Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal

“I enjoyed the full Spring menu experience with wine pairing. Every expectation was met as regards the food experience. Great ambience and music too! Fantastic team work between kitchen and service staff. I recommend the full menu experience to anyone celebrating.”

“My visit to Alex Dilling's culinary emporium was an unexpected treat from a good friend. The setting is a haven run by a lovely team who create a relaxed but professional atmosphere. And then there's the food, exquisitely presented miniature works of art that combine tastes and textures that delight the taste buds. It was my first experience of dining Michelin style and I would highly recommend trying it. I felt utterly spoilt and just a little bit over excited. Not sure if you're supposed to give a bear hug to the chef but he was very gracious about it. And did I mention the wonderful play list that formed the audio backdrop??”

“A wonderful experience in Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal for my wife’s birthday We arrived 10 minutes earlier, so got arranged to sit and chill at the bar while we wait. Sommelier came to introduce the sparkling shortly. We had the English Sparkling wine which has some aging characteristics like oaky / nutty flavour but also with a nice citrus flavour. It is quite acidic but its a perfect before meal drink. Approximately 25 minutes later the Manager came and led us to the table. I must admit I was expecting more space between the next table but the environment is quiet so I wouldn’t hear the conversation of the next tables and this didn’t cause any problem After we moved to our table, our sparkling glass were replaced and refilled with the same sparkling wine (When I paid the bill I realised we are not being charged for the sparkling, I assumed it was the good gesture of restaurant for the wait). The manager also did apologise for the wait. We had the short menu (but received some extra dishes and was told by the manager this is a gesture of good will for my wife’s birthday.) All the dishes show very skilful technique and look absolutely beautiful. They are balanced, creative, nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. The fish is very delicious, topped with some prawn and something makes the texture perfect. The combination of croissant with mustard and cucumber is really refreshing! My wife upgraded for the Wagu beef, it just melt in your month. Duck breast is not bad as well. The waiter served our table is enthusiastic and with good energy. I showed my appreciation to him before leaving the restaurant. The sommelier recommended different wines and explain the characteristics of each wine. Last but not least, the manager! very experienced and keep a very high standard. There were several little acts worth some compliment. For example, I dropped my napkin to the floor and he instantly got me new napkin or requested the staff to continue to speak to us after sneezing I indicated it is a birthday occasion and they served a complimentary cake with plum. If I am being picky / there are several things could be improved - no sign of the restaurant at the entrance (I am not sure if I was at the right place) - a tiny bone-shaped prawn shell in one of the dish - the receptionist did remember my wife’s coat but forgot about my bag However, the overall experience is still wonderful and I will come back again. I would recommend you to dress up for the vibe in the restaurant.”

“TL;DR: WOW - an absolute must. My partner and I went to Alex Dilling to celebrate her birthday. She’s vegetarian and I’m a regular person, and it turned out to be the best Michelin-star experience we’ve ever had. The food was extraordinary - textures I’ve never encountered before (the cheese balls, wow, we can't get them out of our heads), and an incredible balance of flavors and combinations. I'm not a big seafood fan, and I really enjoyed it here. The wagyu was delicious as well. The staff were wonderful. Muhit and Paolo patiently answered all our questions and knew every detail about the dishes. I also have to mention the sommelier. I chose the standard wine pairing, and it was the best I’ve ever had. I genuinely enjoyed all of the wines, and could really feel how each pairing elevated the dish - it truly enhanced the whole experience. Thank you for an amazing evening!”

“Our experience with Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal was nice. But nice isn't two Michelin stars. Whilst the staff were lovely and attentive, and the chef served many of the dishes himself (with obvious enthusiasm for his craft), there were issues. The decor was minimal, with tables occupied by multiple groups of influencers taking photos rather than dining (which naturally played a part in our experience and the overall ambience). Service for our group was unfortunately hampered with silly simple mistakes - sparkling and still water getting mixed up, allergies forgotten or sent to the wrong guest, wine ordered for pairing with a specific course served after the course had been eaten, 90 minutes for the first two courses which resulted in our party having to request for the pace to be increased and all the desserts being served together otherwise we'd be there still, an incorrect bill which had to be amended, and other niggles. The food was all nice, using finest ingredients and executed to a high technical level - the pigeon was nice, the lobster was nice, the sorbet was nice. But for several hundred pounds, I want more than "nice" - and most of that was down to the ingredients themselves. In summary, the environs, servixe and food, service and environs weren't mind-blowing or cutting edge or out of the box thinking.... and that's kind of everything you look for in a fine dining experience. All in all, I'm glad to have been and had the experience, but I don't feel the need to return, and find it hard to give it more than a three star rating.”