If you’re spending your Bastille Day in London, do it in style with a free meal at French restaurant, Brasserie Zédel.
Every year, Brasserie Zédel celebrates the French holiday with the immensely popular free meal on a first-come-first-served basis, leaving some diners disappointed. This year though, the restaurant is shaking things up and making everything a bit fairer by offering a ballot system. Tres bien!
If you’re successful in the ballot, three courses of French delicacies with wine are yours, but only if you’re also wearing your French garb. Don your favourite beret, Breton stripes and maybe even start growing that moustache, and in true Bastille Day tradition: “Manger pour la liberté, l'égalité et la fraternité!”.
Honour this historic occasion by entering the Bastille Day ballot on Brasserie Zédel’s website. Those who are successful will be contacted for a booking with a choice of lunch, late lunch, early dinner or dinner from 11.30am to 11pm. Diners can sip on a glass of house wine and tuck into meals from the Formule set menu, starting with an authentic celery remoulade. Mains include a choice of lamb stew or sea bream, while you can finish the celebrations off with a lemon meringue pie.
The famous French bank holiday, referred to as la Fête Nationale takes place on 14 July and celebrates one of the most important moments in French history as a major symbol of patriotism. The French stormed and captured the Bastille prison in 1789, starting the French Revolution, ending monarchical reign to become a republic and led to adopting the French ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. The holiday is observed worldwide and is traditionally commemorated by wearing red, blue and white clothing or makeup, singing the national anthem, and drinking plenty of Champagne. Paris is the place to be to experience the hubbub with military parades, speeches and spectacles, but those in London can get in on the festive action by heading to Brasserie Zédel.
To help amp up the atmosphere, you'll also be able to enjoy an accordionist who will play classic French tunes alongside London-based band, Boom La Tete. Be sure to enter the ballot quickly, as it closes at 5pm on 21 June. The lucky diners will be contacted by 28 June. Amuse-toi bien!
If you don’t manage to land a table, make a booking at one of the best French restaurants in London.