Tucked away on a quiet street in Mayfair lurks this world-famous bastion of classical French cuisine, one that proudly flaunts a modern twist. Le Gavroche (named after the character in Les Misérables) is the Roux family’s établissement historique, opened in 1967 by Michel and Albert Roux. It became the first restaurant in Britain to win a Michelin star, then the first to win two, and in 1982, the first to win three.
Michel Roux Jnr has been the current chef-patron since 1991, guiding the restaurant, the Roux business and most importantly, its recipes and cuisine into the future. Whilst keeping them current, exciting and surprising in equal measure — they have never forgotten their French classical foundations.
Le Gavroche could be considered reminiscent of a bygone era, but its English gentleman’s club interior — thick carpets, thicker linen, green walls, dark wood and heavy silverware — are what you come here for. It starkly contrasts the cold, minimalist interiors of many modern dining establishments. One could imagine the Queen Mother dining here (and she often did). You need the solid embrace of the warm, sumptuous, cloyingly regal decor to finish this style of dining experience properly. Nothing else would suit.
Although filled to capacity with lunch tickets, this stately, eccentric space never felt oversubscribed, with each table its own oasis of intimacy.
The staff are of the breed who suddenly appear, cat-like, when you think you need something. Attentive yet unobtrusive, very knowledgeable and infinitely courteous, they are dressed comme des soldats, according to their rank, and are similarly organised and efficient.
This is not the establishment to be keeping an eye on your budget — there is simply too much to revel in — so go prepared. When even the starters are priced well into double digits, you won’t get change from £150 per head, including wine pairings. Bear in mind that Le Gavroche was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having served the most expensive meal per head, at £20,945.
One particularly impressive starter was the Lucullus, named after the Roman Senator, one can only presume, which featured a foie gras-topped artichoke heart surrounded by a fine chicken mousse embedded with black truffle. This was an incredible, intensely flavoured yet subtle and distinct dish, with numerous textures and components showing the level at which the kitchen can operate and create — a plate of real finesse.
The wine pairings were exclusively French; new and noble wines of age from Bourgogne and Bordeaux — Sauternes, Pomerol et al., and all presented impeccably and matched the dishes jolly well too.
It must be noted that chefs who have previously worked in the kitchen of Le Gavroche include Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, Bryn Williams, and Michael Smith, so this is undoubtedly a hotbed for producing talent. It shows in the consistently exciting and well-executed dishes the kitchen creates.
It is easy to enter such a place with high expectations and have them dashed, but in the case of Le Gavroche, the expectations are met in style.
What: Le Gavroche
Where: 43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR
Web: le-gavroche
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