The Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester has everything you would expect from a Michelin star restaurant: inventive and delicious food, attentive service and beautiful relaxed ambience.

Service was competent throughout, apart from the slightly inexperienced and obviously nervous waiter at the bar before dinner, who recovered well regardless. Staff didn’t bat an eyelid on our request to change tables, which was executed immediately and seamlessly and they never missed a chance to wish us a happy anniversary, information which they asked for on their own initiative after we’d booked.

The food was everything you could hope for. The amuse bouche, a take on Greek salad, looked nothing like it (tomato jelly with cucumber and yoghurt gems on top) but tasted surprisingly similar. Starters of foie gras with pickled vegetables and heritage tomato tart was tasty and light (even the fooe gras was on the delicate side rather than overpowering). The mains were the highlight: the halibut fillet with toasted almonds on a bed of peas was the most flavoursome fish I’ve tasted  in a while (and I’m not a fish fan),  and a pork rib and pork belly with black pudding and apple sauce main was succulent and tender and delivered fantastic flavour, while also being of surprisingly large sized for a fine dining restaurant (not that there was any left at the end). Deserts were a suitably impressive finish, with some delicious macaroons and chocolates arriving to bridge the gap. The raspberry soufflé was oozing with fruity flavour and the rum baba, which came with a choice of 5 rums and whipping cream on the side, was powerful but not too heavy. A chocolate biscuit desert added as a treat for our anniversary was also delicious. We had to take the macaroons and chocolates in a small bag to take home, which appeared to be a popular practice with other guests as well.

The wine list is extensive, mostly French of course but with some additions from the rest of the world, and there are sufficient options at reasonable prices.

Overall, the restaurant delivered on every front and was a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion - with a price tag to match of course.