Daniel Boulud's new London outpost

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  Bar Boulud, London

  © Mandarin Oriental

London has a great new restaurant and it is sitting happily in one of the capital’s best hotels. Chef Daniel Boulud has made his debut this side of the Atlantic with the opening of Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge – even better, you can tuck into breakfast, lunch or dinner for a Prix Fixe launch menu of £20 for three courses.

Perfectly located in the heart of the city’s high-end shopping mecca and opposite Harvey Nichols, the French-inspired bistro is another example of Boulud’s relaxed flair and is a perfect partnership with Adam D. Tihany’s interior design.

Elements include a zinc copper bar accessed from the street and interesting prints on the wall that reflect the wine theme - such as stains from some of Boulud’s favourite vintage reds made onto linens and turned into pictures, as well as photography of various renowned Lyon bistros and brasseries.

Guests can also watch the chefs at work at the charcuterie bar running along the edge of the open kitchen or dine in one of the two interconnecting private dining rooms, both seating 16 people each.

There is lots of wood, leather and cork throughout the design, but the restaurant is not overly masculine and natural daylight manages to flood in from the front, even though Bar Boulud is below street level. The space was in fact hotel offices and storage space beneath this giant building for many years, so this is its first lease of life as a – sizeable – public area.

A full bistro menu is based on seasonal, rustic French cooking and includes signature dishes such as Truffled White Sausage, Grilled Atlantic Sea Bass, Braised Rabbit Ragout and Coq au Vin as well as a selection of terrines and pâtés made on site under the direction of acclaimed charcutier Gilles Verot.

With a focus on Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, the restaurant will serve an impressive selection of wines, by the glass and by the bottle, and feature old world wines as well as new world selections. Beers from small, artisanal producers and continental microbreweries will also be available on draft with specially designed glassware for tasting portions.

Boulud opened his first restaurant Daniel in New York in 1993, which achieved Three- Michelin Star status last year. Daniel was shortly followed by Café Boulud, Bar Boulud, DB Bistro Moderne and, most recently, DBGB Kitchen and Bar, on the Bowery. Dean Yasharian from Bar Boulud in New York will be his executive chef in London and Stephen Macintosh from The Wolseley his general manager.

The completion of Bar Boulud - on schedule - now leaves Mandarin Oriental and team to focus on the next step ... preparing for the arrival of Heston Blumenthal who is due to open a restaurant at the hotel later this year.

Bar Boulud on 020 7201 3899, www.barboulud.com

Location: London