Rhodes W1
| Company type | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, Food service |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Defunct | 2012-09-28 |
| Headquarters | London , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | European cuisine |
Rhodes W1 was a restaurant located in London, England, which opened its doors in 2007 and achieved a Michelin star by January 2008, less than a year after its inception. Specializing in European dishes, it was one of two Michelin-starred establishments owned by Rhodes in London. The restaurant ceased operations on 28 September 2012.
Description
Established on 18 May 2007, Rhodes W1 occupied the ground floor of the Cumberland Hotel (currently known as Great Cumberland Place) in London. It operated independently from the similarly named Rhodes W1 Brasserie situated within the same hotel, a venue that has since also closed. The culinary focus at Rhodes W1 centered on European fare, reflecting the style found at Rhodes 24, whereas the other Rhodes restaurant emphasized British cuisine. The interior was designed by Kelly Hoppen.
At the time of opening, Rhodes announced his ambition to exceed his previous achievement of five single Michelin star awards by elevating his culinary standards further. This aim was realized when Rhodes W1 was awarded a Michelin star in January 2008, securing its status as one of Gary Rhodes' two Michelin-starred restaurants in London.
Although Rhodes committed to being present in the kitchen whenever feasible, the initial head chef role was filled by Brian Hughson, who had previously worked alongside Rhodes at Rhodes in the Square.
After closing in London, the Rhodes W1 brand was revived with a new location in Dubai.
Reception
In 2007, Giles Coren from The Times characterized the cuisine at Rhodes W1 as "a mini-smorgasbord of flavours," while noting that additional menu supplements increased overall costs but were suitable for special celebrations. Terry Durack of The Independent awarded a score of 17 out of 20, commending the chef’s sophisticated and contemporary culinary techniques. Marina O'Loughlin writing for Metro rated the restaurant three out of five stars and recommended avoiding the similarly named brasserie. A 2009 review by Time Out gave four stars out of five, emphasizing impeccable service and highlighting the establishment’s strong potential.