An 18th-century Soho townhouse that defines 'romantic atmosphere' with its cramped, candlelit booths, handwritten daily menus, and legendary value wine list.
Ordering Strategy
The menu changes daily, so look for seasonal bistro classics (terrines, chops, whole fish). The real strategy here is the wine: the mark-ups are incredibly generous, so order a better bottle than you usually would.
What to order
Dressed Crab
Described by critics as part of a 'hand-scrawled poem to traditional' bistro cooking, this dish represents the reliable, 'unreconstructed' style the restaurant is famous for.
Roast Rabbit Leg on Lentils
A 'fortifying' and 'dependable' main course that exemplifies the 'Franco-Mediterranean bistro dining' that has made this Soho spot a 'bulwark' of the neighborhood for decades.
The Wine List
Universally acclaimed as one of the restaurant's 'glories,' featuring 'battalions of superstars' and 'legendarily generous wine markups' where rare bottles are considered a 'steal'.
What to skip
More in Soho
- Gauthier SohoVegan French Fine Dining · ££££88
- Noble Rot SohoModern European · £££88
- NessaModern British Bistro · £££88
Signal Score
Signal score reflects how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.
Top critic: Brian St Pierre (100%)
Editorial Weight 60 pts
Authority + depth + recency
Agreement 8 pts
How aligned the critics are
Coverage 8 pts
How many real review signals exist
Public Signal 11 pts
Google rating + volume
Boosts 0 pts
Manual boosts + hidden gem
Review signals
2 Elite · 3 Editorial · 4 total signals
Public signal
4.5★ (1,000 reviews)
Good to know
Seating is notoriously tight and can be uncomfortable for some; the ground floor is best for dates while the basement suits small groups; acoustics can be loud.
Locations
Trust signals
- ○Not yet visited
- mediumConfidence level
More great dishes in London
- SweetingsBritish Seafood · £££82· City of London
More Modern European Bistro in London
- Dorian££££72· Notting Hill
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