CANVAS is at 1 Wilbraham Place, Chelsea SW1X 9AE
CANVAS is at 1 Wilbraham Place, Chelsea SW1X 9AE

Michael Riemenschneider says 'my love for food is not just love, it's beyond passion' and there is no doubt that a great deal of creativity and preparation has gone into his menu at CANVAS, which has recently re-located to a new venue just a stone's through off Chelsea's fashionable Sloane Square.

Previously operating as a 20 seat venue in Marylebone, the new CANVAS sits just behind the famous Cadogan Hall in Wilbraham Place on the former site of Le Cercle. It has expanded its seating capacity to 60 and given chef Riemenschneider the opportunity to showcase an inventive menu that is anything other than a blank canvas to a wider audience.

First impressions are good as you walk down a very stylish subtly lit floating staircase into the main restaurant area, which has a clean and simple design and eye-catching glass fronted wine display, set within one the building's exposed original walls. Tables are well spaced and the red leather dining chairs add a splash of richness and colour to the light and airy feel of the place, while to one side of main dining area is a feature experimental cocktail bar with an impressive full length oak clad bar.

Diners have the choice of 16 dishes to chose from on the menu, which is split into three sections; sea and coast, land and earth and guilty pleasures. You can opt for a three course a la carte menu or one of a number of tasting menus on offer – from five to 12 courses. The chef and knowledgeable staff are happy to advise and guide you through the menu – and you can also add matching wines, professionally advised by the affable sommelier Alis.

An amuse-bouche of shredded duck confit and snails bristling with flavour set the scene for some creative cooking, followed by scrummy home baked bacon and onion bread with seaweed butter.

Presentation will impress at CANVAS
Presentation will impress at CANVAS

Our first course of five was a plate of sweet plump perfectly cooked scallops with five interesting combinations of cauliflower, some working better than others, while a juniper smear and hint of caramel added nice finishing touches. Flavours and textures were in abundance for the second course with gleaming immaculately cooked langoustines sitting perfectly on a bed of pearl barley with tender fresh asparagus and finished off with veal and a crustacean jus.

Well cooked Octopus with tempting sweet hints of basil and tomato on the plate was the third course, but the confit potatoes were rather disappointing and did not enliven the rest of the delicate flavours of the dish. The chef then really came into his own with a star-studded beef dish. Melt in the mouth meat cooked three ways (sirloin, rib and cheek) was lifted further by a more than decent jus, perfect pommes purée, sweet onion and heritage carrot for a joyful plate of food.

A dreamy zesty lemon pud with caramel, cream and olive oil maintained the high standards of cooking while my partner Fiona gave the thumbs up to a well chosen and presented selection of cheeses.

All the portions from the tasting menu we had were well judged quantities, well paced and elegantly presented and gave plenty of satisfaction. Service throughout was seamless and the professional staff certainly made you feel relaxed and blended in well with the ambience of the restaurant.

A five course tasting menu costs £60 per person and you can match wines to each dish for a further £50.