Having visited Paris last year (and eaten Frogs Legs near the Eiffel Tower, might I add) I have failed to come across a London venue with the same quality ingredients and passion for French cuisine. In a daring attempt to change this, I took Le Restaurant de Paul up on their offer to wine and dine me for a night.
Venue
Le Restaurant de Paul is located at the bottom of Tower 42, near Liverpool Street. Its interior is sleek and modern with a 1950’s vibe. Black seems to be the base colour of the venue but the furnishings are used as an interior weapon to integrate pops of colour. Red, blue and turquoise loungers and seats are dotted around the venue conjuring a sexy, retro feel. It’s a relaxing retreat for city goers looking for cool surroundings and French cuisine.
The lively colours in Le Restaurant de Paul bring cool, retro vibes to Bishopsgate.
Food and Drink
If you have had the pleasure of reading my previous reviews, you should know I tend to kick off my evenings with a cheeky cocktail. The staff at Le Restaurant de Paul pointed us towards the White Lady (which wasn't even on the menu, lucky us). This gin based cocktail was sharp and thirst quenching; the only downside? The excessive amount of lemon peel; it made it very difficult to drink. Although this was a slight downfall, our waiter successfully paired each of our starters and mains with white and rose wine.
Restaurant de Paul has many traditional options, like Beef Bourguignon and Soupe l'Onion, on its menu. The night I visited I couldn't help looking past them for modern, fish based options. For starters, I ordered the venues Coquilles St Jacques (£8.95); it consisted of pan-fried scallops with cauliflower and apple. It was light and the flavours were perfectly balanced giving me a small insight to the tasty and healthy food Restaurant Paul is known for serving.
After finishing my delicious starter I swiftly welcomed my main, the Colombo de Cabillaud (£15.50). This cod and prawn dish was accompanied by leek and ratte potatoes in a Colombo curry. It warmed my stomach and was the perfect combination of comfort and flavour. My companion swerved past the meat dishes on offer and decided on the Ravioli de Royan (£11.95). This vegetarian dish included comte cheese ravioli, roast pumpkin, kale and pine nuts.
Never one for ignoring the dessert menu, my friend and I ordered the Pomme and Mure Crumble (£8.00). It was bitter yet sweet, and came with a generous scoop of ice cream. If you find yourself too full to contemplate dessert, try the French Martini. This sweet concoction contains Vodka, Chambord and pineapple juice; it's a fabulous boozy alternative to Restaurant de Paul's other sweet treats.
The scallop starter was both balanced in flavour and soft in texture.
Atmosphere and Clientele
Arriving at 8.30pm on a Thursday evening, Restaurant de Paul was disappointingly quiet. For a venue that offers so much I was sure more people would be dining alongside us or at least drinking at the bar. Don’t get me wrong, this did have a plus side as we dined in peace. Maybe we caught them on a bad evening but none the less it seems like a nifty spot for after work drinks or catching up on gossip with some girlfriends.
Seating 90 indoors, Le Restaurant de Paul have the space to entertain vast numbers from early until late.
Summary
After studying and ordering from Le Restaurant de Paul's menu, it's clear that they prioritise both traditional and modern cuisine. Although the venue was quiet, this did not take away from the top quality ingredients used in every dish or the attentive service. Ladies and gents, I think I've found a little slice of Paris in London.
