Bistrotheque

Do you mean to say there's a great restaurant in a converted warehouse in Bethnal green, being also considered by some to be a not so reputable area? Ehm, Yes.

It must be different, then?

It sure is, considering you have bizarre shows (when I was there last time a transvestite dressing competition was being hosted??) going on at the ground floor level. Meanwhile, a door and corner or two later there is also a cozy and more 'normal' bar open to the knowing few, mostly sporting infeasible hair styles and flaky clothing, so typical of this east end area bordering Shoreditch and Hoxton. This however, is not the restaurant, so don't be discouraged from going because of the foreword! It really is different and the food is great!

The setting for the food is, of course, the important part. It's based on the upper level of the warehouse style building. When you do finally arrive upon the grey painted glossy floor of the restaurant level, you need to battle your way through waiters, beyond a cream painted plasterboard partition framework that separates the eating community from the cooking one! Tables are lined on the

from end to end, and I remember noting all seats filled, whihc was a good indication.

The warehouse effect is apparent as factory lighting splashes across the venue from on high of the warehouse roof. The decoration in terms of furnishing are equally straightforward. It's the food you're here for clearly.

And on subject of food, I quite easily had the best pan fried foie gras here that I've had since I arrived in London, or possibly even ever. It melted like butter in my mouth, caressing my tongue before I reluctantly allowed it to slip softly downward. It was the best lead up to the a main course one could wish for.

For the mains, I went for the steak. An absolutely divine and hefty chunk of meat, mooing at you from the plate, just begging to be drenched by the jug of pepper sauce that lay steaming close by. And all helped along by thick finger-like cut chips and green beans.

I can't remember the wine I ordered with the food, but I do remember it was damn good and I was impressed. I also remember the list being a little eclectic though.

For dessert I took the reliably classic french dish, creme brulee How good was that? Spiffingly good old chap! Ooh la la. In short, a mix of some fine british cooking with a few french additions make this place a winner in my books. Needless to say I'll be going back again.
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Michael
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Friday, August 18, 2006

I went with a part of 10 people on Friday night & we were in the private dining area. As a group we had been offered a reduced menu with only 3 choices for both starter & main course and 4 choices for pudding. This was for £25 plus the 12.5% service charge. I had the crab cakes which included pieces of shell - not impressed. I then had the lamb, which was really not good at all and not really much of it either. The creme brulee was lovely though. I wouldn't go back or recommend it to anyone else either.
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Stephanie
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Monday, July 31, 2006

Bistrotheque will be having full air conditioning installed but unfortunately not in time to catch this summer. Our main dining room and Oak Room now have temporary air conditioning. We would like to aplogise to anyone that had to suffer during the recent hot spell.

Pablo Flack Director

We popped into this restaurant on sunday, early evening on the reccomendation of a friend. It's a rather starnge set up with no sign that the place exists from the street. Upon entering we went the wrong way and ended up in the bar (no bad thing normally) and were ushered in the right direction by helpful barman.It's a quite trendy place in a converted warehouse. The first thing that stuck us was the lack of air conditioning in temperatures of 80 degrees plus. The service was friendly and efficient and walking through the kitchen to be seated is a nice touch. The food was decent enough if a little pricey. 10 pounds for Omlette and chips seems a tad over the top. A nice place to go with a group of friends I would imagine but I guess we're a lttle too used to Little Bay standards and prices.
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Lou Reed
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, July 17, 2006

Been here a few times as I live nearby and the place seems to get better with each visit. It's tucked away location and factory decor might not be suit everyone but the simple and delicious food should. Staff have always been nothing but amazing. Great.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, July 02, 2006

I can only think that there are certain people with a grudge against this place. I have had the pleasure of eating at Bistrotheque quite a few times and it has always been excellent. The food is second to none and is good very value for money. The staff and management have never been rude and do their utmost to ensure that a pleasant time is had by all.

Lucky owners for having such quality staff.
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Polly - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 16, 2006

I totally disagree with the comments made below, the place is charming and the food is amazing! We had a lovely meal and the service was just as good. The owner deserves to be proud and the chef even more so, well done.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, June 16, 2006

I took my girlfriend here recently and had a very nice dinner with good service. Dinner for two with wine set us back about £85 and I will be going back again as its local to me.
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S.Driscoll
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, June 14, 2006

I echo the comment below about being treated like naughty schoolchildren – I found the management at this restaurant incredibly rude. I arrived late to join a group of friends and, when I found that there were no chairs left on the table, dared to move an unused chair from another table over to ours. I was immediately reprimanded by the owner, and I mean reprimanded - not a ‘quiet word’, but a slap on the wrist. I really felt like I was back at school and was caught talking in the back of class. To make matters worse, once I sat down with my friends, the manager (presumably at the prompting of the owner) then came over to reprimand me again for moving the chair, this time in front of my friends. Considering the large amount of money we were paying between us (for pretty mediocore food), I would have hoped for a slightly friendlier, and more reasonable, approach. This slightly obsessive and pretentious approach seems rather out of place in the surroundings, alongside adverts for ‘tranny lip synching’ caberet shows. The waiter was very nice, though – it’s just the management who seem to have an overinflated opinion of themselves and a disdain for their customers. I’ve never made an online complaint like this before, but since they ruined my evening I thought I should probably warn others.
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Paul
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, June 06, 2006

The stylish simplicity of the decor allows the charming staff & delicious food to shine. Since our first visit in Summer 2004 we have eaten at Bistroteque many times and always leave raving about the whole experience. For us, truly one of the best restaurants in London.
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Rachel
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 22, 2006

Almost two years after it opened, Bistrotheque has truly managed to build a sense of community and place where there was none. No other place in the area offer so many options: a pub/bar, a cabaret room and a bistro diner. The staff are handsome and friendly, and the seasonal menu is like the place, simple but sophisticated. They serve "quick dishes" for tight budgets as well as more elaborate ones. They also do lunches and an amazing sunday brunch and roast. We are big fans. Last time my partner and I went we were served by a new waiter, Jason, who was very professional. We had oysters and foie gras for starters, followed by lobster and chips for myself while he had medium rare sirloin steak.For pudding we shared a blackberry and apple crumble and had some cognac. It was all well presented, tasty and value for money. Afterwards we went down to Spanky and Xavier's cabaret night. A perfect night in a perfect place.
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paul
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, March 03, 2006