On a miserable, rainy day in London, it’s pretty hard to avoid dreams of a warmer climate. For me, I take my mind to warm, sleepy villages in the South of France, and have discovered that to get me that little bit closer, I can match the fantasy with a meal at Le Bar: the new venue of iconic Michelin-starred restaurant, Club Gascon.
The Venue
Le Bar is Club Gascon’s annex, a neat little space where you can sample a selection of tapas-sized regional specialities known as Frapas, and an outstanding menu of Southern French wines, making the venue one of the best specialist wine bars in London.
You’ll find Le Bar on the edge of Smithfield, with an interior consisting of plenty of exposed brick, polished copper and large windows. There is a rustic, welcoming feel to the place - it’s casual and laid back whilst feeling elegant and chic - very French, indeed. At the end of the room is an elevated area for casual drinks while the rest of the room offers tables for extensive dining, and a counter to rest at while you enjoy a selection of original Gascony style cocktails.
Le Bar is a refined spot for some of the finest in wines and small plates.
The Food and Drink
Each of the cocktails on the menu have been designed to compliment the food. I started the evening with the Boulevardier (£9), Negroni’s older cousin from Paris, which was smooth and warming with a gentle bitterness that morphed gracefully into a sweet after-taste. My friend meanwhile enjoyed the refreshing and light French 75; a classic, sophisticated cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup & topped up with Champagne (£12.50).
Dishes at Le Bar are inspired by the concept of frapas (French tapas) with a focus on Gascony’s finest ingredients and specialties. To begin we enjoyed the Foie Gras Gascon (£8), a slice of rich and smooth foie gras with small thin slices of toast - with such small pieces it was easy to enjoy the foie gras in all its smooth and sumptuous glory. This was followed by a glorious portion of the Duck Doughnuts which had the perfect balance of sweetness from the duck and a light saltiness of the dough (£4.50). With a dark and spicy sauce, this plate had all the luxury you’d expect from such an innovative french dish.
Possibly one of the most beautiful dishes I have had placed before me was the Snails a-la Bordelaise with crushed potatoes (£8.50). Served in a pearlescent decorative shell which glimmered in the evening light, the snails were small and meaty, with a richness that was tamed by the crushed and creamy potatoes.
Tricky to share yet delicious to eat was the Piggy Roll, a miniature burger featuring a beautifully succulent piece of pork with a soft brioche bun (£7.50). This was all washed down with a couple of glasses of a light and fruity red wine which was a recommendation of the manager.
Pearlescent shells boasting the finest in French morsels? Only at Le Bar.
Summary
Le Bar is the perfect portal, transporting you closer to dreams of small, Southern French towns with its authentic, refined dishes and an outstanding drinks selection. All of this alongside the professionalism and kindness of the knowledgeable staff makes this is the perfect venue for a relaxed and indulgent evening.
