The Savoy launches the Temptation Wheel

Standing proudly on the north bank of the River Thames, the world famous Savoy Hotel has become an iconic fixture on London’s bustling Strand. Renowned for its luxurious interiors, its high-quality service and its history of Hollywood guests, it has also established itself as a fantastic dining location, with seven restaurants throughout the hotel (including Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill).

At the heart of the building is the Thames Foyer, a beautiful yet down-to-earth spot, elegantly furnished and emanating a relaxed vibe and an inviting atmosphere. Taking centre stage is a beautiful indoor gazebo, generously adorned with floral decorations, that transports visitors away to a peaceful, fairy-tale place.

Traditionally admired for its popular afternoon teas, the Savoy’s most recent offering is a new cocktail and dessert menu, created by executive chef Ludwig Hely and the Beaufort Bar team and brought to life in the form of a Temptation Wheel. Customers are provided with an array of options, divided across four themes designed to suit varying tastes: Light, Fresh, Indulgent or Rich. The desserts and cocktails are grouped together to create a balanced dining experience and the customers begin by choosing a high-quality square of chocolate, followed by a cocktail of their choice and an indulgent dessert.

Delivered on a wonderfully ornate trolley are a range of bottled cocktails, which our host for the evening explains are all made in advance, with the exception of three containing fruit juice, which are prepared more regularly. We begin with some samples, including Two Worlds; made with Bacardi Carta Blanca and Mezcal and finished with pineapple and lime, this is a fruity and refreshing option with hints of citrus and notes of sweetness. The Southern Rose, prepared with Grey Goose, rose and raspberry, is floral and fragrant without being overpowering or too sweet. The Life Is Made of This is a cocktail of Woodford Reserve Double Oak, Crème de Mûre and apricot. This is a bold option, with hints of rich chocolate and a sickly sweet, syrupy aftertaste that is too alcoholic and medicinal.

We also try the Cuban Tea, made with Bacardi Carta Oro, green tea tonic and anise, which is too aromatic for our tastes. Featuring gin, cucumber and raspberry, the Diamonds and Pearls suggests freshness but misses the mark with yet another drink that is too alcoholic to be savoured. A mixer in the cocktails would have been a welcome addition for those with a softer and more sensitive palette.

For dessert, we opt for the Peach Melba Legacy. Presented spectacularly as a peach moulded from blown sugar and made with vanilla foam, fresh raspberries and peaches, this is an exquisite and enchanting dish. With all the anticipated crunch traditionally expected from a crème brulée, the peach shell is wonderfully crisp and breaks easily under the tap of a spoon. Inside, we find a celebration of textures and flavours, including a buttery crumble, which complements a deliciously cool peach sorbet and sweet, poached peach segments, with the vanilla foam adding a lovely hint of an aroma with every bite.

Our second option is the One Thousand and One Layers. A deconstructed mille-feuille, this dish features a ginger chiboust cream, passion fruit caviar and roasted mango pieces. The ginger introduces a fragrant element to the dish, while the chiboust is sweet and creamy, yet less smooth than expected. The buttery layers of pastry are well-defined and add some texture alongside the little pops of passion fruit.

The new dessert and cocktail menu at the Savoy offers guests a bespoke and playful evening experience, encouraging fun while creating opportunities to try various food and flavour combinations that may have been unfamiliar. If not for the choice of cocktails, guests should still pay a visit to the Thames Foyer for its beautiful setting and for a crack at the Peach Melba Legacy.

Rasha Barazi

The Temptation Wheel is available every day from 7.30pm until midnight, desserts and cocktails are £16 each. To book a table at the Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EU, call 020 7836 4343 or enquire here.