Le Cafe Anglais
our review
Le Café Anglais was the great Parisian restaurant of the 19th Century, unfortunately now, the 21st Century London version falls quite a long way short. I spent a long time reading other reviews on this restaurant and was really thinking that this would be my new favourite place, but alas, even though I’ve met both co-owners in a professional capacity before (Rowley Leigh and Charlie McVeigh) I have to say that I was horribly disappointed.
It seems that if you want to come here, do so, but with lots of people, as many of the tables are designed with a good evening’s fun in mind. The place oozes class, but in a relaxed semi-formal type way, and looking around you one gets the feeling that the guys that put this place together really knew what they were doing. Seated on a gorgeously comfortable leather banquette with floor to ceiling windows to my right and the kitchen in all its glory to my left, the menus were handed out and we were left to have a browse at leisure.
The menu is big, really big, and all on one giant page. The wine list is on the back, but we’ll get to that later. The whole thing’s laid-out in a way that’s fundamentally easy to read, fantastically extensive and at first glance, value for money. My only problem was that all of a sudden we must have looked like two people in those old train carriages on their way to work, completely hidden behind their broadsheet newspapers.
The first course offerings here look impressive, from Bruschetta with lardo and rocket, through to a warm smoked eel salad with bacon, even a selection of omelettes are available. We opted for the raw wild salmon and scallops with radishes, wasabi and soy, and an egg, gruyere and endive salad. Both good but not too exciting.
The main courses are really what you come to restaurants for and here they’re split in two – fish or roasts. The main feature of this particular establishment is the spit roast. Let’s say ‘borrowed’ from a French restaurant in St-Jean-de-la-Rivière in the Cherbourg peninsula and an excellent idea, when done properly. The overall taste you get when whole meats are cooked this way is simply sensational, yet few have managed to pull it off. Unfortunately our spiced quail was far too dry and my navarin of lamb was completely ruined by one particular waiter, who we’d not seen all evening, now wildly expressing his joy at what a fantastic choice I’d made, and then, when having looked at it myself, I wondered whether he’d sat at the table behind us thirty seconds previously and chopped it all up for me. It looked like something you give your children at dinner time with gravy so oozingly thick it simply drowned everything on the plate.
Thankfully, the wine we’d chosen was most pleasing. Château Cissac, Cru Bourgeois, Haut Médoc, Bordeaux, 2001. An entire bottle for £32.50 – a bargain. The wine list on the whole here is super, it must be said. Well-priced, extensive, well thought out, set out in a way my mother would understand and touching all the bases in a totally unpretentious way. I did spend perhaps a bit too long looking at it, salivating on several occasions, much to the annoyance of her opposite, but hey, it’s certainly one of the better lists I’ve seen for a while and a real pleasure to read.
We opted not to have desserts, even though I really fancied some of their cheese. On exiting we were told that the lift had broken and we were asked if we could we use the stairs. It was either that or abseil from the window, I suppose. Hmmm. The stairs had no signs anywhere on each of the floors, a whole gang of people were plainly wondering how to escape and climbing up and down getting, it must be said, rather upset. Not a good way to end the evening.
All in all, I think we just had a shocker. I really like this place though; Rowley, Charlie etc, even the bloody lift. I’ll go again, that’s for sure, even if it is just to sit at a table, with a group of friends, and drink wine...
T.K-S. - June 2008
what the critics say
Jay Rayner
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
We visited the Cafe Anglais on Saturday and although we had reserved online and called to check and confirm our booking was not found when we got there. After being finally shown our table and ready to order half of the roast main dishes were out. It was Saturday night!
The waiters were untrained, unprofessional and rude. Dishes arrived too late or not at all and although there was plenty of staff and few guests the waiters did their best to avoid attending to us.
Food was very average and the starters were burnt (reporting this to the waitress lead to a simple shrug. No apologies.).
The final straw was when they turned out some of the lighting while we were still eating and started to carry out the dirty laundy in front of us.
When leaving the restaurant the cloakroom was deserted and we had do grab our own coats.
This is the most unporfessional and rude place I have ever been. There are plenty more restaurants in London so do not visit Cafe Anglais.
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Vicky
Overall rating 
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Visited the place last night (tuesday) after my absent minded son accidentally booked my birthday treat for six of us. I say accidentally because if he had time to properly check-out the place first we would have booked a more realistic restaurant elsewere. The menu boasted exravagantly the various dishes in an overstated and exciting representation. Unfortunately, the staters, main dishes and desserts were very average as were the wines. In all we paid just under £400 which included cover and service. In my experience restaurants who charge "cover charge" have more to offer than a single plate of dried radishes which when endeavouring to swallow removed the flesh from the back of your throat. The head waitress had no time for us, I had the dessert menu for one minute as she stood on top of me demanding an order, when I hurriedly ordered the mango sorbet to avoid holding her up, she barked "how many scoops" I glanced at the menu again to see how it's usually served but she again asked "how many scoops". This lady was better suited serving up workmen Le Transport Cafe , she was running around the tables like a blue face fly all night. Coudn't wait to leave.
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Overall rating 
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I went to Cafe Anglais for the first night yesterday evening. A Wednesday night, there were 6 of us, we didn't have a booking and we managed to get a great table by the window. The atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed and the waitresses very friendly and helpful. The food however was very average and quite expensive for what it was, we had a selection of tasty hors-d'oeuvres to start with, then I had the roast lamb. The meat was totally flavourless and was soaking in a salty sauce/juice. I had a chocolate souffle for dessert, and that wasn't anywhere as good a particular brand you can buy in the supermarket.
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ABK
Overall rating 
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Loved it !!!!!! - despite the cloakroom losing my bag and the air conditioning breaking sending floods of water into the prep area. The food speaks for itself and despite the calamity of someone else taking my bag home I have to say it's one of the best meals I have ever had ( especially the parmesan custard and anchovy toast). Rowley Leigh was suitably cantankerous (as chefs should be) as we waited for the poor man (who was given my incredibly similar bag) to get home to Tower Bridge and realise he didn't have his keys and call the restauant. The red snapper with salsa verde was delicate and perfectly cooked. The staff were great, presentation excellent and the venue is like a 1920s cruise ship - classy and relaxed. Want to go again but might keep my bag with me this time!
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ANNA BOYD
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Dining on a Friday night after along week a group of 6 were very much looking forward to this. If we were not all such good company we could have been disappointed. The decor is fantastic and you are swept back to the days of Cafe Pelican (oh to eat in Pelican again!).
Appetisers were exceptional and really staked a claim for what we hoped would be a real gastro experience. Alas no. The table chose various starters ranging from delicious to OK. I had the Spaghetti with Langoustines - which I have to say was very very good.
However the disappointment kicked in at this point. We chose a Gigondas as a safe bet all round and it was just not right. Nose was good but the taste was very mediciney and when we questioned it the head waiter (no Sommelier) said it seemed OK to him - when decanted it was better but we had to wait, and wait and wait for it to be drinkable. Not right. We then moved on to a Tuscan and it hit the mark.
Now the main course was disappointing. The Roast pork meat was exceptional - but no crackling. All that was presented was some soggy skin and no attempt to crispen - what a wasted opportunity. The dauphinoise was all cheese and no potato. The lamb was over seasoned and the Daub of beef was dull and chewy. Very average.
Then on to desert. All very average unfortunately with no highlights to report on. I was recommended the custard tart - which I thought was OK but my neighbour thought was terrible and very synthetic.
Overall for the price it was a poor meal. Service was attentive and friendly but you need to serve good food to survive in this climate. Flirty and friendly staff are just not enough given this competitive market.
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Overall rating 
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A visit to Whiteley’s is often melancholic and unexciting. Thank goodness for Le Cafe Anglais, Food Inc and maybe just, Muji; propping this grande dame of a department store alive.
First and foremost the service was sweet and assuring. The dining room was superb, bright and utterly non stuffy. When booking, ask for a window table, you'll thank me for this.
The Hors d'œuvres is probably one of the reasons of the pilgrimage. The Chicken Livers Agro Dolce was a class act, The delicious signature Rabbit Rillettes was only let down by a badly chipped crockery it was served in. The two other tasters included courgette fritters and smoked mackeral pate with soft boild egg. The latter was too salty.
My main course of Rib of Beef with Bubble and Squeak was cooked to perfection and melt in the mouth. However my dining companion's Vitello Tonnato (chilled veal in tuna sauce) was sedate and tasteless except for some anchovies sitting on the veal slices. Veal for me is overrated, I find it bland. In fact in today's Sunday Times John Cleese told Michael Winner ''Veal should be banned, not because the process is so painful to the animals, but because the result is so boring.'' Right on, methinks.
Not much space for puddings, but I think this place warrants a second visit.
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bellaphon
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Credit Crunch is upon us. There will be jobs lost; houses repossessed; fortunes lost; weeping and gnashing of teeth; and restaurants that will close. A rising tide floats all boats,and many restaurants in london have floated (survived) in such a tide. But when the tide goes out many will be aground. Too many restaurants in London have gotten away with average food; high prices; poor service; heavy markups etc and have been full. But as the crunch bites, eating out will decline drastically, and those who do will demand quality of service, food,and execution....and all this at a more reasonable price.
Le Cafe Anglais will be one of those who will have to up their game substantially to survive the downturn. Variable, oversalty food, uneven service and expensive prices will have to be seriously reworked. Newspaper hacks seem to have fallen over themselves to praise Rowley, who once did something a long time ago, no one quite remembers what. But this restaurant "ne vaut pas le detour" as the French would say.
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C.Elder
Overall rating 
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Hmm ... curious reviews for this place. I'll add my own.
I've been here 3 times. When this place is on form it is as good as one could wish for. The service is charming and the ingredients are of high quality.
The restaurant permits BYO with reasonable corkage. That's worth an extra 5 points in my book.
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Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
I agree with the previous reviewer. Our meal on Friday night was just o.k. 4 of us dined together and realised at the end of the meal while paying the bill that we hadn't once mentioned the food during dinner. As the 4 of us all consider ourselves 'foodies', this was not a good sign. The agreement at the table was that while nothing was bad, nothing was special or memorable.
The dining room decor is pleasing, even beautiful. The maitre d' was cheeky and fun; the waitress clueless.
The price: high but as others have said, I'd happily pay the 'high prices' for a great meal. This wasn't. Sadly, we won't return until I read outstanding reviews. There are too many other better places doing similar menus (note: Quo Vadis is not one of them!).
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Jeffrey
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Monday, June 16, 2008
It was fine. Definitely overpriced. The waiters were very flirtatious and the waitresses very rude. The rib of beef was cooked ok, but was not good quality meat, not very flavoursome. They do this dish infinitely better at great queen street.
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Overall rating 
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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