Service was welcoming, helpful and prompt. As they suggest on their website, their emphasis is on value and quality. This is honest cooking from honest ingredients and served well, and it is not a fancy place. I mean to compliment them by saying their food was like«grandma’s good Sunday cooking». We each had goose rilletes, then Burgundian beef stew and lamb shank both with creamy mashed potatoes, carrots and broccoli. The wine we selected was adequate, and priced well. The ambience is humble but clean and quiet enough to converse. Overall very satisfied.
Michał S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
At first it doesn’t look like much, but very soon it surprises in a very positive way. The atmosphere is very nice, the staff is friendly and helpful and the food… The food is one of the most delicious I’ve had in a long time in a restaurant. The meals might not be cheap but they’re not expensive either — and for that taste they’re worth every penny!
Kris W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
Enjoyed having lunch here so much after visiting the British Museum! The decoration is nice also!
Tim D.
Rating des Ortes: 2 London, United Kingdom
I really like this restaurant, the food is amazing and the service is friendly. The prices are reasonable and the décor and atmosphere are both great. The waiter when we were there personally recommended one of the wines, and it was lovely to see some of the diners chatting to each other at different tables, like it’s a place to be socialable and actually talk to other people — something which is very special when you see it in London. I couldn’t give this restaurant a higher rating though because of its 2 star hygiene rating by Camden council, I don’t really understand why such an otherwise amazing restaurant would take such a lax attitude to food satety but it isn’t a good sign. Hopefully they’ll take it on board and try to improve as it’s otherwise a wonderful independent restaurant in central London, a welcome alternative to so many identikit chains.
Gary R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 East Northport, NY
We enjoyed our dinners between the Caesar salad and French onion soup. Then we had salmon and beef bourginon that were excellent. Service was excellent They gave us time between courses. We would highly recommend this restaurant. We came without a reservation and they were very accommodating on a Saturday night
Mandy S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
French dining at its best. The ambiance is casual and laid back, the food is fantastic and the service is great. This is a must visit and easy to get to(especially after a visit to the British museum) I had one of the beef plates which was delicious. Their set menu is excellent value. The only thing is that it can feel a bit crowded and then around 9 ish the downstairs can get empty and you feel like it is midnight, so try to get a table upstairs.
Pamela S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
This place is indeed an affordable French gourmet restaurant. They have a 24£ 3 course meal deal that is very good value for money! Usually when you choose a set menu you get very limited choices but this place has so much to chose from it was hard to pick just one! As a starter I had the chicken liver which was REALLY yummy. As a main I had the beef bourguignon which was really tasty. We ended the meal with a chocolate mousse which was good. The service was really good. Our waitress was very friendly and made great recommendations when asked. The place is a bit tight and if you sit downstairs it is windowless. I would definitely go again and highly recommend this place!
Aya T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
It’s a casual French having only a course menu for dinner. It’s reasonable but tasty and a big portion! I liked the soup with smoked salmon and cheese and British traditional beef stew…
Jurgen D.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
Cest tres bon! Well this was just a fantastic evening I have to say. The owners ever present in the dining room help to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Stepping off a busy London street you are immediately transported to a bistro that could be anywhere in France though I like to imagine myself being somewhere in Provence, wild fields of lavender filling the air with an aroma like to no other… anyway…back to the food! For my starter I went for Goose Rillettes served with Spiced Plums, the rillettes had an excellent texture, neither too fatty or to smooth, there was still a nice consistency to it. I sometimes find rillettes made more like a pâté, blitzed to hell and back. The goose with the sweet and spicy plums was a lovely match and very tasty. For my main Herb-crusted Rump of Lamb with Celeriac Purée, Balsamic braised Beetroot and Herb and Tomato Jus. Im a sucker for lamb with a crust and this was done supremely well. Cooked with great attention in a pan then oven roasted to melt in the crust the lamb was still beautifully pink. Celeriac is one of my favourite vegetables and the purée was smooth and well seasoned. Delicious. Washed all of the lovely food down with a bottle of red, reasonably priced and delicious. Finished the night with a French coffee and toddled off into the night very content.
Fernando K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Cambridge, MA
I had lunch here 6 weeks ago after visiting the British Museum and loved it so much I came back today and brought my parents. The fig with ham and goat cheese is absolutely amazing, as are the beef bourguignon and the lamb shanks. The bouillabaisse is amazing if you are looking for a lighter option. Get the house wine by the glass, it’s great too. Overall amazing value for money. Only con is food takes a little too much time but 100% worth it!
Ron W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 New York, NY
Still at table as I write this. Mussels with garlic sauce presented like escargots was perfectly garlicky. Fig appetizer was excellent. Chicken was lovely. Duck breast was spectacular! Love this place. Oh and the music playing is perfect.
Rachael M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Carlos, CA
So I have to admit… I’m not really a fan of French food. It’s usually so rich and heavy and that’s just not my thing. When my coworkers and I were on a trip to London and the cuisine agreed upon by the group was French I was not super excited. But this meal ended up being great! They have a two course set menu for around 23 pounds. The various appetizers tried at our table were the grilled fig with goat cheese, the octopus, the mussels, and the fried halloumi — all were excellent and original. I would give a recommendation, but really that’s probably try them all. The mussels may have been the most unexpected in serving and flavor — they came out of their shells in a special serving dish, and the sauce was incredibly garlicky and delicious. For entrees, our table had the duck, beef bourguignon, lamb shank, and the vegetable plate. Again, everyone loved theirs. The sauces were delicious and balanced out the meat perfectly. And after our fantastic meals, we couldn’t stop without dessert. Our table shared crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, and tarte tatin. And again, everything was excellent. The chocolate mousse was very rich without being too sweet. The tarte tatin was very different from ones we have had in the US — the apple was a different texture but delicious. The crème brûlée was excellent as well. The restaurant itself was small and very cute. A great ambiance. There were paintings all over the wall, which were definitely different than what we would see in the US, but it was a great little European find for us on our trip.
Alison W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Philadelphia, PA
It’s rare for me to return to a restaurant on a second visit. But this restaurant is nothing short of divine. I still dream of the mussels cooked with garlic and Pernod and lemon essence. Everything else left me in a dreamy haze! Run, don’t walk here!
Edwin T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Princeton, NJ
Came across this very nice and cozy place. We made a reservation for dinner. It was sooooooo worth it. First– The service was very nice and helpful. The food came quick even though there were a lot of people. Second– The most important part… the food! It was excellent. Its French cousine. I got the ceasar salad. It didnt have the ceasar dressing but they had something better, balsamic vinegar dressing. It was delicious. My mom got the escargot. She said it was good. For the main course, i got the beef burger with a mini-salad and fries as a side dish. The patty was cooked to perfection and the fries were not greasy at all. We also got the cheesecake, and it was good. Overall, I would come back.
Beverly Y.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
This was my very first dinner in London, and I was definitely satisfied. A few friends and I came here after seeing how it was so highly reviewed on Unilocal,and when we got to the restaurant we were surprised(but I guess happy) at how empty yet small it was. There was probably only one other table occupied, and a total of 7 tables in the room we were seated. The menu contained a lot of options, but I wanted something light so I ordered one of the vegetarian dishes. I can’t remember what it’s called, but it had mushrooms topped with mashed garbanzo beans/chickpeas and a side of broccoli and carrots. I’ll admit that when the food first came out I was a bit skeptical since it’s not the prettiest dish, but the first bite destroyed any doubt. The taste and texture of the mushroom paired with that of the garbanzo beans was amazing, and the broccoli/carrots were wonderfully cooked as well. I especially liked how the sauce was light and only used to enhance the taste(rather than drenching the food in sauce, which is kind of common nowadays in a lot of restaurants). After finishing I was well-satisfied and happy. Overall a great place to eat if you like authentic French food! I loved my experience here(food, service, and the super cute décor).
Danni M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Philadelphia, PA
Beyond love, beyond adoration, I truly venerate this place. When in London, I stop for multiple meals here. That’s me in the alcove to the right of the entrance and someday, I’ll probably just take up a fortnight’s residence there. From kidneys, to foie gras, to whatever the special is, food has always been amazing and service attentive. The only sad thing, is I walked by this place for years before dining there. When I think of the delightful meals that could have been, I could cry, but I’m making up for it now. Mea maxima culpa. Eschew the high street chain and the mediocre and dine like royalty in a relaxing, unfussy bistro. Last meal? Dine here! Who needs heaven when you’ve tasted the food of the Gods.
Soomin R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
We went without booking, but the waitress so kindly helped us get a table instead of just turning us away. Through the dinner, service was top notch, and I really appreciated it – never take it for granted! Food was solid as well. I had pork belly, which was very flavourful and rich together with the purée. My bf ordered foie gras as starter, which was probably one of the best I ever had. Absolutely adored the ambience — very artsy and cozy at the same time. Great lighting and perfect for dates. Would love to go back soon!
Ningxi X.
Rating des Ortes: 5 New York, NY
I do not regret choosing Savoir Faire for my birthday dinner, even though it was a complete leap of faith as neither of my friends who accompanied me on the special occasion nor myself had been there before. The place is small and a little quaint, and quirky with the, interesting, wallpapers. It seems really underwhelming upon entrance, but the food we had was truly phenomenal especially considering the prices. The two-course prix fixe menu was a great find in an otherwise such an expensive city. I had mackerel as an appetizer followed by sea bass. Both were cooked and seasoned really well. We also had a bottle of tempranillo and finished the meal with crème brûlée and lemon tart. It truly felt like fine dining on a shoestring, and we got the best of both worlds. My friends also raved about everything they ordered(caesar salad, lentil moussaka, etc). I believe we overheard the servers speak French, which only provided a reassuring sign since there’s a better chance the chefs are French as well. The service might be a bit lacking at times — or am I just too used to the American standards — but it doesn’t detract at all from the overall value of the restaurant.
John W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Erie, CO
Holy moly… Fantastic food! So I guess I like French food? If THIS represents French then YES! I started with the baked goat cheese, moved onto the duck, and wow. The flavors are simply astonishing… Although the duck texture was average. Even still. Epic dish! This is a return over and over places folks! Oh and… Price? It will make you spin your head… The prices are that of a typical chain… Not too high. How? I dunno but I am coming back tomorrow. Ok update(3 minutes after posting!) the texture of the duck is killing me… SO chewy! But… Still 5 star. Why? Flavor… Unique flavor in the whole dish… Everything on the plate is so enriched in unique and DELICIOUS flavor I don’t care. Plus it’s only a few pieces like that. Sorry 4-star review people who always do 4 starts even when they say it’s great!(Why oh why do people do that?)… This is 5 star at its best! Oh… And I hate the French. But you get five stars for food!
Claire W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Cincinnati, OH
I came here with a friend for a bit of a nicer dinner out. We are both students and they advertise this place as an inexpensive gourmet French restaurant… perfect! The service started off as very attentive and we ordered a bottle of house white wine. The waitress quickly brought us a bottle, poured it, and left. Before we knew it we realized she had poured us each a glass of red wine-not what we ordered. This issue would have also been prevented if they showed us the bottle of wine and permitted us an initial taste as every other restaurant does. After much confusion with another waitress who was on her first day and barely spoke English, she was able to help us to amend the issue and she then brought us our white wine. She filled the glasses to the brim-no exaggeration. The starter and main meal was delicious. My friend got the mussels which I would highly recommend. The lentil moussaka was also delicious. Salads were pretty standard, nothing amazing. Overall I would recommend this restaurant.
Shunn J.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Paris
Petit restaurant français très agréable. J’y ai été pour la première fois il y a quelques années et j’ai été marquée par leur fabuleuse terrine au chocolat(un dessert, rien à voir avec une vraie terrine hein!) que je comptais bien reprendre dès que j’aurais l’occasion d’y retourner. Quelle né fut pas ma déception de découvrir une carte complétement différente à mon retour Mais bon, une fois le choc passé, j’ai pu apprécier leur carte qui propose des plats assez originaux, et leurs rillettes étaient succulentes(et je né suis habituellement pas une grande amatrice de rillettes!). Cela reste un peu cher pour mon budget d’étudiante.