Palate Magazine

  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • About
    • What is Palate?
    • How We Grade Restaurants
    • The Team
    • Contact Us
  • Palate Cleanser

Seafood pasta at Django

by J A Smith

When you finally go to a place on your Paris to-do When you finally go to a place on your Paris to-do list and it exceeds all expectations. Café de l’Usine, in the Belleville area to the east of Canal St Martin (an area full of great restos), is a relatively new bistro by chef and restaurateur Alice Arnoux in a former shoe factory. Not only was the service excellent and remarkably friendly on this visit but the set lunch menu was amazing value (35 Euros for three courses). All with spacious tables (very rare in Paris) and a minimalist, workshop vibe that is reminiscent of St John in Smithfield. 

On this visit, a deliciously autumnal squash tarte tatin with a thyme sabayon (yes, tarte tatin in savoury form but pourquoi pas?), leg of venison with cabbage (described in the most impossibly gorgeous way: “embeurré de chou”) with a typically French reduction that probably took days to make, and a simple creamy dessert of mascarpone, pear sorbet and buckwheat. With a Negroni by the fire, glass of vin rouge and an espresso the whole thing came to about 50 quid. No-one is rushed either: your table is yours for the duration. Loved it. Will definitely return 
.
.
.
.
.
#cafedelusine #belleville #paris #eastparis #parisfood #autumn #restaurantreview #parisrestaurants #wheretoeat #vibes #cuisinefrançaise #topparisrestaurants #bistro #foodguide #travel #instatravel #traveltips #parisguide #hospitality #minimalist #design #foodie #instafood #instachef #gourmand #déjeuner #formule #lunchmeanslunch #valueformoney
Busy old week soothed by a cheeky jaunt to Paris, Busy old week soothed by a cheeky jaunt to Paris, heading straight to the ever-reliable Chez Georges of course. Jambon persillé, filet de bœuf, crème caramel, Champagne, Bordeaux splishy-splashy, that slightly hectic service and those hemmed-in tables where you sit so close to your voisins you share the salt and pepper… bliss. All preceded by the Fête du Beaujolais at Noble Rot (photo 5) and checking out the new St Pancras Martini Bar (photo 6). Bon week-end !
.
.
.
.
.
#chezgeorges #paris #weekend #france #bonheur #bonvivant #resto #parisfood #parisguide #wheretoeat #goodtimes #steakfrites #beaujolais #cincin #travel #instatravel #instafood #jambonpersillé #cremecaramel #hospitality #delicious #londontoparis #eurostar #palate #gourmand #moreismore #beautifulmoments #imbibe #carpediem #francophile
As the weather has turned arctic this was the perf As the weather has turned arctic this was the perfect time to return to the warm embrace of Otto’s. A few new items on the à la carte menu to try this time including the king scallop ravioli with a luxurious lobster bisque, a lightly smoked fillet of sturgeon with a champagne beurre blanc (and caviar, of course), magret de canard à l’orange and those divine pommes soufflés (with Périgord sauce), finishing with a staple dessert, a very well-made tarte tatin. And, as always, such old school but thoughtful service, a phenomenal bottle of Chateau Batailley already decanted ahead of time and a martini just materialising upon sitting down. Wonderful hospitality every single time! 

“If less is more just think how much more MORE could be” - Niles Crane
.
.
.
.
.
#ottos #ravioli #lobsterbisque #magretdecanard #carpediem #bonvivant #duckalorange #oldschool #toplondonrestaurants #frenchrestaurant #cosy #vibes #londondining #wheretoeat #moreismore #londongram #foodgram #foodguide #indulgence #lifeistooshort #batailley #pauillac #hygge #goodtimes #tartetatin #gourmet #cuisinefrançaise #londonrestaurants #foodstagram #frenchfood
A delightful and overdue return to Theo Randall’ A delightful and overdue return to Theo Randall’s restaurant at The Intercontinental - now slightly rebranded Theo Randall Cucina Italiana and with a brighter interior design to boot but the food is still excellent, Theo was actually cooking on this visit and they still have the “create your own Negroni” menu which is always a lot of fun. Glad to see it was a full house too with every table occupied.  Pictured here are the delicious (and generous) lamb, guinea fowl and pappardelle con ragù di manzo 
.
.
.
.
.
#theorandall #italian #italianrestaurant #hydepark #cucina #italianfood #pappardelle #ragu #lamb #comfortfood #instachef #instacook #delicious #toplondonrestaurants #londondining #londonfoodspots #londonfoodscene #hospitality #londonfoodie #foodstagram #eat #moreismore #goodtimes #gourmand #wheretoeat #foodguide
The guinea fowl agnolotti draped in lardo di Colon The guinea fowl agnolotti draped in lardo di Colonnata and tiramisù at Cicoria in the Royal Opera House (“come for La traviata, stay for lasagne”). A bit of a mixed experience but Angela Hartnett’s new restaurant is generally sound. Link in bio for the full review or head to palatemag.co.uk along with our other new content for November 
.
.
.
.
#agnolotti #tiramisu #cicoria #coventgarden #royaloperahouse #newrestaurant #restaurantreview #foodie #foodgram #foodstagram #londongram #wheretoeat #londonfoodguide #londonfoodscene #delicious #italian #italianfood #pasta #comfortfood #eat #moreismore #londonrestaurants #tasty #gourmand #lardodicolonnata #latraviata
It’s November and our new full-length reviews an It’s November and our new full-length reviews and articles are online on the main site, including reviews of Stevie Parle’s Town (pictured here), Angela Hartnett’s new restaurant Cicoria at the Royal Opera House, Didi & Franc in Kennington, and an essay on hidden bars. But first, back to Town where writer Amanda David was generally impressed over two visits (now this has had time to settle in whilst Motorino has just got going). Pictured here: crudo with tomatoes, Todoli grapefruit, basil oil and tomato water; the saffron risotto with bone marrow (ubiquitous on Instagram but it’s divine); and the day boat fish. To read the full review head to palatemag.co.uk or go to the link in our bio

✍️📷 Review and photos by Amanda David 
.
.
.
.
.
#town #coventgarden #restaurantreview #londoneats #londonfoodguide #foodwriter #palate #bonemarrow #stevieparle #toplondonrestaurants #londonguide #foodgram #foodstagram #wheretoeat #diningout #foodphoto #design #londonrestaurants #foodie #review #goodtimes #november #thingstodo #weekend
Back to lovely Trullo in Islington. Never fails. A Back to lovely Trullo in Islington. Never fails. A comforting and hearty autumnal evening: venison carpaccio; finocchiona salumi croquettes (sensational); Paignton scallops with ‘nduja and Amalfi lemon; fettuccine with partridge, Scottish girolles and guanciale (also divine); beef sirloin (medium rare) with beetroot, cipollini onions and horseradish crème fraîche; Cornish Mids; Negronis and martinis; Tuscan splishy-splashy; low lighting and candles. Never had a bad meal here - it’s impossible to
.
.
.
.
.
#trullo #highburyandislington #islington #italianrestaurant #italian #toplondonrestaurants #carpaccio #fettuccine #londonfood #foodie #wheretoeat #autumn #autumnvibes #cosy #comfortfood #italiansdoitbetter #foodstagram #londonrestaurants #londonfoodguide #delicious #moreismore #londoneats #bonvivant #gourmand #ambience
Well it’s all happening in Marylebone at the mom Well it’s all happening in Marylebone at the moment: Kudu’s new site, a new Cafe Murano, Josephine’s second restaurant, and now the lovely Maset on Chiltern Street. An impressive first visit for the new sister restaurant of Lurra and Donostia, though unlike its Basque siblings, Maset looks to the southern coast of France (with influences from North Africa and Italy too). Still early days of course but loved the bouillabaisse croquettes evoking memories of Marseille, pâtes au pistou (the Provençal cousin of pesto but sans pine nuts), chicken breast with farcis Niçois and barley (a touch more seasoning perhaps needed), and excellent pastry work in the fig tart with thyme. Already there’s a very pleasing (if young) French/Spanish/Italian wine list. A welcome injection of the Mediterranean as we plunge further into autumn. 

All sandwiched between Negronis at fellow new opening The Hart (which is just down the road) and, of course, St John Marylebone. 
.
.
.
.
#marylebone #maset #riviera #cuisinefrançaise #newrestaurant #mediterranean #marseille #provence #occitan #londonfoodguide #londonfoodie #bonvivant #londonfoodspots #chilternstreet #thehart #delicious #goodtimes #londonguide #foodgram #foodstagram #wheretoeat
Facebook Twitter Instagram

About us

An online food and drink magazine: UK-based but international in spirit read more

Palate

Find us on Facebook

© 2017-2025 Palate Magazine

Back to top