Chez Tonton is outstanding, I've been passing for years meaning to go in and finally did last night…read morethanks to a taste card 2 for 1 offer and I have to say it was excellent, I really am kicking myself it's taken me this long to try it. The food prices are reasonable and the wine is excellent value, £31 for a bottle of Chateauneuf du pape. Tasty food, great wine and a very welcoming and gracious owner really make Chez Tonton a gem of a local restaurant. If you're nearby, or even if you're not it's worth the trip to this great little bistro, it gives Barnét an accent.

Possibly the best french bistro this side of the channel…read more Creme Brulee is the best I have tasted anywhere in the world, although recently I tried the assiette du chef dessert (a little piece of many things) which was equally fantastic, so now i'm torn whenever I go. A meal at Chez Tonton is always an occasion- Eric brings over delicious Kir Royale, and melt in the mouth cubes of garlic bread whilst you select your order. The french onion soup is lovely, as are the rillettes. Lunch is a steal, with 2 and 3 course deals on offer each day. Dinner is somewhat pricier, but worth every penny.

Excellent French cuisine bistro restaurant. Wonderful…read moreatmosphere, excellent menu, super service and great food. Everyone I know who has dined here has loved this place. Highly recommended.

From the owner: Table Du Marché (which translates as Market Table) is an independent French Gastro Bar and…read moreRestaurant with an emphasis on seasonal food, locally sourced, combining classical French dishes with a modern twist. Menus are updated daily with specials and plenty of options for vegetarians. We work closely with local allotment owners and regularly purchase their veg and herb harvests for use in our restaurant.

Came here for dinner and they were super dog friendly. There are bar seats, but also dining tables…read morein the bar area so we were able to bring our furry friend with us. There was outdoor areas with lighting, but a tad too cold out. Cute areas though. They were pretty busy as well and luckily we got a good table. Wait staff were friendly, pace of service was a little slower than what I'm used to. Had to hail someone down quite a bit, but overall food was great. We started out with cocktails because there was a special, happy hour going on. Potted Devon crab with avocado guacamole and chicken liver parfait. Not sure why I expected the Devon crab to be hot.... but it was tasty. I craved a couple more pieces of toast. I got the duck leg confit with citrus sauce and my friend got St. Austell's Tribute Steak and Ale pie. The duck was delicious. Perfectly cooked, sauce went well with it. The Dauphinoise potato, I wanted more so badly. My plate was cleaned except for the bones. The steak and ale pie was not bad, my friend enjoyed it. We finished dinner off with their pistachio soufflé. I asked what was recommended for dessert, never had a pistachio soufflé before, and it was rich and sweet. Offset by the chocolate ice cream, which had a slight bitterness to it. Perfect combination. The table next to us got the chateaubriand for two. That looked amazing and had my mouth watering. If I'm ever back in the area, I do plan on making another trip hopefully.

I am always a fan of a good country pub. We were two thirds of hour way round a Sunday country walk…read moreand found ourselves a bit peckish and in need of some refreshment. This place definitely delivered. We sat outside in their pleasant garden. Only downside is it's not south facing so wasn't in the sun. We got a bit chilly after a while so we moved to one of their tables with a heater. Much more cosy. Service was very friendly. They brought some water and offered biscuits to our dog (always a winner). Food was excellent. The beetroot and burrata salad was particularly tasty and beautifully presented. Potted shrimp was also very tasty. It gets 4 rather than 5 because it is a little expensive. Worth it but still a bit pricey for a pub. We would definitely return if we were in the area as there were a lot of delectable sounding items on the menu.

Amazing entrecôte! Mario was my server tonight and he was exceptional! Friendly, efficient, and…read morefast. The food was delish and came fast. Efficient chef and staff I was in and out with a full belly and a smile. They were so kind and patient. They allowed other guests to hang out and enjoy their wine. And they even had a bunch of regulars come in and everyone was treated exactly the same. With kindness and efficiency. If you are nearby staying at the hotel or if you are enjoying the British Musuem, check them out! I had a glass of Malbec (attached) with my dinner and it was well balanced and fruity!

Very good experience for French and Mediterranean cuisine. Good quality of food. Fresh and tasty…read more Service is remarkable comes from hart. Very fast. The atmosphere is very good. I like it.

What a lovely restaurant with delicious food. The artichoke starter was especially tasty.read more

Congratulations. You've found this gem of a French restaurant in leafy North London. The owner is…read morewarm and welcoming. You will not be disappointed by the fare or the wine.

Great food, great drinks, great service. Delightful neighborhood feel for such high end foodread more

La Trompette is a winner. The exterior & interior design and dining room visuals are very…read moreattractive, & immediately give you a sense upon arrival that you are in for some great eating. That sense is not wrong: you are. The menus (one a tasting menu, the other a la carte), are very inventive and rapidly cause glands to salivate. Clever mix of ingredients & cooking forms, and plenty of delicious options to choose from. The wine menu was robust, well-balanced for palates & dishes ordered, and had a comprehensive list of reasonably priced bottles. (We had the Gigondas: absolutely lovely) The dishes were amazing! Linguine w/ black truffles (divine), seared sea bass (more divine), braised short ribs (diviner (?) ), etc.. The cheese cart was sublime, with an excellent selection. The banana souffle tasted as magnificent as it looked. The service at La Trompette is exemplary. We were waited on impeccably, and just enough. If i had to suggest any improvements, it would be 1) serve crustier bread, and more than one option ( the bread served was fine, but the center was spongy), and 2) the toasts for the cheese crumbled into small pieces instantly (fortunately, I like getting my hands dirty with cheese..) I highly recommend La Trompette. Go. Often.

Had lunch at this fabulous French restaurant. The menu is written on chalkboard. Reservation is…read morerequired (bookings filled up quickly online). Waldorf tart was our favorite of the day: unexpectedly refreshing with strong signatures, hint of citrus and a strong aftermath. Pan fried hake perfectly finished with delicious lettuce, smoked cod roe over a sea of lovely grapefruit green. Confit Hogget Shoulder was very tender with slightly crisp top served with haggis and swede. Forced Rhubarb pie had custard and nice crust. The ginger beer jelly offered contrast and playfulness. Prompt and polite service. Restaurant is not noisy.

A wonderful small French restaurant owned by a husband and wife team. They have a fantastic wine…read morelist and I believe you can byob for a fee. We ordered wine by the glass and they were pours on the smaller side. The menu is small on a chalk board with one or two specials. Everything we had was excellent. My only complaint was I felt the dishes were a little small but the food was amazing.

Listen, I'm not so sure authenticity is something to hang your hat on if you're channeling a French…read moreBistro. Having trecked to deepest SW France every month for the past few years to visit mum I've seen the state of French rural cooking and it's not bon. So I was hoping a less intrepid short trek down the Shepherd's Bush Rd might yield something with a little more je ne sais quoi. The restaurant itself is most inviting. Obligatory 20's ad posters adorn the walls. Wooden tables with cloths, all that jazz. And I want the mustard tiles that adorn the loo. All very lived in and homely. And welcoming too. Our waitress bought the specials board with her and gave it some Anthea Redfern, our choices made all the harder for her doing so. Is there a man who doesn't tip up at a French bistro, scour the menu, deliberate, pontificate, cogitate and then order the steak and chips? If there is I'll show you someone going through transition. It's just what men do. And so did I. The steak on offer was onglet. Only the French can make a cheap choice sound exotic. Note. It's not cheap. £30. The missus went for a chicken and tarragon pie which sounded more French than that but basically it described a chicken and tarragon pie. We ordered a starter to share, anchoiade tartinette. Gentlemen's Relish on toast, not the strictest of Google Translates but serves my purpose here. What came looked a little uninspiring. I know bistro is homely and simple but this slice of toast with a mercifully thin spread of the salty stuff and topped with walnut and boiled egg needed a bit of sprucing up somehow. The plate looked bare but we both agreed any joy here was actually in the eating which frankly is the most important thing. We quaffed without quibble and enjoyed what we ate. Punchy, interestingly textured, it got the taste buds going for the mains. The steak was good. Quickly fried with lots of seasoning. Simple stuff for this simple man, The chips were excellent. Thin, brittle and immersed in good hot fat for a suitable period of time. I'm a lover of the big fat English chip but when a French fry is done this well it makes me wonder if Brexit may have been a mistake. The chicken and tarragon pie was a mess. This is the provincial French fare I remember so, um, fondly from my trips to see mum. Her eventual demise had one welcome upside inasmuch as I never have to face another boil in the bag confit duck horror show as long as I live. It really is a poor show food-wise out there right now unless you live in a city and even then it's slim pickings. This dish didn't disappoint in terms of authenticity. Leather-like pastry eventually giving way to dry chicken mush inside. There was a small jug of Dubbin for the purpose of lubrication but it only added to the sense that this dish had been lying around for some time before a quick tap tap ping. The mash potato accompaniment was even worse. Where they were trying to replicate the Robuchon butter heaven, sans butter,, what was delivered looked and felt like glue paste. Luckily it didn't taste of that, it tasted of nothing at all. And it had a skin on it. Something you had to break through to get to the warm bit. A complete disaster. I grabbed my pomme frites seven at a time as jealous eyes wandered towards the basket. That the same root vegetable could render two such contrasting end results seems almost impossible but there you go. I wondered why this cute little place couldn't just boil the potato, mash it, add a little milk, butter and salt, possibly some parsley and be happy with the result. It's hard to beat. Their efforts to do something more complex left us with wallpaper paste. Aside leather shoe with dry chicken mush. And gloop. The French beans looked sad. Well wouldn't you? A wonderfully authentic experience in some ways. A disappointingly authentic experience in others. Say Lavvy.

I loved this place. It was very cute. Good food and Amazing customer service…read more The owner came out spoke with us, & made sure everything was fine, he even brought me extra small deserts cakes because I loved the one I ordered so much. Ordered the Steak & Frites , presented Beauty. However, it unfortunately lacked seasoning, & or salt. May just be my personal preference. However the ambiance was magnificent. Very airy, small boutique feel, definitely has a French cafe vibe that I love.

What a gem in a beautiful Hampstead corner. As you walk in, music from the past century transports…read moreyou to a different time... The three course lunch is an absolute deal in this part of town, and the selection of courses from home made pasta, to duck confit (digne of a French brasserie) and vanilla crème brûlée to finish for those with a sweet palette. Upon request for wine recommendations, the owner immediately offered me to try different wines out of which I selected the best pairing for my meal. I could tell locals know about this place since they all greeted each other as they waked in. Perhaps the wine is talking now, but this place made the best of a Fall rainy day in London. I'll be back very soon!

La Cage Imaginaire is a small, delightfully quaint, traditional French-Mediterranean restaurant…read morewhich can be found tucked away in the picturesque cobbled street of Flask Walk in Hampstead. Its interior is intimate, romantic, white-tablecloth elegant - the perfect place for a meal with that someone special or even a quiet business lunch. There's a really good set menu for lunch (served between 11:30 and 17:00): 2 courses for £15.95 and 3 courses for £19.95 - very reasonable considering the quality. I had the amazing Wild Mushroom Risotto topped with Parmesan to start. I loved it. Highly recommended. My friends started with the slightly bland French Onion Soup and a specially prepared, tangy garden salad (not on the menu). I moved on to their Sirloin Steak (250g) which, while tasty, was cooked more medium than the medium-rare I asked for. Like the delicious Stuffed Chicken Breast with Brie Cheese and Wholegrain Mustard Sauce which my companion had, my steak was also served on a bed of mashed potatoes and asparagus; mine with a lovely red wine sauce. The third member of our group didn't have a main, reserving space for a Banana Crepe with Butterscotch Sauce for dessert instead. I finished with the sinfully delightful Dark Chocolate Mousse. Service at La Cage Imaginaire was friendly and attentive thanks to a lovely Italian lady who had visited my home base of Dubai the year before. She was the life and soul of this cute little eatery, effortlessly chitchatting with each of the tables each time she visited them (which was quite frequently). It was so refreshing to have someone add that personal touch. The food at this restaurant is good but it's the service and ambience which convinced me to go back when I am next in London - worth a visit. Hey! Now read this - Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.

This French place embodies the best sense of the French phrase "c'est correct," which means so much…read moremore than the literal meaning of doing things right. To an American, you would ask, why do things correctly? But it is perhaps the highest compliment, and I learned to appreciate that when I lived in Paris. English people know the value of doing things properly. French staff and clients? Beveled mirrors and touches of engraved glass? Short, non-flowery menu descriptions? Check check check. I think in a number of years when the floor gets more scuffed, and they cram the tables together more, it will feel downright parisien. I just had to get the duck confit, as I always do, and it was very good. You could see the rebellion showing through, however, as it was served on a bed of beans and sauce of pureed green herbs. To finish, the froid-chaud, or as we Americans call it, a hot-fudge sundae. All in all, a thoroughly satisfying meal. Gluten-free notes: Many French dishes are naturally gluten free! The whole thing of "all French sauces are full of flour" is utter rubbish, as I learned while living in Paris for several years. They were able to confirm which dishes were gluten free.

My wife surprised me by taking me here as a surprise for a posh…read moreSaturday lunch. We were greeted warmly by the lovely French Maitre d', who sat us immediately at a wonderful corner table. The service was incredible and it's evident that the wait staff here are at the top of their game and enjoying what they do. You'd think they had been open for years rather than just a few months. Clientele seemed to be mostly French, or at least they were able to speak French very well. This I have to say only added to the atmosphere, which is definitely formal enough to be a special occasion place but by no means stiff. We ordered a half bottle of the Gewürztraminer which was the second cheapest on the list, but the quality was very impressive. If that's anything to go by I suspect the rest of the wine list is very good indeed. We ate from the set lunch menu which is extremely reasonably priced and the standard of the food was enough to have us planning a visit in the near future for the full A la Carte experience. Can't wait! Great Service, Great Food, Great Wine. Go here as soon as you can before the secret gets out!