Review on Ella Canta
The Ella Canta restaurant is the bright new star in the luxury The InterContinental London Park Lane, located on Hyde Park Corner with Park Lane, close to the upmarket shops of Knightsbridge and Piccadilly. It's the first UK restaurant from the internationally acclaimed chef and cookery author Martha Ortiz, who is Chef Patron of the much lauded Dulce Patria restaurant at the Las Alcobas hotel in Mexico.
The restaurant which takes it's name from the Spanish 'she sings' is set on the ground floor of the hotel with a décor overseen by Simon Rawlings, creative director at David Collins Studio. It's decked out in a palette of pale pink, reds, blues and tan to reflect the landscapes and architecture of Oaxaca. A beautifully sculptured restaurant with a stunning 45 metre long floor to ceiling installation of hand-carved walnut, inspired by the work of Mexican furniture designer Eugenio Escuder, it runs throughout the restaurant to the bar. Bespoke tan leather banquettes and sumptuous armchairs are set against table tops finished in a hand-crafted eggshell, ivory and black lacquer, trimmed in walnut.
Martha's cuisine is inspired by traditional Mexican cooking which she has reinvented with contemporary and modern techniques, showcasing the vibrancy and spirit of Mexico. Open proceedings with octopus, smoked chilli sauce and burnt onion before a main course of beef fillet, black chichilo with ashes with aubergine or if fish is your preference, firedanced seabass and cabbage tortillas. Desserts offer plenty of temptation, witness guava and burnt cinnamon candy and caramelised pecan or Mexican churros, caramel and chocolate feast.
The wine list is a well sourced slate and there's also a selection of rare mezcals and tequilas, together with signature cocktails named Mexico's Gifts to the World.
Cuisine
Mexican
Chef
Martha Ortiz
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 11.30am - 4.00pm Sat & 11.30am - 6.00pm Sun Brunch
Dinner: 5.30 - 1.00am Mon-Thu (2.00am Fri & Sat)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express