Le Garrick has been taken over by a new French couple who’s passion and flair for entertaining and good food is quite apparent as soon as you arrive. This French restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden offers one of the most intimate settings, an authentic menu inspired by cooking from the South West region of France, and above all an infectious joie de vivre from the friendly staff. As they celebrate their 28th birthday, StyleNest decided to pop by and pay them a visit to see what all the fuss is about.
Split over two levels, Le Garrick has a bright and welcoming street level dining room, great for people watching on the bustling streets of theatreland, whilst downstairs you will discover one of the most intimate settings in the capital. The bar and dining room features rustic brickwork, booth seating with candlelit alcoves, romantic nooks and crannies, secluded corners and a welcoming atmosphere – a true, hidden gem which attracts both local businesses and a bohemian crowd of theatre goers, actors and artists alike.
We sat downstairs in a cosy alcove and caught up over a glass of their recommended house red wine. Our charming waitress talked us through the menu with traditional French classic and rustic dishes from the countryside, featuring dishes such as Boeuf Bourguignon – Slow cooked beef marinated in red wine served with new potatoes, or Confit de Canard avec Haricots Lingots – Classic honey glazed duck “confit”, served with Lingot Beans.
Our friend opted for La Soupe a L’Oignon (£4.95) – a homemade traditional French onion soup served with crusty bread, and I went for the Coquilles St Jacques (£7.50) – delicious seared fresh scallops beautifully presented on a bed of rocket and red pepper salad. We decided to also share the recommended melted cheese, the Fondue De “Vacherine” Pour Deux (£12.95) – a runny gooey indulgent fondue for two, cooked with white wine and chives and served with bread.
We perused their new wine list featuring an almost exclusive selection of French wines, starting at £16.95 (per bottle) with many available by the glass (£4.65). The list includes classics such as Picpoul de Pinet, Côteaux du Languedoc, 2013 and Château L’Ermitage ‘Tradition’ Rouge, Costières de Nîmes, 2012 to fine wines, such as Vallet Frères, Meursault Premier Cru ‘Blagny’, 2011 or St Emilion Grand Cru AOC, 2008.
We moved on to main course and we went for the highly recommended Magret de Canard a L’orange (£17.95) – sliced succulent duck breast with a rich orange sauce and served with mashed potatoes and spinach. Our friend opted for their steak, Faux Filet sauce au Bernaise (£17.95) – a generous 8oz slab of chargrilled rare breed rib eye steak served with fries and a béarnaise sauce.
In our opinion there’s no better way to polish off a French meal than a gorgeous crème brûlée, so we tucked in and savoured every creamy bite!
Le Garrick is spreading the love for two days this Valentine’s Day and will be open on Sunday 15th February as well as the Saturday. Diners can enjoy the Valentine’s Day Menu on both days, with the a la carte menu only available until 5pm on Saturday. You can opt for either the 2 course menu for £29.50 or 3 course menu for £36.50. A single rose, a Cocktail de L’Amour and a glass of dessert wine is offered to all guests with compliments, so enjoy your Valentine’s Day in the most romantic way at Le Garrick.
Visit www.legarrick.co.uk