London's Top French Restaurants
Bonjour, mes amis! This week we take a peek at the current crop of fantastic restaurants inspired by our cousins from across the channel. London’s very lucky to house some of the finest French eateries in the world, so we thought it was about time we raised a glass of Pernod in their general direction. Whether you’re on a budget or pounding the purse, we’ve got a selection of Gallic delights guaranteed to elicit a ‘sacre bleu’ for all the right reasons.
Clos Maggiore, Covent Garden
A calming enclave seconds away from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, Clos Maggiore is a sumptuous gem of a restaurant. It has a wine-list that’s second to none and a contemporary French menu that’s to die for. Alex from Farringdon is a big, big fan: “Exhaustive wine list, superb food and great ambience mean that I'll certainly be going back”.
L’Escargot, Soho
Deep in the heart of Soho, L’Escargot dishes exquisite food at reasonable prices. The building used to be the residence of the Duke Of Portland and it’s lost none of its grandeur since. Art work by Hockney, Warhol and Chagall adorn the walls, which enhances the dining experience even further. Expect to pay £13-£16 for mains from the a-la-carte menu, but couple it with the elegant surroundings and we think it’s nothing short of a snip. Alice from Covent Garden certainly seemed to think so: “L’Escargot offers good value for money and great quality food”.
Café Rouge, London-wide
These popular and inexpensive French restaurants dot the capital. While much of the experience is what you would reasonably expect from a chain imitating (quite successfully) the look and feel of a French bistro, there’s still a lot to be said about visiting Café Rouge. If you fancy a quick bite with a difference, or nose through the papers with a croissant and café au lait, this could be right up your street. “This is lovely if you’re having a shopping day and fancy a nice, relaxing lunch”, says Emily from Finsbury Park.
Pied A Terre, Charlotte Street
This popular restaurant on Charlotte Street continues to impress. Shane Osborne is the head chef and his high standards extend to every part of this business. The food is exceptional, the wine list holds a number of treasures for the adventurous and the service is utterly flawless. Put simply like this, Pied a Terre’s enduring appeal is obvious, but the dining experience really needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. Suzy from Covent Garden knows exactly what we’re talking about: “Intimate and decadent without being stuffy or pretentious, the food is some of the best I've had.