex. It was intimidating". Then, I went to La Pergola, a 3* in Rome. I told my wife it was "So good. Seemingly, so simple. It was inspirational".
I always use that to explain to people a difference between 2 and 3 stars. There's a certain skill in just holding back a little, that's difficult to describe outside of emotions. By making it seem simple instead of complex - as somebody who also likes to cook - it tends to evoke a slightly different perspective. Almost a mystery as to how they can turn eggplant or tomato into this marvel of taste. It's a wonder. Yes, 18-25 ingredients working in a dish is awesome, but so it using basic ingredients to their absolute maximum.
There's a ton of skill and interesting things on display here. It feels like a place that will get a 3rd star in its future, almost regardless.
Also... As somebody who enjoys service and thinks it can amplify or detract from a great meal... I'm not sure if it was the private room setting, but this review gave me no idea on the service, how it worked, etc. Was it just quiet when you went? Was it small enough the chef was serving everybody? How was the banter and knowledge of the server with the sake? How did the off menu convo for that great wine happen? Etc :)
As ever, I really enjoyed the review. As a London based fan of food, I must make the effort to go here.
Culinary torture in my book. And I wouldn’t drink a Lucien LeMoine wine if it were €20 and not €2,000. He is a négociant who makes cloying, vulgar wines from several great appellations.
The lighting seemed a bit too low/dark although I am a fan of dimmed light. However the food looks excellent and very very tasty with nice portion.
Well in all fairness, 😀 the chef did say it’s not fine dining rather refined dining Alex 😅, to me it’s all of the above!
I just Subscribed. Whoever did please like this comment ❤
Ma boi and his batar monroche
Reviews are not everything , there are so many people that just blatantly lie when they write reviews I' ve seen it many times before. Also there is the other spectrum of business owners paying some Chinese company to do the fake reviews.
Another Sunday with Alex, heck yeah!
Can't help but agreeing with Alexander, the lightening looks bad and uncomfortable. I wouldn't be surprised if people got migraines at the end of their meal from squinting for a couple of hours.
Jeremy seems a cool dude. Would love to try their food. And surprised you don’t have millions of subs. Such great production. Keep it up, you’ll get there. 😊
Reviewers who take the soul out of dining by complaining about plating and portions😂
Do NOT invite Alex Hansen, Matt Stonie or Adam Moran here. Please.
seeing this while eating my 7.99 euro mcdonalds🔥
The restaurant is really trying to get their money's worth of that lazy susan.
They showed a picture of young drake instead of the owner😅
Wait a second - What do you mean "Nutella for adults?"
Dining in a darkroom. Place could use some light.
Go to moor hall!
so a restaurant opened by rich kids ? got it
Subbed last week! Loved this
Guys come on, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, the deserve them all
you gotta tell us who made your suit
I get upset if I spend more than $30 for a meal. 🤣😂I would never forgive myself for spending 5,246.13 for 3 people. You can buy a Grand Seiko Watch for that... Just saying.
Would you rather race an mx5 or a gt3?
@@thatcandont My Inifinty Q60 would smoke them... 😉
Yeah, but you can't eat a Grand Seiko. I'd get upset if I spent more than $400 for a watch. I'd never forgive myself for spending 5,246.13 for a single watch...you can buy a dinner for 3 with great wine and sake for that...Just saying!
@@karthikkonath3255 I am just jealous, because I am poor. LOL. I can't afford both. 🤣😂
I cannot believe you try to undermine paying that much for a meal only to suggest wasting it on something as hilariously superficial as a luxury watch.
...what a beautiful well deserved careful review, Alex ace. - Well done - not easy - inspiring for the next generation! - I will be there asap too ❤
Ikoyi is my most visited restaurant in the world been 9 times... and I haven't even been to the new site!!
I ve eaten in a lot of places around the world, but still the most memorable dishes would be from a meal at Ikoyi
Jeremy is a genius.
4600€ is always overprice...I love your channel but It is focus just on Michelin stars, and all of them around the world are the same, extremely expensive menus, and extremely stupid prices for wines, it's always the same. If you are looking for experiences, you definitely should avoid these places and try to find local experiences all around the world.
Fine dining these days look like KFC settings with a £400 price tag ,expensive ingredients to cover the price tag , I think it’s time to go back to real fine dining with a table cloth on the table and chairs with arm rests so you sit comfortably while the waiter pours your wine and debone the Dover Sole .
In other words I’m bored of these new style cuisine with overpriced menus .
I have not been to the restaurant, as I am not in the UK very frequently.
From what I have seen though, Ikoyi should not be classified as a Nigerian or West African restaurant. Apart from the name of the restaurant, suya spice (yaji) and jollof there were almost no African ingredients showcased let alone dishes familiar to someone who grew up in West Africa or at least inspired by them.
If you are looking for an acclaimed michelin starred restaurant Ikoyi might be a good option. If you want to try West African cuisine on a fine dining level though I suggest you look elsewhere.
Akoko in London for example or Mosuke in Paris.
Don't know WHY such an exclusive restaurant would use CHIPPED CHINA(the "oreo")......
I've always gotten Mc'Donalds after eating out at fine dining restaurants haha I guess I'm just a little piggy! XD
That scaled back tasting menu deal is fantastic, I love when Michelin level dining is made more accessible for normal people, because the people who can't normally afford it are often those who appreciate the art the most 🙂
Was waiting for this review for a while! Hopefully you get a chance to make a video dedicated to Tatiana and restaurants around NY.
So what's the controversy exactly? A Chinese-UK chef making food using nigerian spices? Seems more of a race/ethnic issue than anything to do with the food
I’d love a giveaway but I’d settle for a tie and pocket square! Maybe that blue blazer too. ❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂
Hmmm...the food combination culture Africa+Western & Japanese = fusion food good and not good enough
Ah yes, Ikoyi...very good, but perhaps the most overpriced restaurant in London. £350 just for the food is insane.
I would love the informality of the place and I suspect I would really like the lighting. The portion control seems too much, I would struggle. As for things like the sliced tomatoes, I think that could be OK if they are there for a purpose, but they didn’t seem to be.
Their website states, "Our tasting menu is £350." At £1,050 per person, I assume this was a special menu that is not the standard tasting menu. If Alexander mentioned it, I missed it.
Alexander mentioned he was uncomfortably full by the end. Perhaps the normal tasting menu is less food? Or are they over-compensating because every review from 2017 (I paused and read all of them) said the portions were tiny and overall, the meal was overpriced.
Based on the ingredients, I have a hard time imagining what almost anything tasted like. On paper, they seemed overly complicated, but I trust Alexander that they tasted good. I think it would be a tiring experience being hit with a million different ingredients per bite per course.
If this video didn't exist, and I saw these courses listed out, I'd have no interest in going since I can't imagine what I was going to get.
The fact they have a sake pairing does nothing to make this restaurant less confusing. As suggested at the beginning, I definitely thought it was a Japanese restaurant.
The private dining space was interesting, but the lighting was terrible. It doesn't need to be bright, but you should be able to see the food while you eat it.
ouuh wonder if some of the owners look at alex's videos for feedback... Would actually be so cool if they got their 3rd star and Alex comes back to compare, I really wonder if those small details in hospitality, presentation, pacing, wine selection is what elevates restaurants from 2 to 3
No puedes comparar los 3 primeros con el ultimo pues. Son otros conceptos. Yo prefiero que se demoren 10 minutos a que me den un pollo que esta hecho ahi
Ooh I have Alex Pole cook ware. BBQ tongs, and coal prong. Along with a pan. Cutlery is next on my list.
Plating my Tomato and Cottage cheese like in a disposable plate making it look michellene worthy
Nice subtext with the woman that says 'Shame!' from Game of Thrones after mentioning the people not subbing the channel
Me with my bowl of instant ramen watching Alexander in a 2 Star restaurant
An "S-tier" dish? I bet Alexander was an Orc Warrior back in the day!
Okay but the last sweet dish kind of looking like a winking smiley was cute AF :D
I prob won't complain about the amount of food until i saw the rice and steak after all you ate.
This restaurant haven’t been on my radar, but i would definitely go there. Interesting flavors
Oooh, I wonder what's the preparation on that onion caramel. That sounds amazing and I am so curious.
N25 Caviar serving restaurants are clearly getting exposure. I like it more if there's no commercial interest behind it but I would do the same and go eat at these fine dining restaurants anyway.
WHY do they say Caviar should only use Mother of Pearl spoon. Yet we keep seeing 3 Michele Star restaurants using stainless steel spoons BT 🇨🇦
Great clip! Very interesting looking place. I will be in London next may, and want to check it out 🎉
Another amazing video, Alexander! Keep it up...
The low light and secluded table looks great for an evening dinner with friends. Gives a warm feeling, especially being able to rotate food to friends.
They should have sent someone from the kitchen to the nearest supermarket (Tesco express literally 5 minute walk away) and served a single Oreo on a plate as one of the desserts as a joke! That would have been humour level 1000 :)
"just over 2000 EUR": I hope to be able to say that one day :)
Did he say “jessifizzle tomato?” Anybody catch that?
I just love❤ ur passion honestly. Tysm for ur amazing content
U are one of a kind on youtube
That room is tough to be in, it's like a place to have a cool poker game
I musy be a fatty. Every 3 Michelin* ive been to ive needed a slice of pizza or a burger after
Wow, that looked like a possible flavour overload there ?
Hope they note oyour comment re the lighting as guests would surely want to clearly see the dishes that they were about to enjoy
I really appreciate that they're doing their own thing, but in a genuinely original fashion.
For just a second whilst scrolling I thought that was Two-Tier Kier.
Are you planning on coming to Merseyside any time soon? Moor Hall and Solo are both amazing restaurants. Moor Hall has two stars and Solo has one.
Come to Park Hotel Vitznau, you would love to study that wine list, in sure.
Absolutely one of my top five restaurants that I want to visit. The flavors and spices they use are so rare in the elevated culinary scene.
Elegance vs amazing flavors. I choose amazing flavors.
Come to delta Athens a 2 Michelin star and 1 green star restaurant
big disgust w/ any collab w/ any app. Not the move / vibe. Shame on them. you compromise the product in the hands of someone that does not work directly for you. BAD MOVE.
Nice scallop dish and dessert with date pudding look like a hit....
I went there a few months ago and it was one of the nicest meals I’ve ever had. But I was over fed to the point of throwing up on the side of the road afterwards..
This place should be named 419...
I love the lazy Susan, but it looks a bit unwieldy
i got my onion and orange chicken here.. ready to watch!
from 1 star reviews to 2 star michelin! hellll ya
I am eating chips
Definitely not worth 2*. 1 at best
Grand Cru, Alexander the Guest is Top G
You seem really high maintenance. 💛 😊
For me its a good restaurant with good value
Omg i been waiting for you to go to ikoyi!!!!!!!
I love eating my greasy kebab to these videos
I loved how the last dish was winking at you.
I have got my torch out to see what you are eating !
Professional review. Nice 😊
Oh my God Alex, relax! 😂
Constructive criticism is the best criticism.