Yes, Hell’s Kitchen Beef Wellington is Special
Hell’s Kitchen
Gordon Ramsay is a certified celebrity chef and the opening of his Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at the District Wharf has generated unprecedented excitement from enthusiastic fans. Much of Ramsay’s popularity stems from his hit reality show, Hell’s Kitchen which has aired on Fox for the past 21 years. The show remains popular and averages more than two million viewers each episode. Many of those fans are clamoring to get a reservation at the newly opened Hell’s Kitchen at the Wharf, but as of publication, reservations are currently fully booked through May 10th.
So, what’s all the fuss about? Admittedly, eating at Hell’s Kitchen is an experience – kind of like going to a new exhibit everyone is clamoring about. The space is wide open and very cool especially if you like bright blues and reds, although the digital screens and the giant cultish posters of Ramsay are a bit much.
There are two bar areas, each which offer comfort and the opportunity to relax with a drink and a meal. The downstairs bar is becoming a central meeting point for visitors and residents of the Wharf. The upstairs bar overlooks Wharf Gangplank Marina and has more of a, well, bar feel to it.
Cocktails
The themed cocktails are well balanced and delicious and offer a variety of spirits from whiskey, gin, tequila, mezcal, and vodka. Two of the cocktails stand out are the Ancho Paloma and the Notes from Gordon.
Ancho Paloma
The Ancho Paloma contains Chamucos blanco tequila, Ancho Reyes liqueur, St-Germain liqueur, agave, grapefruit, and lime, which warms the soul and provides a little bite. It is served in a tall glass and topped with a dried orange slice.
The “Notes from Gordon” is a refreshing cocktail which combines Plymouth gin, green tea, lemongrass, peach, and lemon. This drink might be best enjoyed sitting on the outdoor deck overlooking the boats cruising the Washington Channel. An added bit of kitsch is that each of these cocktails comes with a note from Gordon representing one of his famous, or perhaps infamous remarks. For example, our’s came with a note saying, “The beef is so undercooked that it is starting to eat the salad.”
But, what about the food?
The menu covers all the key surf and turf options from beef, chicken, salmon, and lobster entrees. The Prix Fixe is a highlight, which features a first course option of pan-seared scallops or a golden beet salad. The main course features Chef Ramsay’s signature Beef Wellington followed by a large serving of sticky toffee pudding.
Pan Seared Scallops
We chose the scallops as our first course. The scallops come with a presentation of five seared bivalves neatly arranged on a plate with a smokey drizzle with a dab of bacon cubes and apple creme. The dish is briney and smokey and pairs well with a 2020 Melville chardonnay from Sta Rita Hills, California.
Beef Wellington
The star of the show is Ramsay’s Beef Wellington, the iconic English dish, made out of beef tenderloin filets, coated with mixture of wild mushrooms, wrapped in a thin slice of parma ham, and encased and cooked in a puff pastry. Chef Ramsay’s version includes an arranged plate of potato puree, glazed carrots, and a red wine demi-glace. The dish lives up to the hype. The filet is cooked medium rare. The flavor of the mushrooms and ham with the meat and pastry swished with a bit of the demi-glace can be considered a perfect bite. The dish is paired with a glass of 2016 L’esprit de Chevalier, from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, which is delicious.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
