Reviews Bistro

Great Restaurant inside the St james hotel Taj . breakfast has a wide spread , lot of choice and very good for indian perticuallrly , as they have some indian options too.

St James' Court (a Taj Hotel) has long fascinated me for its archetypal British lux. It's been patronised by elite punters - including guests of royalty - since 1902, after all. Situated near iconic tourist spots such as Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben the hotel has retained its understated charm and its luxurious and posh clientele.
Home to three restaurants (Bistro, Kona, and the Michelin-starred Quilon) and London's longest bar, the hotel is also a dining hot spot which you shouldn't miss.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the little red spoon symbol on the bottom of some of my restaurant reviews?  They are spoonback, an indication that a snippet of my review is on a bigger restaurant rating website.  I’ve been posting quite a few reviews recently and  Zomato sent me a voucher as a thank-you for my contributions.  My voucher entitled two people to go along for a  Laurent Perrier champagne flight and the chef’s menu at the Taj St James’ Court.  Anything that involves champagne is always welcome.  So, on a wet Bank Holiday Saturday I made my way there to meet a girlfriend for supper.

Bistro 51 is a very upmarket modern British restaurant, I went here for dinner during my stay at St James court. My dinner experience here was quite satisfying and I cannot complain.

To start with I ordered a portion of the Dorset crab cakes, the meat was very fresh and was cooked to perfection however, the serving/helping was very small there were 2 small cakes which left me hungry for more, for the price I was expecting more but I realised that this was a fine dining restaurant and I should not complain as long as the food was good.

For the main I ordered the chicken supreme in a red wine and rosemary jus, the chicken was cooked very well and the jus complimented it perfectly. I initially wanted to order the steak but I changed my mind thinking that chicken is healthier.

For the final course I ordered the tiramisu, and asked for a shot of limoncello (digestif) but they did not have that particular one, the tiramisu was very good not only was it light and fluffy but it was presented very very well It looked absolutely phenomenal.

The food is very good at bistro 51, it is the perfect place to have a relaxed dinner, the service is very good and I am sure that you will not leave disappointed.

Nestled on Buckingham Gate is the luxurious St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel. We visited last week for dinner and on arrival we headed to The Hamptons Bar at the back of the lobby for a decadent Laurent-Perrier Champagne Flight with specially-paired canapés.

The Laurent-Perrier Champagne Flight certainly looked the part with three mini Champagne flutes ready to be filled on a special presentation tray. The first fizz we tried was Laurent-Perrier Brut served with scallop and avocado tartare with lemon oil. This light, easy to drink Champagne has prominent citrus notes and it went perfectly with the fresh scallop, creamy avocado and meyer lemon.

We then moved on to the Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé, paired with smoked salmon and prawn marie rose rolls. Not only did they match in colour, but the sweet, tangy prawns and intense smoked salmon complemented the Champagne’s red and black fruit notes. This Champagne’s attractive pink colour is achieved by using the saignée method of leaving the red grape skins on the wine for up to three days.

Our third tasting was Laurent-Perrier Vintage 2004, served with asparagus ratatouille crostini. This was our favourite of the three, as it is was the most rounded with biscuity, vanilla notes. The Chardonny 50% and Pinot Noir 50% Champagne went perfectly with the vegetable crostini, which was nicely marinated and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Before getting too tipsy, we moved across the lobby to Bistro 51, the hotel’s modern European and Pan Asian restaurant. We chose from the Chef’s Menu, which offers four options for each course. After ordering, we were brought a selection of freshly-baked pumpkin seed rolls and carrot bread, accompanied by the most delicious creamy mushroom dip. We tried not to overdo it with the bread, but it was just so tasty and moreish.

To start, I ordered Pan seared scallops, cauliflower puree and pancetta. The dish looked appealing and was beautifully-presented. The scallops were ever so fresh and lightly browned, though unfortunately too salty, as though they’d been seasoned twice. They went well with the velvety smooth and subtle cauliflower puree and the flavoursome pancetta cooked two ways in a paper-thin strip and crunchy pieces.


Steven tried the Salmon and cucumber tartar with yuzu dressing. The chunky, fresh salmon was marinated with strong flavours of cucumber, onion and dill, drizzled in a creamy, citrusy yuzu dressing and topped with high quality caviar. The portion size was substantial and it was a light and enjoyable start to the meal.

I followed with the Cajun spiced chicken breast, new potatoes tossed with spinach, however as I wasn’t really in the mood for heat, I requested it without the Cajun spice (the friendly staff were happy to oblige). The succulent, juicy chicken breast certainly didn’t miss the spice, as it was infused with the aromas of fresh thyme and herbs and had a light, golden skin.

I loved the slightly sweet new potatoes muddled with a light Parmesan cream sauce and wilted spinach and the most perfect long-stem asparagus. The dish was finished with a rich, meaty jus and more of that yummy black olive crumble.

Steven tried the Masala fried fish, aloo and chickpea chaat. The flaky, tender fish was lightly fried with an aromatic, crisp coating and was accompanied by piquant spiced potatoes, tasty spiced chickpeas and julienne vegetables. It was a punchy dish with real depth of flavour and a combination of invigorating spices.

I finished with the Tonka bean crème brûlée with hazelnut biscotti. The cool, creamy crème brûlée had just a hint of fragrant tonka bean and the caramelised crust was good but could’ve done with a little more time under the blowtorch to make it crunchier.

I loved the authentic, crunchy hazelnut biscotti and the unexpected joy of proper rum and raisin ice cream, finished with freeze-dried raspberry pieces.

Steven’s Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream was a British classic at its very best. The moist and airy sponge was sweetened with chopped dates and was drenched in a very indulgent, thick toffee sauce. It was finished with a scoop of luxurious vanilla ice cream, biscuit crumble and a sugar spear.

We finished the meal with pots of Earl Grey tea and went back to the lobby to enjoy the piano music before leaving.

The warm atmosphere and kind hospitality at St. James’s Court really made our evening and our dining experience in the Hamptons Bar and Bistro 51 was very memorable. The Laurent-Perrier Champagne Flight added that extra touch of decadence and I can’t recommend it enough.

This British & European restaurant located in the luxurious Taj Hotel, only minutes from St James Park station boasts a traditional yet international cuisine, serving classics of meat, seafood grills and asian dishes.
To start we had quite a ravishing experience with the bubbles which and as you probably know by now, is something im always in favour of. The cellar room champagne flight of gorgeous Laurent Perrier and delicate servings of seafood and vegetables to pair perfectly with each. The 2004 vintage went down very well, almost too well for a Monday evening. Stop it....
I had the starter of creamy winter mushroom soup, a main of succulent salmon, basil puree and a little bit of lemon butter sauce to add to the intense rich flavours.
At this point of the evening I was probably kidding myself to try and force anymore food into my stomach but I couldnt be rude and say no to a plate of heavenly goey dark chocolate profiteroles in front of me. Which by the way my friend opted for (and I helped myself to) while I choose the 'lighter option' of a layered apple and cinnamon tart. Ive got a slight obsession with anything containing that spice at the moment, yes because it is super Christmassy and the fact that it contains pastry and fruit. Get in me. 
Special thanks to the waiters, in particular the waitress who almost bent over backwards for us. We didnt have to wait too long for each course to arrive, the setting was very pleasant although not so buzzy if you do prefer a more peaceful place to dine. I did find the bathroom quite a hike but the little stroll isnt so bad when you are are surrounded by such swish, wall to wall decor.

The food was great, though the service left something to be desired, having to ask multiple times for water and long wait times for our food. The staff were very friendly however. For the price I would choose other restaurants in London

We ate at Bistro everyday for breakfast during our stay at St. James Court. The service was excellent, especially considering that the breakfast was built into the price of our hotel room. They always made sure we had everything we needed - beverages, egg orders, etc. Erol was there everyday and was so friendly and accommodating, always making sure that every table had what they needed. Everything was very clean and the food was always delicious, especially their fresh pastries, fresh cut fruit, and muesli. We look forward to our next stay at the St James and dining at Bistro for breakfast, and possibly dinner!

GLOBAL Bento - Mediterranean box.. Amazing food, loved the quality and quantity...

Very modern, upmarket, style. Good value lunch menu (£20 for two courses) given the type of place. The grilled seabass was excellent.

Bistro is the main dinning restaurant of hotel Saint james Court Taj hotel at the Ground floor leading , though the seating capacity is not too big but there food menu is great and the quality is very good.they have great indian choice for food.

Amazing dishes and service!!

Great food, great service...and nice cozy ambience...

very good food, very nice chief. i love.