December 2024

This fancy Covent Garden spot was actually named by Michelin the “most romantic” restaurant in the city. Our expectations were high but in respect of ambience and physical plant they were exceeded. It’s one of the prettiest if not the prettiest restaurant I’ve ever been in. Food and service were good but not on quite the same level. Overall just a dynamite anniversary evening for us.

Even at 530 the narrow entranceway was crowded but we were pleasantly welcomed and shown to a cozy alcove, one we believe of many in the place, where there were just three tables. The décor especially with its Christmas dressing-up oozed charm and somehow along with being upscale was comfortable and soothing.

Main server was a middle aged lady who eventually told us she was Lithuanian, and she was very solicitous and if anything a bit overly obsequious but kept us happy. The bartender managed a straight up boulevardier and negroni and a bit dressed up we felt like special guests. The wine list was a heavy tome that had obviously had the attention of an academic instructed to go world-class. I was aiming for expensive but not over-the-top pinot noir and when the sommelier arrived he promptly lost interest when I described a price range at the low end of the selection. I couldn’t tell if he was ignorant or just arrogant, but he gave zero real guidance and either didn’t know what he was talking about or just didn’t care. I found my own way through the obscure-village burgundy section and came up with a Mercurie from Faiveley that was perfectly satisfactory and “only” C$200.

Beside us in the alcove were four racially diverse twentysomething noisy girls we were able to ignore but who didn’t exactly fit with the serenity of the place.

A small puck of beef tartare shared between us was soft and delicious with an egg-based cream. Robin’s main was a beef daube which was a rich slow-cooked delight tender and full of flavour. I went for a chicken dish that turned out to be a couple of sausage-shaped portions of breast perfectly cooked accompanied by mushrooms and a reduction sauce. Serious classy dinners.

The cost of about C$380 wasn’t out of proportion with the experience. Not the kind of money you spend every night but we’ve paid that much and more for much less lovely surroundings and food. We’d go back next time we are in town.

Food 9.2, service 9.0 (if you ignore the useless smarmy wine man), ambience 9.7, value 8.9, peace and quiet hard to gauge. It would have been 9.5 if we could have replaced the jabbering chickies at the next table.