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Le Cassoulet
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WINNER - BEST LOCAL RESTAURANT
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Although chef-patron Malcolm John’s first restaurant, Chiswick’s Le Vacherin , is highly regarded, it was always going to be a gamble opening another – especially in the gastronomic desert of South Croydon. But John is a local and knows his market. The place was humming on the Friday night of our visit. The long room is smart if old-fashioned, using shades of dark red and cream, floral wallpaper, velvet-backed chairs and striped banquettes to create a grown-up setting for some grown-up food. Escargots, frogs’ legs, châteaubriand and steak tartare all appear on a menu that favours gusty, meaty fare from south-west France (vegetarians, beware). The signature dish was an excellent version: a rich, hearty stew of duck, pork, sausage and beans with a proper crusty top, served in its own mini cast-iron pot. Just as good was fillet of wild sea bass (succulent flesh, crispy skin), with white asparagus and crushed peas. Bread and butter pud with Calvados-soaked prunes provided a rich finish. Add in deft service from French staff clad in black waistcoats and long white aprons, a long, all-French wine list and bargain-priced set lunches and there’s little to fault. Maybe the air-con was too efficient.
Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009
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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.
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Details
- 18 Selsdon Road, Croydon, Surrey, Croydon, CR2 6PA
- Area: Croydon
- Tel: 020 8633 1818
- www.lecassoulet.co.uk
- Book online
- Category: French
- Travel: South Croydon rail
- Times: Lunch served noon-3pm Mon-Sat; noon-4pm Sun. Dinner served 6-10.3pm Mon-Thur, Sun; 6-11pm Fri, Sat
- Price: Main Courses £12.50-£20. Set lunch £16.50 3 courses (Mon-Sat); £19.50 3 courses (Sun)
- Credit cards: AmEx, MC, V
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We drove from Hatfield to Croydon to experience Le Cassoulet. Great food and service, feel very much as you are in France. The Head Waiter was very Fluent in French and the recommendation was unexpected. We had a great evening and looking forward to bring more friend and family. Great place can't believe we were in Croydon.
Definitely would go here again - beautiful ambience, perfect for a romantic meal or special occassion. The set dinner menu was well worth the money - great choice of dishes - quality fine dining at an affordable price . Excellent service. Highly recommended. Book in advance.
Great food and service. Staff very professional. We had the patridge and monk fish as main course and it was more that we were expecting. Th MD recommend the wine it was spot on.
Thanks to the Cassolet team for such a great evening. Will recommend to friends and family and will be back.
Richi
Food was superb, simply brilliant! Service was excellent, atmosphere was great, what more could you ask for? Definitely worth considering if not going, especially if you've never been to a French restaurant.
Whilst I agree that this chic little restaurant produces beautiful cuisine. I would like to name and shame them for stacking tables. I was told today for the 3rd week running that I could book a table at 6 p.m. if we agreed to vacate no later than 8 p.m. C'mon, if you are lucky enough to have a fully booked restaurant in times like these and have repeat customers who want to come back and enjoy the experience then don't do this. I will not go back there now.
Accomplished food, service patchy and telephone manner when calling to make or amend bookings rather odd. However, a gem for Croydon.
This place certainly looks the part and the food is good, however we found it to be overpriced. We've missed having a French restaurant on our doorstep since the departure of Jardin de Provence a few years back but I'm afraid Le Cassoulet won't be having us a regulars. For what we paid we could take our pick of the french eateries in central London, and covered the cost of travel. We don't mind paying for fabulous food (and frequently do) but what we had wasn't remarkable enough to justify what we paid plus as a newish restaurant in the area we expected a bit more of a welcome and less of the conveyor belt.One other thing - what happened to the steak tartare? I was gutted to not see this on the menu:-(
If it is a bistro charge bistro prices. I ate at Chez Bruce last week. Excellent Service, before dinner drink, four courses, a bottle of wine and the total with service was only £20 more for the two of us than at Le Cassoulet. For that we had an excellent meal, excellent service, a less crowded space in a One Michelin star restaurant. Chez Bruce is excellent value not Le Cassoulet!
i think what some people forget, is le cassoulet clearly is NOT a fine dining restaurant, its a bistro isnt it, reasonable prices, and no frills attached. i think markus's review was clearly over the top.
I do hope that the restaurant takes time to check out these reviews as the post from Markus was appalling. I hope he didn't pay the service charge as there was certainly no service.