L'Estaminet

Having read many of the reviews below my partner and I ate here last night. Charmingly, L'Estaminet has none of the self importance of modern British restaurants. The focus is squarely on the customer's experience. Good!

We asked to share the seared Scottish scallop starter. It arrived on two plates, nicely presented. We presumed we havd been given two starters..but thought 'what the hell'...they were really nice. But no, they had just made it easier for us.

I enjoyed the food. I'd call it unpretentious and impervious to food fashion. My Steak came with Bearnaise which was rich and lively. Chips were to die for...what you expect in France... julienne, well cooked and best eaten with fingers. You know what I mean...the types that insist you eat them when you had intended to banish carbs for January! Jeff's Roast Venison came with winter vegetables which included Fennel, pear, chestnuts and more.

Staff were French. And there were plenty of them. We had several different people serving but they were super professional, amenable and warm. An excited exclamation when the venison was ordered revealed an attractive passion for food.

The setting is unusual. Not what you might expect from a classic French restaurant. It's very comfortable, although not especially stylish. There is little background noise due to the soft furnishings (apart from the man from Chelmsford calling a deaf taxi controller).

I am very pleased to find a restaurant which offers value and leaves you feeling a little spoiled!
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Shivaun McCullough
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Went on Monday 19th for my girlfriends birhtday dinner. We found the place fantastic, the service was good, the food was brilliant.

We had the chateaubriand and it was superb, cooked exactly the way we ordered it and tasted fantastic. The comments about the rudeness - we found none of that.
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EDP
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Excellent Service and excellent Food! AAA+
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M & S
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, December 11, 2005

I do not know what these other reviewers are doing but I found the place delightful and have been going to L'estaminet before its original owner passed away. Yes the food is rich, the staff are all French, and the lady does not suffer fools glady but all in all this is a great place not homogenised like all the other chains and offerings and best part of it is - they do the best chateaubriand in London - I know I have tried everywhere else!
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Matt Greig
Sunday, November 20, 2005