I think I have said this before, but our friends and family are obsessed with giving Mr.N and I restaurant gift cards and experiences. I’m actually shocked that we both aren’t obese already. I’m not going to lie though, I have put on a tiny bit of “love” weight since the wedding. It’s actually got to the point where I can’t even see my jawline anymore, honestly, I wish I was joking! If they made a film about me, it’d be called Finding My Jawline. 

Chubby chins aside, it came as no surprise when we were gifted a Thai Chateaubriand, Lobster and Champagne experience at The Crazy Bear by one of Mr.N’s generous aunts. Winner of ‘Best Restaurant’ at the London Lifestyle Awards, this glamorously enticing Asian restaurant tucked away near Goodge Street constantly draws in stylish diners….and us. We were greeted by a lovely lady at the door who took us through to our table right at the back of the restaurant (I presume they stick the Groupon and Virgin folk together). It has this distinctly dark and seductive feel to it that completely transforms your mood. Mr.N and I were sat literally within centimetres of each other, much to Mr.N’s dismay (he thinks I invade his space and that I’m too clingy, but I’m convinced he secretly loves it).

We kicked off our Friday night with a glass of champagne followed shortly by some inventive cocktails from the ‘award-winning’ bar downstairs. Look, even if you never come here to eat, the bar is worth checking out, trust me. We decided to order some duck spring rolls and prawn dim sum to start which we enjoyed thoroughly. For our mains, we decided to ‘surf ‘n’ turf’ so we could have the best of both. The dish looked absolutely stunning,  our senses were being teased by the vibrant colours and eastern aromas. The lobster was a bit too on the peppery side for me. The papaya salad was sharp and refreshing and much to my surprise, I enjoyed it more than the one I had in Chiang Mai not long ago. We also had the classic vegetarian pad Thai.

I wanted to go to the bathroom and our fabulous waiter, Khan, who looked Mexican but turned out is actually Pakistani, escorted me downstairs to the bathroom and I could see why. There is no signage or any clues, and when you eventually discover the secret door, you might be forgiven for thinking you’ve entered a trance nightclub rather than a toilet- it’s all very strange.

We had the tastiest pistachio ice cream and crème brulee topped with berries as our sweet ending. I have to say, the service was second to none and I can’t praise the attentive and charismatic nature of Mr.Khan enough. Despite this place regularly accepting voucher clad diners, don’t be fooled- this is no cheap eat. Our bill, after presenting our experience voucher, still came to around £100. The Crazy Bear may have crazy prices, and yes, I would categorise it as a special occasion restaurant but the luxurious décor, sultry ambience and surprisingly unpretentious food justifies their prices for the most part.

Food: 8.5/10  Atmosphere: 10/10  Value: 8/10

If this restaurant were a fictional character, it would be…..Jessica Pearson, Suits- a classy, sexy and impressive all-rounder who can leave most people speechless without saying much.