After being seated we were treated to a glass of bubbles which we enjoyed while pondering over the menu and soaking up the relaxed ambience and very fancy decor. Aster joined the D&D restaurant group in 2017 and follows in the same vein of relaxed fine dining as Bluebird, Angler and Launceston Place. Having not really read up on the restaurant before we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised when I looked to see that it was sporting an authentic taste of French cuisine.
For my starter I opted for the Confit duck & duck liver terrine with brioche, pear chutney. This is a dish that really transports me to France, and I wasn’t disappointed. It was delicious and the pear chutney complimented it perfectly. The brioche was soft and warm, and had a delicate crunch.
The service is impeccable at Aster and the waitress made sure that we had that perfect balance of privacy, while feeling totally looked after. The wine we had chosen was a crisp Rose from the Côtes de Provence in France and it complimented my main dish wonderfully. For my main I went for the chef special of whole grilled lobster, pomme frites and mesclun salade. The lobster was amazing and was prepared perfectly, with the right amount of garlic and parsley not overpowering the wonderful taste of the fish.
Having only come for lunch, I would now love to return for cocktails and dinner. The bar was such a focal point in the restaurant and I could very much see myself at the bar sipping freshly prepared cocktails before heading upstairs for dinner.
Even though my belly was satisfied, I couldn’t help being tempted by a dessert and went for traditional French Profiteroles with crème pâtissière, vanilla ice cream, and warm chocolate sauce. It’s making my mouth water just thinking about it. The chocolate was thick and moreish and I polished them off with no trouble.
We ended up being at the restaurant for over three hours, which is always a good sign when we’d just popped in for lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed not only the food, but the decor and the pleasant atmosphere. Next time, I just hope to get my hands on the cocktail menu too.
