Gazette

Quite simply, this restaurant is fantastic. Although I only live 10 mins walk away, I'd never have known it existed if it hadn't been for the TasteLondon club, as it's tucked away in a nice housing development but in a slightly run-down part of town. But trust me, it\'s worth seeking it out.

We had all 3 courses (it was too lovely to resist!) and everything was divine. The chips weren't the nicest I've ever had, the steak was melt-in-the-mouth gorgeous, and the souffle was heavenly. The only (slight) gripe I would have was that we went on a Friday night and although it was busy it wasn't packed to the rafters, and our service was a little on the slow-side. That said, it's the kind of restaurant that you're quite happy to linger at anyway, and take your time over dinner, so it had no impact whatsoever on our enjoyment of the meal - but if you were in a rush, it might obviously be a little more irritating.

My partner thinks this is the best restaurant he's been to in London, and even without our TasteLondon card (50% off the food) the food is very reasonable given the standard, so with the card it\s a bargain. Can't recommend highly enough!
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FIONA
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 13, 2008

Fair enough, Mr Carey clearly shows he didn't enjoy his meal, but why the excessive harsh comments and the non-existant score. I have been to this restaurant on several occasions. Sure there are a few mishaps, but this is quickly retified. Putting the ridulous score of all zeros in all areas is clearly a matter of revenge. It is with stupid and brainless people like Mr Carey, who are clearly the very people who will go their way to destroy the very reputation in which the owners have put their every effort into creating. If Mr Carey thinks he can do better he might as well do so.
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Nolan Regent
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, June 01, 2008

Quite simply, Gazette is one of the finds of the decade.

Imaginative food of the highest quality, Pascal (the chef) and Walter (the maitre d') have created an amazing atmosphere and well deserved success story .

The foie gras is as good as, if not better than that at Ramsey's Royal Hospital Road, yet at Gazette, it's only £9.00 and almost double the size!

The sea bass (when it's on the menu) is as good as it gets. The frites are to die for but they won't give out their secret no matter how nicely I ask! The meat is of the best quality, and the jubago ham is an unusual but fun extra before settling down to your starters or the main course.

If it's breakfast, brunch or a snack you're after, the croque monsieur is simply the best I've ever had anywhere in France, and the coffee is excellent too, as are the fresh juices straight from the juicer.

Service ranges from normally brilliant to occasionally comical owing to the odd language cock-up with new staff. But any such errors are always met with good humour and anyone normal and decent would shrug off an honest mistake. Attitude is the key for me, and the attitude here is fun, friendly and helpful ... and that's good enough for me.

All in all, a unique gem of a place, but here's the real sign that it's worth a visit or 100 ... French ex pats come from miles away to frequent the place time and time again.
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Guy
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, May 25, 2008

Yes, it's a brasserie in a fairly newbuild residential block East of Wandsworth bridge, but this is an astonishingly good place to spend an evening eating and drinking extremely well. I knew it was going to be good when I realised that everyone seemed to be having a good time, a good portion of the diners were French and that I wanted to consume almost everything on the menu. The room is well divided so it feels cosier than it has a right to do and generally it feels sufficiently smart and at once fairly relaxed. The quality of the cooking is high, which is to say it's genuinely skilled and there's care taken at every step. Though this is a brasserie such that you know much of what's going to be on the menu, there are 4 plats du jour/ daily specials offered whose creation tends to be a little more inventive than the bistrot classics on the 'menu principal'. The sauce poivre was mediocre- that's the greatest criticism I can come up with. The frites, steak, cheese souffle, salad, vinaigrette, bread, cuisses de grenouilles, petits pots au chocolat, cheeses; they were all top notch. Service was warm, charming, attentive but not intrusive. The wine list is a product of love and intelligence and care was taken to make sure I chose well. Glassware is better than you'd expect. Decent availability of a selection of wines by the glass and half bottle. Kids' food too.
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BGW - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, May 19, 2008

Have dined here many times and it rarely disappoints. We love the way the menu has been setup (a fresh one each day in the style of a newspaper) and the restaurant certainly has captured that rustic French feel.

In particular the presentation is fairly unique for London - for main course you usually eat straight out of the cooking pot!

Good choice of French food, a friendly atmosphere although a little bit pricey. The service is sometimes let down by the waiters and waitresses poor grasp of English, but it's ok I don't mind speaking French.

Probably the best testament to the quality of food is the amount of French ex-pats who visit the restaurant. Has given me the impression of being family friendly, flexible and unpretentious, and is usually quite busy despite being quite hard to find.
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Adam
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Friday, May 16, 2008

My husband and I have visited Gazette a number of times since moving to Clapham last year. It is badly located but is really worth making the effort. The food, wine and service have been fantastic every time we have been and seems to be getting better. I would highly recommend this superb restaurant!
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Rachel S
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 12, 2008

New owners 'Gazette' have taken what was an authentic, friendly, reasonably priced french style breakfast room and removed the ambience, service and great food that once was there.

Breakfast this morning promised to be a 'Full French breakfast' complete with 'pancetta, mushrooms, brie potatoes and french bread etc'.

What we got was greasy and oil smothered potatoes an average omelette and a slice of supermarket packet ham, dollied up with a piece of lettuce and a couple of cherry tomatoes.

We ordered two black coffees and were first offered latte's, about 10 mins after having arrived and ordered.

The food was well below even average and has left a sick feeling in my stomach from all the oil and grease.

We ate quickly and left after being charged 'service' on the bill, which was not optional!!

How a new venture can manage to fail at delivering even one thing well, where the previous owner used to pretty much run the place on his own backed by a proper french chef in the kitchen, i do not know..

What was once a hidden gem in Balham, that served simple breakfast and french style fare with great friendly service, is now low on quality in terms of food and service and is somewhere to be avoided.
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Paul Carey
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, April 20, 2008

Friends organised a dinner at Gazette. Since we requested to meet somewhere in the middle between Peckham and Clapham I was getting slightly annoyed when our cab ride took us past Clapham. The restaurant had quite a job making up for the time and hassle it took us to get there. I have to say that it absolutely did!

The restaurant is well designed, warm but with quirky little touches. Staff are very welcoming and attentive without being intrusive. After an aperitif we let the owner (who doubles as the sommelier) make the wine suggestion. The list is endless and the choice he made for us superb, without breaking the bill.

Our starter of escargots was divine. The snails were well cooked and the garlic sauce was exactly like how it should be - lots of garlic and just enough butter so dipping your bread in it is a joy and it didn't sit in your stomach like a rock so 10/10 for this one. The mains were all cooked to perfection - we had fish, vegetarian and meat and only positive comments were made.

Gazette is way out of the way for us but it will not stop us from going back ! Thank you friends for dragging us out there.
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Sofie
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Went there for Sunday lunch.

Food was great but they were under staffed and could not cope with a full restaurant so dont go on peak times like Mothers Day!

They forgot many of the orders (we were 12 people) & although not rude as such were not forthcoming with smiles or apologies for this fact. Very French!

Would go back as deserves a 2nd chance due to the food and feel of the restaurant.
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Michael Ryder
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, March 03, 2008

Exactly how restaurants should be but rarely are.

Exquisite food, unpretentious atmosphere, great service and a bill which made you wonder how it didn't come to more made our Saturday lunch one of the best meals I have had in London. And as for the chocolate souffle, never has a desert attacted so many envious looks from other diners....

Well worth heading off the beaten path for and thoroughly recommended.
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Lucy Longmore
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 18, 2008