Brasserie of Light, a brand new destination restaurant & bar from Caprice Holdings is now open in Selfridges. It’s by the people who own, among many others, The Ivy, Le Caprice and Sexy Fish. Contemporary, artistic and elegant, The Brasserie offers all day dining in a chic, Art-Deco space that’s accessed directly from Duke Street, and from the first floor of Selfridges.
The Design
With design consulted on by Martin Brudnizki, Brasserie of Light features bold, colourful and light-filled interiors. There is a stunning central bar plus private dining room – the traditional brasserie re-imagined for contemporary London. The centrepiece to the restaurant, and in keeping with the Caprice style, is the Pegasus. This striking piece of artwork is by Damien Hirst, his largest scale art piece in London. The 24ft crystal encrusted mythical creature has a 30 ft wingspan, soaring over diners with hooves lifted. Richard Caring, chairman of Caprice Holdings, comments: “The Brasserie of Light is a new look spectacle where the input of Damien Hirst, Martin Brudnizki and the absolute strength of Selfridges; this mix has resulted in what I believe to be something very beautiful. It is about light, make-believe and dreams. Dreams in this restaurant will come true!”
The Food
The brasserie serves an eclectic mix of classic British and internationally-inspired dishes throughout the day. The A La Carte menu features dishes such as Hand-Dived Scallops, Spaghettini with Lobster, and Roast Salmon with Caviar. The weekend brunch menu includes Avocado and Poached Eggs with Ancient Grains, Turmeric, Coconut and Garlic Hollandaise. Plus there is a Champagne Afternoon Tea – a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. The kitchen at Brasserie of Light is headed up by exciting Portugese chef Emanuel Machado. Machado’s passion for enjoyable and accessible cooking has helped Balthazar become a Covent Garden classic since it opened in 2013. From sunrise to late evening, the restaurant operates outside of the store closing hours, a first in Selfridges long retail history.
The Cocktails
The glittering Pegasus got us in the mood the minute we walked in – so Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut was on the cards for us. Then the cocktails followed – I really liked the creativity of the Cocktail menu. We went for The Queen of Time – named after the sculpture sat above Selfridges’ main entrance – an all-English interpretation of a classic kir royale. It is made with Bloomsbury Brut NV English sparkling wine, white heron cassis and Plymouth sloe gin. Also nodding to the store’s legacy is the Est. 1909 cocktail. Inspired by Selfridge’s 109th anniversary this year, it consists of a blend of Beefeater gin, St. Germaine elderflower and prosecco. For those not drinking alcohol, there is a delicious virgin cocktail called Strawberry Kisses. It is made with Strawberry Purée, Pineapple, Cranberry, Fresh Lemon and Orgeat Syrup – yum!
The Dinner
We ordered Raw Tuna and Avocado Crispy Taco to nibble, while taking our time to go through an extensive menu. For starters, I went for Avocado and Sesame Fried Chicken with Coriander and Chia Seed. The portion was big and very filling. My guest chose the Dorset Crab Salad with Watermelon, Radish and Lobster Dressing. The presentation of the dish was like a spring garden – fresh and appetising. For the main, fillet steak was my choice – I think a lot of can be said about the quality of the restaurant by how good their steak is. My steak had a bit of the smoky taste, but it was good enough so I didn’t have to touch the Béarnaise Sauce. As for the sides, Truffled Mashed Potato was a definite winner. My companion was also a meat lover & she opted for the Rib Eye Steak, with broccoli on the side.
The Dessert
The dinner cannot be complete with the dessert. The famous Pegasus Pie served with a Yuzu Coconut cloud and sesame biscuit ‘Pegasus’ wings was must have and it didn’t disappoint. I was also impressed with the Butterfly Flutterby, which consisted of the Iced Passion Fruit Parfait, Pistachio Meringue and Vanilla Cream. Even if you were not on a shopping spree in Selfridges, Brasserie of Light is a new swanky place not to be missed!
If you would like to find out more about the Brasserie of Light, please check their website or visit Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, Marylebone, London W1A 1AB. Book your table via our concierge service – [email protected].
