MU Venue Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

Every now and again you visit a restaurant thats so on top of its game, you wonder why the Michelin panel havent been throwing stars at it. Hardens have been tipping Mju for a while, Zagats ditto, and the AA have lavished rosettes on it. But, as yet, no nod from Michelin. Still, it cant be far off… Under the guidance of chef Tom Thomsen, dinner at Mju hovers somewhere around the five course mark good value at £46 or more if you opt for his individuallytailored tasting menu. That might suggest gourmand rather than gourmet but the Asian influences extend to the size of the portions, providing a remarkable series of tastes that gradually satiates without necessitating a loosening of the belt. Dishes such as glazed foie gras, apple salad and Granny Smith sorbet , blue fin tuna with wasabi ice cream, langoustine dumpling in a black truffle broth and lobster linguini show a chef at the peak of his powers. Thomsens way with the simpler fare the green miso soup is dizzyingly good is also a good indication of his talents. In fact, there was only one duff note: an otherwise exemplary chocolate fondant comes with parsnip ice cream, a not entirely suitable earthy hint that just feels like an idea too far. The rest though is wildly enjoyable.