Looking for somewhere in London that serves up fine French fare? Voila! Full of rustic charm, Le Garrick is an authentic restaurant offering a fully-loaded French menu
If you’re looking for a restaurant that dishes up excellent French fare in an authentic setting, you could just jump on the Eurostar and be in Paris within a few hours. However, we’ve found a restaurant that means you needn’t bother with all that hassle. Serving up French favourites with finesse, flavour and faultless service, Le Garrick has been a secret London institution for the last 25 years and is still going strong.
IDEA
French food isn’t exactly a novelty in London, but finding an un-fussy, un-pretentious place with good food is. Le Garrick is all this and more. It’s a family-run bistro, brasserie and bar serving traditional French food in an authentic atmosphere.
LOCATION
Situated on the corner of Floral Street and Garrick Street, Le Garrick is a little corner of France in London. The restaurant is in the heart of London’s theatre district and is a favourite haunt for the theatre crowd. A five minute walk from both Covent Garden and Leicester square stations, this restaurant is ideal for after work and pre-theatre dining.
THE WELCOME
The attitude to dining at Le Garrick is that it should be experienced and savoured. They want to make their guests feel like they are part of the family and this is certainly something they achieve with ease.
The staff here create a warm sense of belonging from the moment you arrive, right through to the moment you say au revoir. Watching the waiters whizz between the tables and jovially talk with each guest makes you feel welcomed and that dining here is a good choice. Moreover, the knowledgeable staff (who all seem to be French) seem genuinely proud and excited of the restaurants’ classic French Menu.
STYLE & AMBIANCE
Le Garrick has an authentic olde-worlde appeal. Imagine that you are somewhere in France and have just walked into a Bistro that’s so continental you have a ‘so this is how it feels to be French’ moment – this is Le Garrick.
Well-worn tables and chairs, dim lighting and exposed brick walls all add to the restaurant’s rustic charm. Old and new posters and flyers of stage productions hang on the walls, nodding to the restaurants location in the heart of the theatre district. On the ground floor you can enjoy the sights and sounds of Covent Garden and on warm evenings you can even eat al fresco, sitting outside on tables perched at the corner of the street. Downstairs in the depths of the restaurant, cosy candlelit alcoves create a more intimate and romantic setting for guests. Le Garrick is a restaurant of many atmospheres – it’s vibrant and bustling, friendly yet easy-going, romantic yet relaxed.
FOOD & DRINK
Ask anyone to list the top ten things they’d expect to find at a classic French restaurant and we bet you’ll find them at Le Garrick. Remaining true to its French roots, the restaurant takes its culinary cues from one of the owner’s upbringing in Toulouse, Burgundy and the Basque country, resulting in timeless dishes and preparations of classic French dishes.
On our visit, we enjoyed some tasty escargots (how ridiculously French of us) braised in garlic and white wine. These slimy guys are some of the best we’ve had anywhere. We also tried their melt-in-the-mouth foie gras which was just as it should be – rich, buttery and delicate.
If you go to Le Garrick you must experience their pièce de résistance ‘Cassolette De Calamars au Piment D’Espelette’ – in other words pan seared calamari served in a creamy, spicy sauce with coriander, chilli and ginger – we bet you’ll be asking for extra bread to mop up every last saucy drop.
For the main event, Canard à l’Orange is a duck dish that definitely delights. The rich orange sauce brings out the succulence of the flavoursome roast duck – its sooooooo good. Another winner is the Cassoulet De Toulouse. This rich and warming one pot wonder is a hearty dish of different meats served on a bed of white lingot beans- it’s traditional, tasty and a must try.
Other popular French creations that look equally as delicious include moules marinere and the beef bourguigon. Make sure that you save room and indulge in some of their fantastic desserts. The delightful, gooey chocolate fondant is out of this world, as is their tangy tarte au citron.
The bill arrives with a complimentary shot of liquor, which certainly beats the hell out of chocolate mints! A la votre!
IT’S ALL IN THE BUTTER
Just a word of caution, if you suffer from any pre-existing cholesterol problems then be aware that the French are known for their rich and not-always-low-fat dishes. And in true French style, the chefs at Le Garrick aren’t afraid to put a little (or should we say a lot) of butter in their dishes. Not that we’re complaining as butter and all that other heavy creamy stuff is the key to their flavoursome, rich and oh so delicious dishes, we just suggest to do some exercise after you’ve eaten here.
WHY GO?
If you’re having dinner with friends from out of town and want to impress them with a great food, Le Garrick is the perfect restaurant. If you’re going on a dinner date with your lover, this is the place. If want a catch up with friends, come here. Cosy and charming, Le Garrick is perfect for nearly every occasion, bringing people together with its friendly atmosphere and fine French food.
Bon Appétit!
Address:
10-12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9BH
Price: Starters between £5 – £9, Mains between £12 and £24 and desserts around £5.50
IDEAL magazine dined as a guest of the hotel