Gastro is a lovely place - the food is amazing and the décor very charming. On the up side it is very authentically French, the food is delicious and the staff are friendly. However, it gets quite busy and when I went there it took quite a while for us to be served our food, which is quite pricey for what it is. It's not somewhere you'd want to frequent very often as the food is very rich and I'm no millionaire, but for a romantic night out or a special occasion its great! read more

Gastro Deli Diner - French Near Me - London, XGL

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The Gastro has definitely been one of out favourite spots and our favourite local restaurant either for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We have been visiting regularly the Gastro for a long time now and I can always recommend the chateaubriand steak for dinner and a full bodied wine (the manager can always recommend a good bottle of wine without letting you down) and for breakfast I always have the the eggs atlantique with Benedict sauce. However the last time the sauce was quite funny and didn't meet my expectations, I hope that was just a coincidence! Last time we ordered oysters for our starter, six to share between two. The size of the oysters was really small ! Never ask for ketch up or they will get offended and for lactose intolerant people there is no such thing is soya milk! They don't charge for extra bread which is always good. Their espresso is fine but next time I'll probably go for the chocolate! The service is in general good, taking into account they all french and therefore not very popular for that reason. However most of them are very accommodating and polite. Once you become a regular costumer and they recognize you the service becomes better and they will definitely look after you well! read more

Gastro Deli Diner - French Near Me - London, XGL

I've only been here once but it was delightful. I came here on the recommendation of a friend on an early Saturday afternoon, looking for somewhere to have breakfast. While madness reigned in every decent place on the High Street, Gastro was remarkably quiet and relaxed, and no one tried to fight us for one of the nice tables outside. Very odd, considering the quality of the food, the loveliness of the place itself, and the charming French waiters - well, all the better for us! The menu consists mainly in various French food, but in case you were worried they also serve the English breakfast. I didn't try it, but it looked very good. Really superb coffee, if you're into that kind of thing. read more

Gastro Deli Diner - French Near Me - London, XGL

Food around the world that smells bad, usually tastes good... * Stinking Bishop may smell of old socks but it's melt-in-the-mouth gorgeous. * Durian is perfectly nice as long as it's fresh and you have mango straight after. * Stinky Tofu is actually delicious as long as you get it fried fresh at the right place. ...but the French and their "Andouillette".... erm, no thanks. It's smells of shit and it tastes of shit. Thanks a lot Gastro for serving such a pleasant item to me. To be fair, I was warned. Le Garcon told me 'Sir, are you sure you want to have this, it's a tripe sausage?' and yes... I said yes. Part curiosity, part gastro one-up-man-ship over my 3 fellow diners. Tripe can be good, right? Not in Andouillette form, it seems. The rest of our meal did go well - good soup and seafood, plenty of the French classics on the menu, atmospheric, rustic and slightly cramped French surroundings and a decent punch at wine. Plus the helpful and informative Garcon with his warning. But Anduoillette is not recommended for your main course. You'll smell your big smoking brown sausage before it gets to you - like a warm turd on a plate with fries. It only smells of one thing... POO. And apparently this is unavoidable as the type of tripe you are eating is colon, and no matter how much it's washed, it never loses that base fecal whiff. Without a sense of smell it could actually taste quite nice with it's texture of folds and earthy, meaty flavours, but when are you ever going to eat with no sense of smell? Put it this way... we all quite like our night at Gastro but when my Anduoillette arrived, no-one on our table could eat their food anymore. It's the ultimate anti-social meal. read more

Ah missing La Belle France? Me too. Take a trip to Gastro, a wonderful, rustic style French restaurant tucked away in Clapham. Having been on many French trips during my childhood, I have happy memories of steaming piles of moules mariniere and heaps of frites. Gastro is oh so French from the charming host to the waiter who bowed to me on the way out the door. The menu is traditional French(moules and all), they drop off a gorgeous bread and butter basket on every table and the mayo comes in tiny jam jars. Knowing that this little gem would definitely not have gone un-Yelped, I did a quick looky up on my mob and ordered the Soupe de Poissons, on the recommendation of Derry.N. It was hearty and delicious and so I'm told was the steak. I wish we had been there for longer, but since we were in a hurry, we didn't get to try the scallops or the risotto. However, the word is out on Gastro and we were charmingly recommended that the next time we should book ahead as it is very busy. Still though we were only waiting ten minutes. read more

Finally, deep-fried Camembert that you can eat, always a test in my book. Great portion sizes and good food, simply done which is just what one wants On a cold January Friday trudging around clapham looking for an inspired meal, it was refreshing to walk into a stylised downbeat French bistro, all warm and full of character. The final test, for me, is the quality of the Creme Brulee and it certainly didn't disappoint. A fine crust of burned sugar overlaid a delicate creamy custard, speckled with vanilla seeds. Definitely, one to return to read more

Wow this place is French. Our waitress had the requisite aloofness of the French people, dumping food and drinks on the table like we were lucky to not have to go and get it ourselves. The food was pretty good if a little expensive. The Scallops I had were probably the biggest I've ever seen and served with the roe attached. They do a lot of seafood so if French Seafood is your thing, I'd check it out. read more

Luscious hot chocolate, great authenticity, and very good moules marinieres. It's a great place to bring a few friends (if you book ahead), and the atmosphere is perfect to escape a wintry downpour or just to escape, really. I've reduced the number of stars because the grubbiness quotient has increased in recent months. A regular commitment to disinfect the surfaces, and do some dusting would increase my rating. read more

Meh... sums this joint up quit nicely. I'm not impressed, wine choice was good and the wine was good but my steak was undercooked with an underwhelming sauce and my partner's scallops were way too undercooked with sauce that turned his stomach. Since half of our duo is French, it gives a bit more validity to us saying, we've had better french fare in London, heck we've had better french fare in Clapham. For the price you are going to pay, in our opinion take that 15min walk from Clapham Common and head to Le Chardon, much better taste value for your pound! We did like the feel of this being a crowded and busy french bistro, really we don't mind the "fitting in to a nook" dining experience as long as the food is something equally worth it's Parisian ambiance. read more

Fortunately, I didn't read these reviews before searching out this, more than once recommended, cafe in Clapham. Otherwise, I would have kept on the hunt for a good breakfast in the area. Yes, it's small and a bit gritty. Yes, the waiter was fresh from France and spoke very little English. But no, he was delightfully charming, albeit, a little forgetful, but a 10 for charming. My husband ordered an omelette. I ordered poached eggs florentine and my son ordered the Eggs Benedict. (Someday, I want Sam to write his top 10 favorites as he orders this dish everywhere we go and I think this will make the list.) Everything was perfectly paced to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, even down to the weather outside at our cafe table. For me, perfectly poached eggs, fresh spinach and light, delicate toast all bathed in a creamy hollandaise sauce. And the coffee? Like you'd expect from a French cafe. Hot and strong. Next time I'm in town, you bet I'll detour off the main street, sidestep the locals who migrate to the local movie theater across the street and grab a table in front of Gastro. read more

I've lived in Clapham for 6 years and have been here only twice. And that might just be my lot, unless someone invites me. It's so very French here - the waiters, the menu, the wine... and the service. Sometimes rushed, often impatient and annoyingly forgetful - their staff are hit and miss. The food is good, or excellent, depending what you go for. Their moules are delicious (and one of the least daring options on the menu) and the andouillette, or tripe sausage, is only for the adventurous. You really can see the arteries as you bring it to your mouth. I walk past most evenings and the outside tables are popular in the summer - regulars supping wine and snacks. For me there are more familiar and friendly and consistent haunts in Clapham, and I'll stick to them. If I'm feeling Gallic, I'll more likely head to Le Pot Lyonnais in Battersea. read more

Authentically French. Went in here for lunch and got everything you would expect--dark wood, baguette, fabulous French onion soup, a perfectly dressed green salad, great espresso, surely service (including giving us the wrong change), and a large bill. It feels a bit gritty (as others have mentioned) and if the law would allow it I could just imagine ash trays on the table. Midnight in Paris in Clapham anyone? read more

Loving the true french decor, service and the fact, they are holding to the pure 'frenchness'. Service kind of paying, kind of not paying attention, the kind of 'I really am not bothered' but then your order lands on your table promptly. I love that very much! But the food.. I am not so sure... My friend's granola looked and apparently was absolutely amazing. Fresh fruits, yoghurt, honey/agava or so. On the other hand, my onion soup was not so impressive. I would expect such a french staple costing £9 be heavenly, but it was just ok. My soup got the cheese in a tiny separate bowl served next to the soup and tasted of some sort of stock cubes or another undefined synthetic taste... Chips were good. Spiced up with a salty mix rather then herbal mix was - in my opinion - old fashion and unnecessary, but still tasty with plenty of crunchy bits made me happy! read more

I have frequented this murkily authentic little French bistro for lunch many times yet I still don't feel quite qualified to write a review. The reason is I have, without fail, always ordered the same food. When I peruse the menu, if I even bother, memories of the last time I enjoyed soupe de poisson here come floating back and I quickly order it again. Its a rich, ruddy, full-flavoured soup which is served with little pieces of toasted French bread on the side. There is also a heap of grated cheese and a buttery sauce I have yet to identify. You can dip and dunk to your heart's content - very filling and satisfying! As I mentioned, I order the same stuff. So the only other things I can recommend from the bistro apart from the soup are the Breton cider, and the hot chocolate & croque monsieur, which my girlfriend always gets, and loves. How boring... and delicious! A word on the waitresses - the service can be pretty erratic. I recently had to insist we pay only for our drinks after being kept waiting for over 40 minutes to eat. Having said that, the cheery 'bonjours' and 'au revoirs' quickly erase any such bad feelings, and it wasn't enough to stop us dropping by. read more

I stumbled across Gastro after spending a month in France and was pleased as punch. The restaurant is very French and I loved that I could practice my newly developed language skills on the staff. Since I found Gastro I frequent the restaurant often. The menu offers lots of great choices and I will readily admit that most of the things I order come with chips, because they are soooo good! The beef dishes are especially good and the savoury bits add something extra special to the chips. If you like a little French bistro that offers authentic French food that won't make you go broke, this is the place! read more

Gastro Deli Diner - French Near Me - London, XGL

My friend, who happens to be French, tested their Frenchness and verified that this place is 100% French. That being said, 1. Food: Awesome. we ordered 4 different dishes from the menu on a random basis and everything we got was delicious. 2. Price: It is alright. I mean, you don't feel like you're having a great deal out of your order but you definitely don't like ripped off as the taste and flavour is there. 3. Service: It was pretty good, given servers were French. No offense guys but we all know how service culture is in France so I was pleasantly surprised. I will be back! read more

I hate Clapham, but tonight thanks to some Qype mobile help, I managed to find this cute restaurant for a nice meal. You might not notice Gastro from the outside ('cept for the neon sign) but it's a small French place which is very expensive for it's location and unassumingness! However the food we had was nice. After some comp french bread, we (2) shared a huge bowl of mussels to start. They were nice, but perhaps a little bland. Then we both went for the steak which was huge and offered with a choice of either peppercorn or Bearnaise sauce & some very tasty fries. With just fruit juice to drink the bill came in at about £60. I can imagine it would be a great place to go with a large group of friends, because there is a massive table at the back of the room. It's also the type of place you'd like to eat french bread & jams for breakfast, and at the other end of the day has handy opening hours, open till midnight! read more

Gastro do a very decent full English breakfast for those in a hurry. When I came in on Christmas eve, I told them I only had 20 minutes, and my breakfast and tea duly arrived in only 10, and I was out of the door on time and caught my train. The only small downside is the lack of beans! But the sausages were delicious. read more

Gastro Deli Diner - French Near Me - London, XGL

Clapham High street on a November Saturday night throws up our nations finest, or is that our nations finest throwing up? Magaluf springs to mind. Its not clear if they are showing off tricks learnt last summer in San Antonio or practising for next summer. Either way the Easyjet detritus are here hunting for snog riots while being all over excited on the alcopop sugar content. So looking for a nice restaurant on the hoof was optimistic in the extreme. We spotted a neon 'restaurant here' sign down a side street opposite the cinema but passed it off as a bit of wayward costa del graffiti. I put in an SOS call to Lizzie (a walking Qype) and she directed us back down said side street and into the neon. Gastro is an oasis of French joy marooned in the madness of Clapham. It is so authentic that the waiter will engage you in rapid fire French. If you cant respond he will practice his pigeon English on you, but best to play the game. We were parked in a booth in a corner but that didn't stop them anticipating our needs . And the place was heaving. The whole crab starter came intact with the requisite dentist type tools, and the rare calves liver was melt in the mouth gorgeous with great dollops of creamy mash potato. The wine list was at the spenny end of my budget but that didn't seem to stem the flow. The French banter continued through out the meal, aided by the late arrival of the aforementioned Lizzie. By the time we had paid the bill and decided to leave we had made good friends and said fond au'revoirs before heading fortified into the frenzy. read more

'Inconsistent. Bad service. Over-priced.' Just a few of the comments I've heard bandied about describing the most authentic French restaurant south of the river. Yes, the service can be slightly 'french-sullen', but isn't that part of its charm. And the waiter even gave me some moule-eating tips, which is better service than I get most places. And yes the food can be occasionally inconsistent, but for the most part it's excellent, and to this day it has provided me with my finest ever steak frites. And over-priced? Not really, considering the area and the quality of food. Let's stop French bashing, shall we, and just enjoy an eaterie which isn't owned by pizza express plc. read more

Gastro used to be a really nice place with excellent food. However, the last few times in 2016 the quality of food and service took a downturn. The menu changed (and not for the better), the food has become mediocre and the service is not as good as it used to be. Generally the duck dish on the menu is still ok, but I had the chicken with chips which was a disappointment. Friends and family had other dishes which were equally disappointing. Hope they'll turn it around again. It's a great location and I did enjoy to go there read more

From the stained-glass windows to the thirties banquette-booths and jugs of Ricard this place is very French; the menu and staff are just as French as the décor! Gastro servers delicious, authentic French food in a bubbly yet cosy atmosphere. It's a great place to go for a candle-lit dinner but the bigger banqueting style tables also suit larger groups. The service is friendly and attentive and generally speaking the staff will go out of their way to accommodate your needs. However, on a couple of visits I have found the service to be somewhat slow due to a lack of staff and a heaving restaurant. All the meat and fish served here is organic-farmed or free-range. They have a tank full of their own lobsters in the middle of the restaurant. The mussels and oysters are a must to start and the bouillabaisse is divine! Tour waiter or waitress will also bring you a basket of fresh bread as soon as you are seated, which is a nice ouch without having to ask. The drinks in here are as good as the food, with a fantastic wine list too. This place is a good place to start a night as it's really easy to get to right by Clapham Common tube station, which also means you have the choice of bars down the high street for post-dinner drinks! read more

Good food, very tasty especially if you like garlic. But for what it is, it's quite overpriced. And the staff are not the friendliest. That said if you're after a great steak and frites or oysters then it's worth a visit. Good venue for post-cinema dinner if you don't mind the big communal table out the back. read more

Fabulous breakfast bistro. True French feel, just like part of Marseille. Lovely old school decor that looks as if it were put in place 30 years ago. If it isn't broken don't fix it! Fabulous eggs benedicte and eggs florentine. Good hash browns too! read more

This was a spare of the moment choice, as we were off to the cinema but arrived a tad early for the show. The rustic authentic feel to Gastro is definitely a huge selling point; however the prices were unexpectedly high! I ordered the Monkfish wrapped in bacon with Spinach which was £18 and was shocked when it came with no sides, I was tempted to order some mash potato, but didn't want to miss the first half of the film. The staff were very attentive and my meal was very filling so I can't really complain, I will try it once more as the mussels on the menu were calling me But If I am planning to do a Starter main and dessert I better make sure I'm armed with the cash to do so haha! read more

Hidden away on side street of Clapham Common, is a cozy french bistro that looks like it popped out of an old film noir. The food is fresh, fabulous and comforting. Perfect for a date or friends, the kind of place you want to stay for hours, soaking up all its european goodness. read more

Very nice ambience - feels like being in France. Steaks and tarte tatin are great, not sure about the rest. Expensive.

In a word. excelent!!!

Gastro is a fantastic French find in the hearts of Clapham. Tucked away on Venn street, opposite the picture house is a little gem of a place. They are open all day, so whether it is a spot of lunch, a quick café au lait (lovely and creamy by the way) or full blown dinner you are after gastro could fit the bill. My personal favourite is the petit dejuner, which is served until three in the afternoon (spot on if you have been out on the tiles the night before) and makes sure you get the basket of real French baguette just the thing to dip in your fried egg on a lazy Sunday brunch. read more

good place near clapham picture house. I tend to go for movies after having nice diner at Gastro. French like the francais likes it. Says it all. read more

Lovely food and very French. The staff and lovely (and French) and it's got a lovely, rustic feel. I do tend to go for the 'old faithful of steak and chips but they're soo good. My friends are more adventurous and I'm annoying in always being that guest who wants what they're having. Great little place this read more

Now that my link to Paris is no longer a stone's throw from Clapham, I get my Frenchie fix from Gastro - a quintessential brasserie just off Clapham High Street. We popped in for a glass of Vin Rouge on route to the Clapham Picture House which is just across the road. The service is as you would expect in any French brasserie - imperfect and non-ingratiating - but somehow just right. The wine is rustic and pleasingly served in a down to earth tumbler, accompanied by a bowl of proper French bread. Gastro is always packed, but if you can't get a table it's more fun to sit at the bar and practice GCSE French with the waiters. read more

Good atmosphere, shabby French chic! Feels authentic and casual, and good for steak.

Great atmosphere, really friendly front of house, attentive staff, nice service, clean, tidy, just the right amount of bustle without being overly noisy. The communal table at the back is a great place too. Wine was great although rather pricey for what it was (15quid for a split). Starters were huge and lovely: the goats cheese salad was excellent. Then what was supposed to be the main event arrived: the beef for two was right in every way except for the beef. Something was strange about the cut of meat not to mention the way it had been cooked. 3 bites in and I pushed my plate back. My partner and I began an argument about au point (what we'd ordered) vs bleu. This was neither. I know, I should have sent it back esp at 44 pounds a shot. But panic set in. Were they taking the piss? I have sent meat back before and I probably should have done so this time, I was just too shocked to do it. In between waves of panic before the check came, I looked around at the other plates on the communal table: they looked fine, better than fine. I also looked at the other diners-- all happy. But it was too late for me. We paid and got out of there tout suite. 88 pounds poorer in 45 minutes. A new record. Moral to the story: don't get the beef for two. read more

Gastro is a cute little French restaurant with a bohemian feel located opposite the Clapham picture house, perfect place to go before a movie. I had salmon in a creamy sauce with seasonal veg and by date had steak with truffles and foie gras. The food was delicious and perfectly cooked although it was quite pricey and we were seated in a rather poor location - a corridor to the loos! It's a shame there isn't some more casual French food on the menu like a croque monsieur, I would definitely be coming here for lunch if there was! read more

Gastro serves a pretty good breakfast (okay, petit dejeuner), it must be said. But in the evening this place becomes a crowded, sloppy, arrogant restaurant that thinks it is a lot better than it actually is. On our last visit, last month, the service was painfully slow - more than 45 minutes for the starters; nearly an hour between starters and mains. Items were delivered late (side dishes arriving well after the mains) or missed off the order altogether. On a previous visit we tried to order a bottle of wine, which was priced at £20. We were told it wasn't available but a new wine, not on the list, would make the ideal replacement, so we took the waiter's advice. There was no mention of price, and we assumed it would be roughly the same as the out-of-stock bottle. We enjoyed the wine (and ordered a second) but were rather taken aback when the bill arrived at the end of the night: the replacement wine was nearly £45 a bottle - more than twice what we had intended to pay. The food is average to good (hardly exceptional), but be aware that you will get poor service, plenty of attitude and a bill that is higher than it deserves to be (and that's without taking the waiter's wine recommendation!) read more

Really nice staff, cool atmosphere, opposite the cinema, great coffee and fantastic croque monsieur! The best thing when I was unemployed for a time was I got to hang out here a lot. I was a bit disappointed when I got a job to be honest. read more

Shocked at the way they treat the disabled. Had a desert and a glass of wine , then refused service and told to go else where when we requested a night cap out side at 9.30 , we are mid 40s and no problem to any one except the wheel chair very hurt to be honest josh read more

One of my favourite restaurants in London, I've had a completely different experience to the first reviewer. A bustling, atmospheric and intimate setting, especially if you sit in the diner-style booths near the front. Every time we've gone, the food and service has been impeccable. The last time we were there, we were given drinks on the house after our meal by our lovely (and not at all arrogant) waitress. read more

Great food and atmosphere but is a little pricy.