Restaurants

Styling itself as a ‘traiteur’ – a deli, café, restaurant and new bar (scheduled to open in September 2008) rolled into one – Truc Vert offers a pleasingly rustic detour from the Oxford Street scrum. Lunchtimes are buzzing with local workers nipping in to take away French food such as smoked ham and leek quiche, chicken and butter bean salad, or tranches of orange and almond cake. In the evening, the pale wood decor is gently romanticised with crisp tablecloths and flickering candles. You can eat light with a cheese or charcuterie plate, or plump for one of the huge dishes from the broadly Mediterranean menu. A classy mozzarella, artichoke and beetroot salad was followed by competently cooked sea bass served with mangetout and spicy tomato salsa. Richer dishes on the changing menu could include roast duck breast on polenta, venison with blue cheese, mustard-spiked ribeye steak, or chicken livers and bacon. Desserts are a high point, so save room for a happy ending of apple crumble with vanilla-specked ice-cream, lemon crème caramel, or own-made pineapple sorbet.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009