Harden's survey result
Summary
Gregory (nicknamed ‘Frenchie’ by Jamie Oliver at Fifteen) & Marie Marchand’s stylish four-year-old is “a treat, with all its signature dishes imported from their charming Parisian venue of the same name”, delivering “beautiful French food”, served in a lovely, stylishly-neutral, modern space. Despite the arrival last year of Dale Sutton (the executive head chef of their French operations) however, ratings continue to head south here, and critics feel it’s “lost its edge” since its stellar early days. No question, though, it’s a “fun” and “useful spot in Covent Garden” that many still extol as the site of their best meal of the year.
Summary
Gregory (nicknamed ‘Frenchie’ by Jamie Oliver at Fifteen) & Marie Marchand’s stylish three-year-old is “a treat, with all its signature dishes imported from their charming Parisian venue of the same name”, delivering “beautiful French food”, served in a lovely, stylishly-neutral, modern space. Despite the arrival last year of Dale Sutton (the executive head chef of their French operations) however, ratings continue to head south here, and critics feel it’s “lost its edge” since its stellar early days. No question, though, it’s a “fun” and “useful spot in Covent Garden” that many still extol as the site of their best meal of the year.
Summary
Perhaps the most famous alumnus of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen – Gregory Marchand (aka ‘Frenchie’) launched his Covent Garden operation a couple of years ago as a London spin-off to his first ‘Frenchie’, which opened in Paris in 2009. With its shortish menu of “quirky” Gallic dishes, “eclectic” wine list and “fun” (if “noisy”) style, it was one of the hits of last year. This year, however, its ratings dipped, and – while fans still praise its “well-crafted and tasty dishes” – there are a few critics to whom it seems “totally overrated”. Post-survey in July 2018, Marchand transferred the executive chef of his Parisian group, Dale Sutton, to London, presumably to help pep things up a bit?
Summary
“Interesting but ungimmicky” modern French cuisine has helped win a big following for Grégory Marchand’s Parisian import – a “chilled” Gallic yearling on the Covent Garden site that was for aeons Porters: nowadays an “informal” contemporary bistro, with ground floor dining room, plus basement (the latter complete with open kitchen). Service can lapse however, and the interior is “very noisy”.
For 30 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
Frenchie Restaurant Diner Reviews
"A mixture of the well done and the not so well done. Dishes are executed with aplomb and instagram appeal. Flavours carefully selected but not super punchy as you would expect from French Style cuisine. In fact it could be quite easily described as Modern British. Desserts were a let down although they looked great. "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £29.00 | £32.00 |  |
|
|
| Lunch | £50.00 | |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 65.00 | Always available | 5 |
| Menu2 | 80.00 | Always available | 7 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £16.50 | £32.00 | £7.00 | £10.50 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £33.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £4.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
18 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8QH
Opening hours
Mon- Fri - L: 12.00 pm - 2.15 pm D: 5.30 pm - 10.30 pm, Sat & Sun L: 12.00 pm - 2.15 pm D: 6.00 pm - 10.30 pm
Last orders: 10.30 pm
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