Home
Reviews
Articles
Interviews
Travel
About
Palate Cleanser

Author Archives:

Written by C Ley

new
Read
article
The Trouble with Steak Chains (2017)

by C Ley
new
Read
palate cleanser
A Measured Response to Pricey Wine Lists (2017)

by C Ley

Ah, back to Oslo Court where it’s always 1982 (i

Ah, back to Oslo Court where it’s always 1982 (in a good way). One thing’s for sure: you’ll never leave here hungry. Delightfully retro melba toast, crudités, butter in curls, melon and Parma ham, lobster bisque, beef Wellington with plentiful sides (will still be digesting this at Christmas), tarte tatin, a cheeky Chablis, a reasonably priced 2016 Pauillac (decanted without prompting), martinis and Negronis, silver service and a great atmosphere. It always feels like you’re crashing someone’s wedding reception here but that’s part of its charm
.
.
.
.
.
#oslocourt #beefwellington #lobsterbisque #pauillac #retro #oldschool #stjohnswood #primrosehill #londonrestaurants #feedme #foodie #foodgram #goodtimes #hospitality #quirkyrestaurants #londondining #silverservice #parmaham #nostalgia #londonfoodguide #palate #onmytable #delicious #moreismore #londoneats #londonlife #comfortfood

Also in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, underneat

Also in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, underneath Comptoir De Vie, is Bar De Vie, a new “farm to glass” cocktail den that prizes sustainability with drinks based on products from independent French producers. A great bar which made it to our shortlist for best new bar of 2025. Link in bio for the full review or head to the Palate Cleanser section at palatemag.co.uk in your web browser

Pictured here are the martini glasses cooled down by liquid nitrogen, the ‘Amelanchier’, the ‘Blackberry’ and the beguiling ‘Chinotto’ - 15 Euros each with versions sans booze available. Cin cin!
.
.
.
.
.
#bardevie #cocktailbar #glassware #speakeasy #mixology #sustainability #wheretodrink #cocktailhour #bar #topbarsofparis #parisbar #imbibe #cocktails #cincin #parisguide #hospitality #newbar #instadrink #weekend #cocktailgram #bonheur #liquidnitrogen #delicious #travel #travelgram #instatravel #barsofparis

In Paris, new Mediterranean-Californian restaurant

In Paris, new Mediterranean-Californian restaurant Chez Carrie is bringing sunshine to the second arrondissement. The sourcing here is exemplary and the drinks selection perhaps the most eclectic in Paris. “It’s a place that celebrates women and wears that commitment proudly… what they’re building feels special: laid-back Californian conviviality underpinned by good cooking and stellar sourcing.” Full review by Rachel Naismith at palatemag.co.uk or link in bio
.
.
.
.
.
#paris #chezcarrie #mediterranean #californian #restaurantreview #parisfood #parisrestaurants #parisfoodguide #goodcooking #instachef #newrestaurant #wheretoeat #eat #lefooding #parisguide #france #weekend #bonheur #delicious #foodwriter #foodmagazine #foodgram

Over to The Elizabeth in Belgravia, one of London’s quieter new openings recently. This is the sister venue of The Hunter’s Moon and The Apollo Arms but it has changed its lunar/Greek mythology name from Ganymede and now Anthony Demetre is culinary director. Demetre needs no introduction of course and this was a superb meal of Gallic classics (there are other items on the menu with nods to elsewhere in Europe too). Pictured here: a wonderful take on lapin à la moutarde with rabbit three ways and both mustard sauce and an intense jus; a duck, pork and guinea fowl terrine of dreams (don’t let its appearance fool you, clearly a lot of work went into this); Pierre Koffmann fries (!); and a moist rum baba (better than Josephine’s?).

Link in bio for the full review (comme d’habitude) or head to palatemag.co.uk in your web browser
.
.
.
.
.
#theelizabeth #eburystreet #belgravia #terrine #rabbit #lapinalamoutarde #rumbaba #cuisinefrançaise #frenchfood #londonrestaurants #frenchfoodinlondon #bistro #bistronomy #gastropub #lunch #lunchmeanslunch #londonfood #londonlife #newrestaurant #foodwriter #foodgram #foodstagram #eat #eeeeeats #delicious #francophile #instachef #lunchgoals

Some more pictures from 74 Charlotte Street, the f

Some more pictures from 74 Charlotte Street, the full review of which is up on our main site and wins our Most Promising New Restaurant of 2025 award!

Starting with the heavenly mushroom tart with maitake and Parmesan with hidden, quivering egg yolk. Then the BBQ monkfish with vin jaune, coco bean and mussel and the doppio ravioli Wiltshire truffle, butternut and basil. From another visit, the BBQ lamb belly snack with herb emulsion and smoked yogurt followed by the Iberico presa with carrot and baby gem. Oh and that absolute triumph of a soufflé with apple crumble, oats and caramel.

Also, very importantly, there’s a bar at street-level where Nic serves excellent sub-zero martinis, amongst other cocktails. This could soon be a destination in its own right (at the moment you don’t need a restaurant reservation to have a drink in the bar). All very impressive.

“This is a Michelin-starred restaurant in waiting”

Full review by Amanda David in our bio or head to palatemag.co.uk

Also, congratulations to the other new restaurants that were shortlisted this year. Despite all the doom and gloom it has been a very good year for openings - you can read more about this in our annual roundup (link in bio)
.
.
.
.
.
#74charlottestreet #fitzrovia #charlottestreet #restaurantreview #instachef #londonfood #goodfood #foodgram #londonfoodie #eatlondon #foodlover #foodstagram #toplondonrestaurants #hospitality #culinaryarts #londonfoodscene #londoneats #tasty #foodheaven #londonfoodspots #londonrestaurants #toplondoneats #londonfoodguide #foodielondon #restaurantguide #eatlondon #gourmet #londonrestaurantguide

December is here and that means it’s time for ou

December is here and that means it’s time for our annual roundup alongside our new reviews for this month. In this article a few regular contributors share their thoughts on 2025 and their hopes/predictions for next year. We also name the most promising new restaurant and the best new bar opening of 2025!* Tap the link in our bio or head to palatemag.co.uk to read it!

And in this post is a quick and random pictorial summary of the year’s highlights, in no particular order…

The apple crumble soufflé at 74 Charlotte Street (set to become an iconic dessert?);

The filet de boeuf at Josephine Marylebone (so much happened in Marylebone this year);

The return of the cheese board at Chez Bruce!;

A Gibson martini with Japanese pickles at Waltz in Shoreditch;

The saffron risotto with bone marrow at Town, the first of Stevie Parle’s two new restaurants;

The tofu at JIP in Paris;

The bouillabaisse croquettes at Maset;

The scallop with celeriac and spruce at Roots in York;

The grilled sugar pit Iberico pork chop with crassane pear, almond purée and gremolata at Wildflowers;

Red mullet with spiced celeriac and yogurt at The Waterman’s Arms in Barnes;

The Clem Fandango at Muse;

Oyster martinis bar The Suffolk in Aldeburgh; and

The Prince which recently opened in Barbican and their Campari Shakerato made on request. Cin cin!

*all entirely subjective and our opinion of course
.
.
.
.
.
#roundup #yearinreview #december #restaurants #palate #cincin #eat #wheretoeat #journalism #foodwriter #goodtimes #foodphoto #martini #instachef #foodguide #bonvivant #reviewoftheyear

Ah, Le Bon Georges. An excellent bistro experience

Ah, Le Bon Georges. An excellent bistro experience and even more fun with a counter seat right by the kitchen, which felt like having your own private chef cooking for you. Oeufs mayonnaise, a veritable tome of a wine list, quail with grapes and roasted celeriac, steak (and the chef here remained very calm throughout - even seemed to be loving it - despite all the steak orders coming in and having to regularly replenish butter supplies). Then, tarte tatin arriving on the pass with a satisfying ping of the bell (guess who that was for). Good times
.
.
.
.
.
#lebongeorges #paris #parisbistro #bistrot #frenchfood #parisrestaurants #classicbistro #parisguide #lunchmeanslunch #lefooding #steak #instachef #comptoir #counterdining #parislife #parisien #bonheur #déjeuner #tartetatin #parisfood #diningout #travel #instafood #foodgram #foodstagram #palate #gourmand #bonvivant #eat #moreismore

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

Facebook Twitter Instagram

About us

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

Find us on Facebook

© 2017-2025 Palate Magazine

Back to top