Not sure where to start. So we added to our “chefs of the world” collection at this gem by Gordon Ramsay. Occasionally we like to find a tasting menu with wine pairings as an indulgence, and this restaurant fit the bill to a tee.

A 26-Seat Room Above the Savoy Grill

1890 is a 26-seat restaurant housed in the old private dining room above the Savoy Grill at the Savoy Hotel. They only serve one menu — a progressive nine-course tasting menu. Think elegant classics with modern twists and techniques. Perfection.

Wine Pairings Off the Beaten Path

We chose the wine pairings, opting for more off-the-beaten-path producers from places like South Africa and Argentina. Each pour was perfectly matched to its dish, complete with an explanation from the servers of where the wine was from, how it was produced, its tasting notes, and why it was paired with that particular course.

The Nine Courses

• Canapés: lobster cornetto, smoked cheddar gougère, and beet horseradish and caviar

• Deconstructed tomato consommé, winter tomato royale with peas, Ibérico, and mint, served with Parker House rolls

• Cornish lobster, sweet corn, chanterelles, and an American bisque sauce

• Bouillabaisse à la parisienne

• Short rib and escargot bourguignon

• Cheese course: ricotta with pickled strawberries and malt

• Peach Melba

• Île Flottante with currants and lemon verbena

• Petits fours: tarte Tropézienne

Our Take

This is the type of experience we not only enjoyed but will return to in our memory time and again. It’s okay to indulge every now and again.

Quick Tips for 1890 by Gordon Ramsay

• Book well ahead — with only 26 seats and a single nightly tasting menu, this is not a walk-in spot.
• Opt for the wine pairings — the off-the-beaten-path producer selections and the servers’ explanations made each course land differently.
• Come hungry, not rushed — this is a nine-course progressive menu meant to be savored over a full evening.
• Save it for a special night — the price point and format make this a splurge worth planning around rather than a spontaneous stop.