South Kensington, French Restaurant Guide

2024 Review: “Always reliable and first-class French cooking” is complemented by a serious wine list, including nine from Margaux, at this upmarket neighbourhood spot over two storeys at the Earl’s Court end of South Kensington.

“Just like being in Paris” – this “classic French brasserie” in a Chelsea backstreet is “a perennial favourite”, run by “a strong core team who have been here for ages”, with patron “Didier Garnier keeping a close eye on things”. It’s “always full with many locals”, and is also a “great place to dine with business colleagues – good food and service guarantee you can concentrate on the business at hand”. A key feature is “possibly the best-value wine list in London, especially if you are a fan of Rhone and/or Claret” (and with “a good selection of half bottles”).

2022 Review: ‘A taste of rural France on the Fulham Road’ is the promise at this ‘gourmet traiteur’ in Chelsea: an early 2020 newcomer where dishes (to go or for delivery within 4 miles) are designed for reheating at home and prepared by Chris Hill, who most recently worked as a senior sous chef at The Ritz. It’s owned by Dimitri and Mira Plaquet, of a high-quality Belgian food group called La Villa Lorraine. They must be doing something right, as in mid 2021 they launched a second store in Wimbledon.