After
several attempts which failed before Christmas to go to the new French bistro Blanchette in Soho, last week I managed to go there and had lunch.
The decoration and atmosphere as soon as you arrive makes you feel in France, with a lot of French objects from a Bécassine doll to the Gérard Depardieu cookbook (I didn't know he wrote one before I saw it there).
Tiles at the bar are painted with an Art-Nouveau style frame like Nover from the 1900's, and on the counter you can see some fresh products such as French baguette, saucisson, charcuteries and cheese.
The details I really like was red bricks wall, it reminds me my hometown, the Pink City: Toulouse which is famous for wall with 'la brique toulousaine'.
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| Picture from Blanchette website |
The concept is based on the idea of sharing small French dishes. You can see their menu HERE. Price are from £2.50 up to £8. It is a very good value, 7 dishes without wine for 2 person, £39.66 (service included).
From all the new opening restaurants I have been in the last couple of month, Blanchette was the best I had so far. This is for sure a restaurant I will recommend for any occasion, from a quick hour lunch ( food comes very quickly to the table but you don't feel you are in the rush to eat it !) to a romantic dinner with candles or dinner with friends.
All dishes were very good, very tasty, they all had a good balance with a little note of crunchiness for some of them.
Duck rillettes
Cheese Beignets with Onion Confit
Croque monsieur
Leeks Vinaigrette with Frisée and Wild Mushroom
Braised Lamb Shoulder with Anchovy, Rosemary and Soubise Sauce
The only dish which can be improve in my opinion were the fries, they were good but they could be better, it seems they are not at the same quality level of all dishes.
The best final touch to this place, was Duralex glass made in France. They always remind me silly challenge game I used to play at school at lunch time, depend on 'how old your glass said you were', the younger or oldest one as a challenge to realise. This time I was 28, but I was with a English friend who doesn't know this game.
If I had to choose my two favourite dishes from this lunch it will be the duck rillettes and braised lamb.
My choice might change in my next visit as I want to try the ox cheeks bourguignon with ventreche, baked St Marcelin and foie gras mi-cuit with piment d'’espelette, but to be honest I might do several visit to try everything on their menu, as everything sounds delicious.
9.5/10 (minus 0.5 only for the fries)
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