Le Gavroche

Few restaurant names are as evocative as Le Gavroche, the restaurant founded in 1967 by brothers Albert and Michel Roux and now owned by Albert’s son, Michel Jnr, who can often be seen bounding out of the kitchen to shake hands with his fans.

Le Gavroche remains the last word in sumptuous, old-school French fine dining – and the last exponent in London of a very 20th-century form of Gallic luxury, from the friendly formality of the suited staff to the plush comfort of the green and red basement dining room, where an ornamental flourish is never far from one’s elbow, whether a decorative plate or an architectural flower arrangement.

If you’re in the mood for a thorough pampering, there’s simply nowhere better, from a starter of lobster mousse with caviar and Champagne butter sauce that delivers an embarrassment of exquisite riches to the signature dessert of omelette Rothschild, the gold standard of soufflés and proof that there is no such thing as too much cream.

Other equally rich signatures include coeur d’artichaut Lucullus (artichoke mousse layered with black truffle and stuffed with chicken mousse and foie gras) or saddle of rabbit sandwiched between rosti potatoes and a disc of Parmesan.

Elsewhere on the menu, other ideas simply showcase superb ingredients cooked straightforwardly to highlight their innate flavour: our roast rack of Herdwick lamb with onions and artichokes was no less delicious for being daringly plain by the standards of this place. The simplest dishes of all are on the famous set lunch menu, alas no longer the bargain of old at £72 for three courses, but still including half a bottle of wine, coffee and petits-fours.

Mind you, this really isn’t the place to consider an economy drive, and from the cheese trolley to the digestif trolley, temptation awaits at every corner. For “classic fine dining, with an exceptional wine list, and second-to-none service”, Le Gavroche remains “a rare treat” – and also one of London’s more unlikely child-friendly restaurants.

Founded in 1967 by brothers Michel and Albert Roux, Le Gavroche is, by many accounts, the birthplace of the British gastronomy we see today. Reel off some of the names that have rattled pans on these stoves and you'll hear a who's who of influential chefs - Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay, Pierre Koffmann, Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti, Bryn Williams and Jun Tanaka, to name but a few. And of course, Michel Roux Jr himself, who has overseen the kitchen here as Le Gavroche chef-patron for many years now.

When Le Gavroche first opened, London's dining scene was almost non-existent in international terms. Today, the capital boasts one of the most eclectic and exciting food scenes in the world, and a great deal of that started with Le Gavroche.

Though the city has changed a great deal, Le Gavroche has the same elegance, opulence and Gallic charm that it had over 50 years ago. Paintings of the Roux brothers still adorn the walls, The menu, too, has retained many of the same iconic dishes. The iconic souffle Suisse, for example, has never left the a la carte at Le Gavroche. The coquille St. Jacques - seared scallop, nori sable, sea vegetables and smoked eel sauce is another classic. Main dishes on the a la carte certainly aren't cheap, but this is as much about being part of history as it is about the exemplary food and perfect service. 

In keeping with the times, there is a fully vegetarian tasting menu, which might feature the likes of seared cauliflower with kohlrabi and miso puree, pickled ribbons and seaweed pearls, or oven-baked celeriac with parsley, beetroot and red onion. 

As you'd expect, the restaurant also boasts an extraordinary wine collection, and the cheese trolley is legendary. With two Michelin stars and an unassailable reputation, this is undoubtedly a bucket list London restaurant.