Harden's survey result
Summary
“Another reincarnation for the slightly cramped room above ‘The French’… and this is a good one!” – Neil Borthwick and his team produce “simple and gutsy food, with big steaks, fresh fish, and tasty Gallic classics on a daily changing menu which will leave you full and pleased that you visit the old place”: “a London fixture of decades’ standing”.
Summary
The “intimate” dining room above one of Soho’s most historic bars is “the perfect spot for a Soho lunch” (“before a pint at Norman’s” for the full media in-crowd experience). Fittingly, it serves “good French food” – “seasonal stuff done deftly” – which you can “eat while admiring the history-laden walls” that tell the tale of General de Gaulle and his Free French, who kept their spirits up here during WWII exile. The kitchen is now run by Neil Borthwick, Angela Hartnett’s other half. And it was here, 30 years ago, that Fergus Henderson of St John first made his mark as a chef.
Summary
“Oozing rustic, Gallic charm of yesteryear” – the “lovely, intimate room” above Soho’s famous Francophile watering hole (where de Gaulle is said to have composed his ‘À tous les Français’ speech during WWII, rallying the French people) oscillates over the years between being a forgotten-about curio, and sporadic partnerships with brilliant chefs (e.g. St John’s Fergus Henderson, who started out here) that lead to its re-discovery. The arrival of Neil Borthwick (Mr Angela Hartnett) at the end of last year sees it riding another high – “it’s smashing to have this old-favourite reborn under such good hands” – and his “great, old-fashioned, gutsy French menu” (“short, but with dishes which seem dragged from a distant memory”) can be “top class”, while service is “fabulously friendly” too. A few reporters, though, feels “it doesn’t live up to the hype” or that “while great to have it back, it’s still a work in progress…”
Summary
“Oozing rustic, Gallic charm of yesteryear” – the “lovely, intimate room” above Soho’s famous Francophile watering hole (where de Gaulle is said to have composed his ‘À tous les Français’ speech during WWII, rallying the French people) oscillates over the years between being a forgotten-about curio, and sporadic partnerships with brilliant chefs (e.g. St John’s Fergus Henderson, who started out here) that lead to its re-discovery. The arrival of Neil Borthwick (Mr Angela Hartnett) at the end of last year sees it riding another high – “it’s smashing to have this old-favourite reborn under such good hands” – and his “great, old-fashioned, gutsy French menu” (“short, but with dishes which seem dragged from a distant memory”) can be “top class”, while service is “fabulously friendly” too. A few reporters, though, feels “it doesn’t live up to the hype” or that “while great to have it back, it’s still a work in progress…”
For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
The French House Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Had lunch here with friends. The marmite of mussels and smoked haddock was excellent. The breast of pheasant was a bit too well done for me but the chocolate mousse for dessert was lovely. "
"Wizardry afoot in a Soho institution. Tight menu of absolute bangers delivered by caring service in a lovely room above the pub. No faff and fancy - just a series of delicious flavour-bombs. Spicy monkfish, oxtail in a thrumming sauce. "
"Had a really excellent calves brain, a dish that I haven't seen on the menu for years. The oysters were tasty but were extremely small. Staff were friendly and even had a chat with the chef. An enjoyable, pleasant lunch."
"Make sure you head upstairs - a soho institution, wine is good value -and the food is consistently comforting French fare. "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £21.50 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
49 Dean Street, London, W1D 5BG
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
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