As you walk up to the GQ Bar in JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, you first see two torches flickering on either side of the entrance, which is surrounded by black marble. It’s possibly the manliest entrance to an eatery I’ve ever seen.
The decor of this restaurant and lounge is contemporary— lots of greys, blacks and rich tones. But the interesting lighting softens the mood. It’s stylish, sexy and urban, and if it was a man it would be a high-fashion model.
But can the food, more specifically the New Year’s Eve five-course dinner menu, impress me just as much as the decor?
The first course, a foie gras terrine with pineapple chutney, was particularly exciting for me as it was the first time I had tasted the meat dish. The presentation was beautiful, with a streak of port wine reduction slicing across the delicately laid out plate. The foie gras was buttery and smooth, with an intense meaty flavour. The tart chutney helped balance out the richness and I thoroughly enjoyed the unique flavour. Sadly, my friend’s portion was underdone and a bit watery in the middle, which seemed a disservice to the delicacy.
A lobster consomme with vegetable ravioli, our second course, was disappointing. The ravioli was too chewy for my liking but the consomme had a lovely seafood flavour.
The next course was a surprise, not because of the dish itself but because of how much I loved it. The sea bass with carrot puree was scrumptious. The fish flaky but not too soft was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The puree was impossibly silky and had a luxurious feel. As a person who doesn’t eat fish too often, I was very impressed.
I was anxiously awaiting the next course, which I hoped was some meat and I was not disappointed. When the Angus beef fillet with mushrooms and truffle potato rosti was placed in front of me, I was first hit by the delicious, smoky aroma. I think I even gushed to the waiter how good it smelled. I like my steak medium rare and it was done beautifully. The rosti, placed under the steak, was on the salty side but was still quite good.
On to the dessert — the coffee creme brulee, which had an Instagram-perfect presentation, was smooth and creamy. Served with a portion of ice cream, it offered the palate-cleansing equivalent of an espresso, just more fun.
One thing that GQ does so very right is drinks. Its menu is exhaustive and truly innovative — and not just with its quirky names.
Even though the price is a bit steep — as expected for a place that serves up both foie gras and lobster in the same sitting — if classy, sexy, cool is how you want to bring in the New Year, then the GQ Bar is a great option. Just watch those torches on the way out.
