THIS AIN'T PUB GRUB

photo Ben Anders for the New York Times

A couple of friends and I met for lunch at Gordon Ramsay's at the London Hotel West Hollywood. The decor was ultra chic and surprisingly feminine. I say surprisingly because if you know anything about Ramsay, it's that he has a foul mouth and is a bit rough around the edges, so the softness of the decor was definitely a surprise. Immediately upon arriving I was kicking myself that I hadn't brought my camera, so the photo above is not mine. But I reminded myself that this was really about spending quality time with friends, not about documenting every photogenic moment.

For the record, the food lived up to expectations, but as has been noted in some online reviews, this is a restaurant for foodies. Don't be fooled by the decor this is not a restaurant for scenesters, though there are plenty of the latter who frequent the bar. To really enjoy the restaurant you have to appreciate food and be willing to move out of your comfort zone. I for instance had black cod with pig's tail. I've never had pig's tail before, and one of my girlfriends had rabbit, which she told us she had never eaten before because as a child she had had a bunny named Bumbum. So, if you want a chic decor and haute cuisine it's worth adding to your list.

We're going to London in a few weeks and are likely to go to Ramsay's Maze Grill. For an ex-footbaler turned chef, the boy's done good, real good.