Food and Drink January 16, 2010
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Leicester
Hotel Maiyango
Location: 13-21 St Nicholas Place, Leicester, LE1 4LD [map]
Phone: 0845 201 0715
Open: Mon & Tues noon-11pm; Weds noon-midnight; Thurs noon- 1am; Weds noon- midnight; Thurs noon-1am; Fri & Sat noon-3am; Sun 6.30pm-11pm; Food Served: Mon-Sat noon-3pm, 6.30- 9.45pm; Sun 6.30-9pm
E-mail:
Website: www.maiyango.com

Looking for something completely original and undeniably luxurious? Then you must visit Maiyango. With its 14-bedroom four-star hotel, exclusive terraced Glass Bar and gorgeous AA-rosetted Moroccan-inspired restaurant, it is making quite an impact on Leicester’s city centre. Thanks to its outstanding service and inventive ‘contemporary fusion’ cuisine, Maiyango has gained a deservedly excellent reputation. The Times has named it one of the top eight places to eat out in England, and Hotel Maiyango recently won the Gold award in the ‘Taste of England’ category for the East Midlands in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence. Hotel Maiyango simply has to be experienced – and you will find it more than lives up to the hype.

n the restaurant, the service is unhurried, professional and attentive. Colourful silks adorn the ceiling and walls, creating a sense of romance and warmth, and ambient world music creates an exclusive, arty atmosphere.

Head chef Phillip Sharpe has created a delightfully eclectic à la carte menu, inspired by his travels in Asia, Africa and South America and with a firm focus on fresh, seasonal produce. Ingredients are sourced locally, so you can trace your food back to its origins, and banish all guilt about unnecessary food miles.

I began with seared king scallops, which were soft and sweet with just a hint of sea salt, and accompanied by coconut and lime foam, cauliflower purée and dressed leaves. My companion was delighted with her soy-and-honey-glazed wood pigeon, served with roasted squash and a beetroot reduction. Next, I enjoyed a duo of sea bass and red mullet, with basil linguine, drizzled with shellfish sauce, while my companion chose the roasted breast of guinea fowl, served with a confit leg spring roll, roasted sweet potato and a tangy lemon and thyme jus. To finish things off with a flourish I chose a coconut creme brulée. A wonderfully exotic twist on a favourite dessert of mine, it was served with a lime tuille and a beautifully spiced pineapple sorbet. My companion, in possession of a particularly sweet tooth, was absolutely delighted by her dark chocolate and raspberry fondant, served with vanilla ice cream and berry compote. For those who find it difficult to make up their minds, there’s also a fantastic six-course taster menu offering a little bit of everything from the à la carte menu.

This restaurant is perfect for groups of friends and family, work parties and romantic couples alike. Open all day for drinks, with a DJ providing the entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings, this is the ideal place to celebrate or enjoy a leisurely cocktail with a friend. When you visit be sure to call in advance and reserve one of the snug, private wooden booths; they are often booked up weeks in advance thanks to the wonderful exclusivity they provide. You will absolutely love Maiyango, but be warned – once you eat here, you will be hooked.


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