The French House

Two friends and I lunched at the French House yesterday. The experience was excellent. I had scallops and halibut, and my friends had the lobster/smoked salmon terrine and the Chateaubriand. The halibut was just right, fresh and large. The chateaubriand looked wonderful, an impression confirmed by my lunching companions. The Côtes du Rhône was good and reasonably priced. The Slovakian waitress was charming and unflappable (one of my companions can be difficult at times!) We had asked for a table by the window, which we duly got despite our being held up in traffic.

We adjourned to the bar downstairs and had 3 bottles of over-priced Breton cider (£7 a bottle), but that was our mistake, and certainly nothing to do with the restaurant.

James
Comment on this reader review

James
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 14, 2007

Our first visit for a business lunch of six. A good spot and well presented. A nice hot sunny Tuesday lunch time and the restaurant was busy. The end result was absolutely terrible service. Too many customers too few staff. No one to keep the wine flowing during the seeming endless wait for food. Although, when it arrived the food was generally of good. Perhaps we caught them on a bad service day?
Comment on this reader review

Matt
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, August 07, 2007

I was greatly looking forward to going back to The French House for the first tiem in several years. Unfortunately I found it a shadow of its former self. My grey terrine was without flavour and a rare Chateaubriand came well done. Its replacement arrived more than twenty minutes later (by which time our companion had finished her main course) and was tough and bland.

I hope this was just an off night, but I will be in no hurry to find out whether or not that is the case.
Comment on this reader review

Jeremy Reynolds
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Thursday, June 21, 2007

We last visited this restaurant five or six months ago. We had popped in for a quick, cheapish meal. We ended up there for the evening, having ordered chateaubriand (superb), champagne and a splendid red. Although we had both been fantasising about going again, which we finally did this week, on a Monday night no less and had another wonderful meal. Again the chateaubriand, perfectly cooked and a splendid bottle of chilian red. Far too full for desert (we would have had to spend the night). Not cheap but in my books good value for money for the atmosphere, lovely knowledgeable staff and delicious food. Thank you.
Comment on this reader review

Joanne
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, February 28, 2007

A few of us had lunch here on Saturday - what a fabulous afternoon - the waiter, Alex was very friendly & exceptionally laid back even after we had consumed copious bottles of wine!

Food tasted authentically French & was both delicious & excellent value - amazing fillet steak, bernaise sauce & pommes frites - £16!

The pub downstairs was good fun for a drink afterwards.
Comment on this reader review

CB - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 11, 2006

I had a riot in this restaurant the food was excellent and the waiter called Alex had our party in stitches all night it was outrageous. Better than any comedy night I've been to. Just goes to show the French house staff match it's idosyncratic style- a timeless formula.
Comment on this reader review

editorial moo
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, November 17, 2006

During the excesses of the football thing I was looking for some delights in Soho and was not disappointed by the French. I had already sampled the atmosphere in the pub and was amazed that people still walked out when unable to have their pint. Then , upstairs , a delight. My wife phoned me from the South of France and I suspect that she was not enjoying the authentic atmosphere I had in the French.

A truly unique and deeply wonderful experience in Soho.

Vive Le French!
Comment on this reader review

Kev Young
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 01, 2006

I have visited this restaurant several times over the last few years, but was deeply disappointed by my last visit. Whilst the relaxed atmosphere, efficent yet not over-attentitive waitors remain the same, the standard of food has slipped dramatically accross the board. No dish we had was anything more than average. The chips and pate deserve special mention. The chips were so salty and lacking in texture that they would not even pass quality control at McDonalds. The pate was so bad that it would not pass quality control at a pet food factory. This is a shame. In terms of atmosphere this is still one of the best restaurants in London. But the food is unacceptable. My love affair with the French is not over, but I will await signs that the kitchen has improved before returning.
Comment on this reader review

Alex P - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 4
Sunday, May 28, 2006

I went to this resturant, with a friend last week and found the staff delightful, very smiley, helpful and good fun. (I was so relaxed I left my credit card behind and was chased down the road by our waiter) The food (chateaubriand) was superb, the wine fantastic, the atmosphere was good for such a small place. We arrived late after the theatre and were treated wonderfully. Faultless.
Comment on this reader review

Joanne
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 24, 2006

This place is deeply, deeply average. Nothing like Andrew Edmunds in terms of quality of food, charm or speed of service or general atmosphere - dreadful lighting for such a small space made the place feel sterile. Despite lounging only 2 feet away from our table waiters were slow and unresponsive. My chicken chasseur was pretty dodgy, with dauphinois potato still hard in the centre; my fois gras starter with fig chutney should have been named fig chutney with fois gras garnish. On the plus side the wine list was good and the cost was not overwhelming for London, but poor value given the quality of food.
Comment on this reader review

Nicola
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 4
Friday, March 24, 2006