Time Out has teamed up with tastelondon to offer you a fantastic one month free trial
-
L'Escargot Marco Pierre White
-
It would be hard to imagine Soho without L’Escargot, and hard to imagine L’Escargot without its contingent of theatrical, media-savvy Soho-ites. It looks as good as ever, with its cut-glass mirrors, statement art by Chagall and Miro, and frankly beautiful art nouveau lighting, but times change – even at a snail’s pace – and we found the buzz a little quieter, and the kitchen a little less exciting. Upstairs, the lovely Picasso Room still trades in luxury ingredients and anniversary celebrations, while on the ground floor the more democratic bistro menu results in a livelier crowd of divorce-settlement gossipers and pre-theatre BlackBerry-checkers. As a bastion of Marco Pierre White’s empire, we expected more to dazzle us, but it appeared to be running on automatic. At our meal downstairs, the menu was of the season, but not so much of the decade. A terrine of ham hock and foie gras was dry; and smoked salmon paupiette filled with salmon mousse was on the dated side of classic. Crisp-skinned sea bass on crushed potatoes was a treat; but gnocchi with wild mushrooms were little more than fried balls of mashed potato. The service is definitely of the efficient French variety, highly professional but rather aloof. It seems the inspectors of the Michelin Guide had a similar experience; in January 2009 it lost its Michelin star rating.
Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009
Book now
Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.
|
|
Advertisement
Details
- 48 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4EF
- Area: Soho
- Tel: 020 7437 2679
- www.whitestarline.org.uk
- Book online
- Category: French
- Travel: Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road tube
- Times: Ground-floor restaurant Lunch served noon-2.15pm Mon-Fri. Dinner served 6-11.30pm Mon-Fri; 5.30-11.30pm Sat. Picasso Room Lunch served 12.15-2pm Tue-Fri. Dinner served 7-11pm Tue-Sat
- Price: Ground-floor restaurant Main courses £12.95-£14.95. Set meal (lunch, 6-7pm Mon-Fri) £15 2 courses, £18 3 courses. Picasso Room Set lunch £20.50 2 courses, £25.50 3 courses. Set meal £42 3 courses
- Credit cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V
- Services:
- Available for hire: Separate rooms for parties, seating 24 and 60
- Child facilities: Babies and children admitted (ground-floor restaurant)
- Dress code: smart casual
- Function room: Separate rooms for parties, seating 24 and 60
Map
Most viewed restaurants
Date of the day
JustGiveItATry
Well if you like what you read about me I guess we are already halfway. ,so just give it a try!
|
|
More ways to enjoy Time Out
-
Weekly London newsletter
The best of London in your inbox
-
Time Out Widgets
|
|
I would just like to leave a review for your restaurant. My husband and I had dinner on Friday 30th Oct. We walked off the street without a reservation and were very happen to get a table for two. Unfortunately, that was were the good fortune finished. After ordering a glass of champagne we waited. After a while we ended up asking for our drinks when the waitress took our food order. While waiting for food we were not offered bread even though tables around us were. We eventually asked for bread when our starters arrived, but then had to ask for butter. We ordered an exspensive bottle of wine with our mains and were rather annoyed to find the couple next to us with a decantered bottle of wine which was the exact bottle we bought. When asked why we were told they had run out of decanters!!! Our mains then arrived minus the side order of fried potatoes. Due to the poor service no one noticed and noone asked if we were ok or if we had everything we ordered. We waitied 5 min and then asked a passing waiter. He then bought over two cold servings, which we refused to eat. He then took them away leaving us to eat our steaks before they went cold only for the potatoes to be bought over when we had finished our meal! We felt as though we were treated like two tourist off the street with little respect for our comfort or satisfaction. As it is we are bothe London professionals who dine out regularly and were appauled at the service we recieved at your restaurant. I would not recommend the experience to friends or enemies.
Had set meal pre theatre yesterday and both service & food were excellent. Will definitely be returning - great value for money.
We purchased a theatre deal (3 course) for L'Escargot, based on overall good feedback, and were terribly disappointed. The service was slow to start with. We had ordered all 3 courses initially, and after the main course, the waitor eventually arrived and asked offered us coffee or the bill. I explained that we were on a 3 course deal and he had completely forgotten the fact that we had ordered dessert. The dessert then didn't arrive, and we ran out of time. I approached the manager and asked for the bill. They got the bill wrong too - charging for the full meal although we were on a prepaid theatre deal. By this time the desserts had finally arrived. They were the only good part of the meal (they were delicious).
We missed the first 10 minutes of our show as a result of their completely disorganized and slack service.
They did give us one drink off the bill for our trouble, but needless to say this did little to compensate for missing the beginning of Les Miserables!
The food was edible, but not gourmet. Basically if you are into food, you are likely to find it very forgettable. Not very tasty, not very imaginative.
Guys, if you are going to offer a theatre deal, serve the food so that the patrons can make the show - simple.
Will never go there again, show or no show.
The food was certainly up to standard for a Michelin-starred restaurant, but what really made the evening was the excellent young sommelier who went out of his way to share the enthusiasm he obviously had for his job - a rare treat! Thanks.