Club Gascon

I went last night to Club Gascon and I have to say left with a very positive feeling.

The room was almost full when we arrived at 8pm, some small tables, a larger one, a nice buzz going through the room...

The room is on the small side with some massive and impressive flower arrangements.

The menu is based on a concept of starter portions dishes which gives a good opportunity to taste more dishes.

I started with a salmon which had been confit giving it a raw aspect but a good texture on the palate.

My friend had the carpaccio of scallops and melon which she enjoyed saying how fresh it was and how much the sake poutred over it helped to add some interesting flavours.

I followed with the spring tulip and tapioca which was really delicious. Very fresh, a vas palette of savours and colours, like spring on a plate.

Mt friend followed with a fricasse of morel which she devoured in 2 minutes. Surely a good sign.

I then went on the foie gras chaud-froid which is kinda like a warm creme caramel of foie gras served with a small scoop of black truffl ice cream and dices of pan-fried foie gras.

This has been a truly delicious dish, opulent and decadent. The highest point of the evening.

I had for main the sweetbread, celery and snail dish which again was a winner, my friend on her side finishing with the black cod.

Not keen on dessert I finished with the Maroille cheese and my friend being a chocoholic, she finished with the "chocobar".

The very helpful and friendly sommelier advised on some wine which really was spot on.

We truly had a great evening, food was a delight, service was professional yet not stuffy and remained very friendly.

We said we would definitely come back in the future and keep it in our good books.

To be recommended.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 17, 2008

I went there with a few friends for lunch as a treat and what a treat it was: 5 course tasting menu of the highest quality for £42.00... Some of us opted for the selection of wines to match each dishes (an extra £ 23.00): Excellent choice; each wine complemented perfectly the food they were paired with.

I'll be back...
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 22, 2007

First time I went there was about 5 years ago and since, I try to go each time I am in London. My last visit was certainly as good as the first one. Splendid food, excellent service from the friendly but professional waiters.The wine list is still a discovery journey into South West France least known vineyards. Bravo!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, November 17, 2007

This is one of my favourite restaurants and I am particularly impressed by the quality of the food.

I have also been impressed by the unusual wine list which features wines from an unusual region of France (South-West I think).

I was a litte miffed, however, when, a week ago ( a quiet night) one of our party visiting from Kenya was shown the pudding list and when she declined appeared to be 'speaking on behalf of the rest of us'.

The menu was whipped away and was not offered to anyone else.

I will not be opting for Club Gascon for a while. The food may be French (my first choice) however that last piece of service was not British.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, October 22, 2007

We went to Club Gascon to celebrate my partner's birthday recently and were sadly rather disappointed by the experience.

The food was OK (we went for the tasting menu) but we were not truly amazed by any of the dishes, suffice to say they were 'fine' (and better than anything I might attempt).

The real main gripe of the evening for us both was the service, or rather lack of it.

The plates where maneuvered onto the tables in an ungainly manner, pushing the knives and forks out all over the place. Nothing too bad, it just wasn’t what you expect at a good restaurant with good service. Just a bit shoddy round the edges.

I’m also not sure you should serve a course and explain the wine you are serving with it to the customer when one of the diners is away from the table.

We felt as though we were rushed through our courses, not having the chance to savor the experience. Half full wine glasses being taken away before we had finished.

My partner asked the waiter to check his partridge dish as it looked a little ‘under cooked’. The waiter said’ ‘I’m French so I like it rare, it looks OK’, to which my partner said OK then if it’s fine I happy to eat it. The waiter then rapidly retracted his statement and whisked the dish away for further cooking. Sadly he also took my plate too; despite the fact my partridge was perfectly fine (he didn’t ask). On returning the food, they mixed up the plates and I got a rather mangled partridge which was still a bit too rare. Not totally impressed.

So I wouldn’t say don’t go to Club Gascon, you may have a perfectly delightful experience. I just think that for the price, the service and food just wasn’t quite up to scratch.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Friday, September 28, 2007

I liked this restaurant.

The food tended a little towards the fussy end of clever, but it didn't obscure the fine ingredients or basically well-crafted cooking of, at times, intriguing dishes.

The atmosphere (it was a Saturday night) was very good.

The service was very attentive (sometimes too much so), and at times bizarrely amateur (one dish slid off a serving slate onto one of our party's jacket! More apologies would have been nice - even a complimentary glass or two - even in the face of his gracious deprecation).

The wine list was excellent. A good range of reasonable stuff.

They fairly pack 'em in here - but that added to the atmosphere in my view, though it may have challenged the waiter!

It's expensive but not at all bad value for money.

A very memorable meal.
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Kev - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Having read mixed reviews of Club Gascon, I felt I had to try for myself. After a sincere welcome we were seated at one of the tables and invited to try an aperitif before our meal. A champagne and cointreau cocktail would become adictive were it not for the 'London' price. Nevertheless it was very nice. The good value 'Tasting Menu' is an excellent way to be introduced to the very best that this French cuisine has to offer. Lovingly prepared nibbles with the apeitif, fascinating crudites and savoury creme served in a sawn off beef bone for the 'Flintstone' effect. A chilled dish of a profiterole filled with the most amazing pate de fois gras on a bed of apple puree in jus, gave realisation to keep an open mind for the courses ahead! Not a plain white plate to be seen: the starter arrived on a warm oblong stone platter. A delicious gererous concoction of skate wing layered with freshly fried ceps in herb butter, topped off with fine slithers of crispy pork crackling. It worked - an amazing combination. The following course was a visual feast in a large glass plate: giant, succulent smoked-barbecued prawns with tomato and smoked salsa in a prawn broth - a mind blowing taste and enough on it's own to draw me back. The ample duck followed, served in carrot foam and for a refreshing balance: a fresh muesli affair of seeds: sunflower/pine nut with pomegranite, finely chopped radish etc - utterly delightful. An equally wonderful gooey peach macaroon filled with marinaded peach and creme impressed. The courses were served well timed with an enchanting French white wine chosen by the lady manager. Service was professional , informative and fun. This kitchen evidently uses the very best fresh ingredients to achieve a menu that give attention to detail. Inspired and imaginative both food and crockery, I left vowing to return as the menu changes each month; what can August have in store?
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Carolyn Turner
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 12, 2007

This restaurant is above and beyond great. It all starts with the reception, to the chefs who prepare the food and outstanding sevice throughout the whole night. The atmosphere was relaxing and very enjoyable. What more can you say about Club Gascon. The value of the food beats most, I mean the quality and quanity is undenyable. I would recommand this establishment to anyone, especially people coming from out of the country.
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Douglas Gascon
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 30, 2007

Club Gascon! merci!

what an evening!

The food is fantastic, I loved this "tasting menu" with a wine degustation!

Of course it is a small dining room, but the atmosphere is just great.

If you like a flashy and posh restaurant, that's not for you.

If you prefere a nice smart and casual restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and a nice french food...run to the Club!
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remy - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, March 31, 2007

This was a huge disappointment. We are used to eating at Michelin-starred restaurants aswell as more ordinary establishments, this is an expensive restaurant but for an enjoyable experience we would not have minded one bit. The service was appauling: slow, inattentive and non-soignee. When we left the restaurant we went to the bathroom and found our coats slung on the sofa by the door, no one bothered to come and say goodbye or thankyou.

As for the food: very, very rich. By plate 2 of the 3 you are advised to take I had had enough and I was unconvinced by some of the flavour combinations. My steak dish simply did not work. The restaurant is small and without any character whatsoever, this did not serve as a plain backdrop upon which the food was the contrast, taking centre stage, it just looked like they hadn't bothered and we were stuck in some half-finished room in the corner of the market. There was no air of luxury or refinement, however simple.

Go once if you must, I won't be there.
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Marianne Headey
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Monday, March 19, 2007