Ella Mapes went along to Bistro Bardot to enjoy an Autumnal Dinner in an authentic French bistro. This is what she discovered.
Autumn is approaching at rapid speed. This marks the end of small bites and even smaller plates. A blessed summer of sunshine meant we could sustain ourselves off a bowl of chips and a side of ceviche. No one wants to tackle Hampstead Heath on a full stomach.
As the weather turns, so does my head. Now, I want to find eateries that fill me with comfort. I simply don’t have the patience for small picky bits and I certainly don’t want to share. Winter is coming. Which means my restaurant taste must adapt.
Bistro Bardot – a French-style brasserie – is the type of classic cooking that makes your insides feel all warm and cosy. Its interior is tasteful and classy, without any of the pomp you find in neighbouring Shoreditch bistros. Located in Wapping, the restaurant has a stillness to it, even during the Friday night buzz. It’s slightly off the beaten track, but that only adds to its charm. Oh, and unlike most London-French brasseries, it actually serves French cuisine, rather than being your typical hijacked British ‘concept’ menu making it feel like an authentic French bistro”
We started the night off with snails. Yes, snails. The real, Provençal-style snails. Buttery, soft and garlicky – think a full-bodied button mushroom, bursting with garlicky goodness. Best served alongside Bistro Bardot’s bread basket. Smear butter, dunk into more melted butter, top with snails and weep at your hitherto ignorant squeamishness of these delicacies.
Bone marrow came next. Not the measly, bitty splodges West London restaurants flick on with Scrooge-like caution. This bone marrow is hefty, almost daunting. It’s a generous taste of what good bone marrow should be. Buttery and melting – the sort of fat that seems to vanish as soon as it reaches your mouth.
For mains the rabbit terrine, served with homemade onion jam and radicchio salad was an excellent selection. Somehow, it managed to be both dense and light at the same time: a terrine packed with protein is always a good sign. I trust fully that it has been hand-pressed with all the best ingredients. A very good steak tartare was also ordered – a thing of simplicity, it’s often a dish restaurants get very wrong. Bistro Bardot serves some of the best steak tartare in East London. Uncomplicated and seasoned with care. It is fresh, smooth and delicate.
Bistro Bardot quietly marks itself as a must-visit for anyone wishing to seek out French food in a refined, relaxed setting. Unlike most brasseries that are backed by investors, it is independently run. Co-owners Phillipe and JJ infuse the service with their big smiles and warm, French charm. Food always tastes better when you know the ones cooking it are involved from the inside out which is what you would expect from authentic French bistro.
Located in a quiet nook of Wapping, it may not be around the corner from foodie hotspots, but it pioneers the way forward for bites in Wapping. And, even though the weather might be turning, its gorgeous garden-area alone is worth the visit.
Yes – summer is nearly over. But that means indulging a little more heavily. Bistro Bardot should be at the top of your list as best restaurants in East London.
