Cafe Royal. London

This establishment has a tremendous history with a list of clients unsurpassed by any other. Built in 1865 by Daniel Nicholas Thevenon, a French wine merchant, it was set in fashionable Regent Street ( named after the Prince Regent who later became George IV). Their son, also a Daniel took the family restaurant to new heights. I will list just some of its famous clients: Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Rudyard Kipling, D.H. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, Noel Coward plus Royalty such as Edward the VIII, George VI and even Diana, Princess of Wales.

In the 1950's it became the home of the National Sporting Club and many Black Tie dinners were followed by bouts of boxing. In the 60's it was rediscovered by the avante garde set like Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Muhammed Ali. It closed in 2008 and many of its unique artefacts were put up for auction; it remained closed for 3 years before it was radically restored and is now emerging in stages during 2012. The menu I have is from the 1950's and is extensive in its breadth., notice the peculiar English course of Savouries served after desserts.