Fine dining is in many ways as much about the experience as it is the food. More and more often people are looking for a meal that goes beyond simply sitting at a table in a dining room and being served a series of dishes; they want something more personal, more memorable and more interactive. That’s why 'chef’s tables' – small sections of larger restaurants that put you right in the midst of the action in the kitchen – are more popular than ever. Simon Rogan’s London restaurant Aulis takes the chef's table idea and makes it the focus of an entire restaurant (albeit a restaurant with only eight seats. This not only provides diners with a uniquely personal experience; it also acts as a development kitchen for dishes which might ultimately find their way onto the menu at Rogan's flagship restaurant L’Enclume in the Lake District.

Nestled away in the heart of Soho, Aulis serves a menu very much focused around Rogan’s farm-to-fork ethos, with head chef Charlie Tayler at the helm. The space was revamped in 2023 to allow for more diners and now benefits from a lounge area where guests can enjoy drinks and snacks before moving into the dining room. A twelve-seater counter sits in the middle of the main space, which doubles up as an open kitchen. This allows Tayler to interact with the diners as they watch over their menu being cooked.

Aulis’ multi-course tasting menu changes regularly with the seasons, while much of the produce used comes directly from Rogan’s own farm (called 'Our Farm'), allowing the team to work closely with their supplier when creating new dishes. Diners can expect a variety of savoury small plates ranging from crispy chicken skin with Cornish crab and yuzu to roasted miso maitake mushroom with fermented cep, and desserts such as caramelised Pink Lady apple with verjus and meadowsweet, or frozen Tunworth with truffle honey and cobnut crisp. In terms of drinks, customers can choose for a selection of wine and soft drink pairings to accompany the food.

As restaurants go there aren’t many more intimate than Aulis – and for an interactive dining experience of the highest level, they don’t come much better.