RAVE - Campton Place

I thought the point of ordering a Black Car with Uber Taxi was that you got a cool ride to your birthday dinner, and that ride happened to be black. The service was convenient, but the "black" car was a Prius. Not even a tired, old Town Car.

Ah well, Campton Place was definitely not a let-down. Everything about this restaurant - from the luxurious vibe, the sumptuous booths, the Chichuly chandelier (I think it was real Chichuly), the gracious and intelligent staff, and the fact that our waiter first asked if we'd like the white napkins exchanged for black ones (that wouldn't leave white fluff on our black clothes) - spoke to its high standard.

The two and a half hours at the table began with a surprise when our waiter said our great friends George, Cecille and Perry had ordered champagne to get us going. The crafty trio had found out where we were eating and phoned the restaurant with the order. Thank you friends, and well done.

The food - Mrs Page had the Chef's Spice Route Menu, while I had the Market Menu - was exquisite and comprised:

Dungeness Crab "Potli" - Puffed Black Rice, Soybeans, Coconut Curry and Hearts of Palm
Dorade - Malabar Chutney, Buttermild and Shallots
East Indian Duck Bun - Saffron & Game Broth, Sprouted Mung Lentils and Deghi Chili Oil
Slow Cooked Lamb Rack - Panch Poran, Pine Nut Pilaf, Spiced Pineapple Nage and Spinach
Winter Citrus - Meyer Lemon, Chestnut and White Chocolate 

- and -

"Winter Taste" - Sweet Potatoes, Hosui Pear, Serrano Ham, Mustard and Sherry
Main Lobster - Roasted Garlic, Pea Top, Carrot Tagliatelle and Brown Butter
Squab - Spring Garlic, Roasted Meyer Lemon and Arugula
Angus Beef Tenderloin - Root Vegetable Croquette, Rainbow Chard, Celeriac and Bone Marrow
Chocolate Carmelia Mousse, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream and Almond Praline Tuile.

Add in at least three amuses bouches and you're talking serious volumes of good stuff.

Without boring you with the minutae, Her Hotness thought the chef prepared genuine East Indian dishes, but thought the lamb was mis-advertised as "Rack" seeing as it was de-boned and tiny. And her Winter Citrus could have been billed as "Lemon Ice".

My menu was perfect - even the Lobster, which is never an easy choice for me. If I was pushed, I'd say the Beef Tenderloin and Squab could each have done with another minute or two on the old burner, but I was in too good a mood to let it dampen my enthusiasm.

Shame I'll probably have to wait until my next birthday to experience Campton Place again.