Le Sacre Coeur

To the reviewer above who thought they might have run out of bread, I think this is the way they serve it here. I also ordered the pate special recently and had this served with sliced toasted white bread.
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Martin
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, August 21, 2008

it has become my favorite French restaurant in London after a dinner last night. It is a small typical french bistro. I went there after a recommendation of a friend. My friend was absolutely right, the food was great, service was so polite and fast, the wine list was very well combined and chosen. We sat outside on the terrace and felt like we were in Paris. It is located on a side street of upper street so it was away from upper street crowd. I will definately be back. Highly recomended.
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Levy
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 14, 2008

I went here recently on a Saturday night and left feeling disappointed and even shocked at what I'd just experienced.

Firstly, the restaurant is extremely cramped. We had to stand in the middle of the place for a few minutes while they found our reservation/table and had to keep dodging the staff. We then had to climb over other people to take our seats and I felt very claustrophobic (could not get to the bathroom without asking another table to get up to let me past). Not to worry.... if the food had compensated for it.

Myself and my partner both order the pate special for entree. Here comes the shocking bit - what came out resembled cheap plastic supermarket bought pate. It tasted likewise. I have traveled extensively throughout France and never seen/tasted anything quite like it. Even worse, the toast that was served to us was definitely supermarket bought, square-cut white, artificial tasting packet bread. I am not exaggerating (I wish I were!). I'm not sure if they had run out of proper bread but never in my life have I been served white square-cut packet bread in a restaurant. I wouldn't even expect it in most sandwich shops these days. If they had run out, surely any self respecting restaurant would take the special off the menu. The combination of worst restaurant pate ever and disgraceful bread/toast made me fear what was to come next.

Luckily the mains were a lot better. Not amazing, but they were decent and worth what we paid for them. Still, very bland if you've ever eaten in any average restaurant in France.

We didn't bother with dessert because I didn't want to risk it (and I'm a sucker for desserts in French restaurants).

We ordered a £20 bottle of wine which tasted like a £10 one and was served in cheap glasses that did the wine no favour.

The service was mediocre. The atmosphere was nothing special. It wasn't an expensive meal by London standards, but for the wine and disgraceful entree it certainly wasn't good value either. I definitely won't be back.
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Tyce - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I had dinner there last Wednesday with my husband and a friend. After reading the reviews I was expecting the service to be poor, but our waitress was friendly and professional. The food was wonderful, the wine was very good and the atmosphere intimate and relaxed. Meals and wine are honestly priced. I will definitely come back.
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Poppi
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 27, 2007

This restaurant is a firm favourite. The food is always delightful and you can't beat the sunday roast with all the trimmings for £6.50! I havent encountered the service issues that some reviewers have mentioned.
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Laura
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Sacre Coeur is a great little bistro just off the main drag of Upper Street. Dark, intimate and small, it's ideal for close gatherings of friends or romantic meals. Considering the prices on offer, the French food is fantastic. It has a really authentic peasant/rustic vibe about it. The types of meat available go well beyond your standard steaks. Everything is hearty, warming and filling. You can normally get a very tasty two courser for about £15 here, for which you'd pay £25 or £30 elsewhere.

The only downside I'd point to is the service, which can occasionally be a little cold and abrupt. That said, 12 of us had New Year's Eve here last year and the service was remarkably forgiving!
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Pete
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, February 12, 2007

Delicious! Great atmosphere even if the service isn't that good.
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EC
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, November 08, 2006

I have been to this little bistro twice and both times we had an extremely enjoyable evening with great service, great food and great atmosphere. I had the mussles provincale to start followed by the toulouse sausages. For desert I had a crepe which was lovely. Agree that the house wine was no better than average but this restaurant is definitely one of the best value places in Islington. A little gem.
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Andrew - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 22, 2006

I always forget about this place as it's slightly off the main strtech of Upper Street but I really should come here more often. It's a smashing little bistro.

I popped in here for lunch today to enjoy a 2 course set menu for £8.50. The choice was excellent and I plumped for the smoked duck salad followed by cheesey asparagus crepe.

The food was great, the house wine just ok. Service was very friendly and attentive.

All in all, very enjoyable and terrific value for money. It has to be one of Islington's best cheap eats! Upper St has some great value Greek and Turkish spots, so it's handy to remember this great littel french bistro. (A million times better than Le Mercury).
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Gemstone
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 01, 2006