gordon ramsay or not

will be in london in july when gordon ramsay at royal hospital road will be closed for renovation, so we booked at claridges. i've heard mixed reports about that location. is it worth it, or should we book elsewhere? also booked at maze. need one more dinner recommendation. what do you think of racine, j sheekey, ledbury, woseley, rules, michael moore, tom aikens, or any other that come to mind? thanks so much.

Oh, Le Gavroche in Upper Brook St has them all beat hands down, a life experience.

Gavroche is the most over rated, old fashioned, fusty miserably overpriced restaurant I have had the misfortune of eating at.
Try Locanda Locatelli (Italian)
Haakasan (Chinese)
Zuma (Japanese)
Galvin (French)

Haven't been to Claridges-well, not Gordon Ramsays anyway. Both J. Sheekey and the Wolsely I will recommend, especially Sheekeys- as the Wolsely is better as a lunchtime venue. A reliable foodie friend of mine who gets to dine out on company expenses a lot recommends Locanda and Galvin too if that helps. You are spoilt for choice in London really.

Anybody who prefers Haakasan to Le Gavroche simply likes restaurants rather than food.

I'm a chef and know my food pretty well and rate Haakasan any day over up it's ar*e stuffiness of Gavroche.

"Gavroche is the most over rated, old fashioned, fusty miserably overpriced restaurant I have had the misfortune of eating at."

Only to a philistine.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. We English are used to much better nowadays, you lot obviously aren't. Who are the Philistines now?

Hmm, then why be so defensive about it?

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Absolutely agree. Excellent food and service in a cossetting environment, with a bargain of a lunch prix fixe that includes a half a bottle of wine.