French restaurants in Europe
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A
Thyme
As at Clerkenwell's Club Gascon, dishes are starter size only, and served tapas style. So, although the prices look low, this is a mid-range place if you're in any way hungry. It's still worth the outlay, though, because the tastes at this multi-award-winning gem are innovative, subtle and divine. Book ahead.
reviewed
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B
Chez Plumeau
Chez Plumeau caters to those who have just had their portraits done on place du Tertre. But for a tourist haunt it’s not too bad (it even has vegie options), and the back terrace is great on a warm spring or summer afternoon.
reviewed
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C
Restaurant Patrick Michelon
The venerable Hôtel Les Berceaux has two in-house eateries: Restaurant Patrick Michelon, a sparklingly elegant gastronomique restaurant whose specialities include truffles (in season) and exquisite blackcurrant sorbet; and Le Sept, a more popularly priced bistro with traditional French fare.
reviewed
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D
Chez Jacky
In the shadow of the national library, Chez Jacky is a serious, traditional restaurant with thoughtful service and a nice, old-fashioned provincial atmosphere. The brothers in charge know how to find good regional produce and present it with great panache, even if originality isn’t their cardinal virtue.
reviewed
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E
Arkle
Named after the famous Irish champion racehorse, Simon Radley's Arkle serves up a sumptuous feast of French-inspired classics such as tranche of monkfish with air-dried ham and braised turbot with baby squid. It's elegant (gentlemen in jackets, please), sophisticated and has a Michelin star to prove it.
reviewed
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F
Vintners Rooms
An authentic Georgian wine-merchant’s saleroom, beautifully decorated with original 18th-century stucco work (the auctioneer stood in the alcove to the left of the fireplace), forms the beautiful centrepiece of this delightful French restaurant. It’s tucked away on a backstreet near the Water of Leith.
reviewed
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G
Côte Bleue
Decked in attractive Provençal blues and deep yellows, tiny and bustling, it's as attractive inside as on its summer terrace. Save a cranny for the gâteau de marrons et noix, a dessert that looks like sludge, tastes like ambrosia and comes with a generous squirt of Chantilly cream.
reviewed
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H
Brasserie Le Noailles
Fronted by a winter garden opening to a dark timber-panelled interior with red velour booths, this classical French brasserie is an elegant affair, with delicious fare including Le Noaille's signature king prawn salad. Plats du jour (daily specials) are available at dinner as well as lunch.
reviewed
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I
Voorbij Het Einde
It means 'beyond the end', and on your trek out here to Java Eiland you may begin to question your judgement. Don't. This place, with its super-mod architectural interior (frosted glass walls, lots of right angles), wins high praise for high French in high style - the menu changes every month or so.
reviewed
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J
Charon
In what looks like someone’s home, this understated restaurant with art-nouveau decorative touches offers carefully prepared dishes leaning slightly to French tastes. One of the house specialties is the Seezunge gebraten mit Minikapern (a whole slab of sole baked with baby capers).
reviewed
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K
Aux Négociants
This old-style wine bar and bistro is far enough from the madding crowds of Montmartre to attract a faithful local clientele. Pâtés, terrines, traditional mains like bœuf bourguignon, and wine paid for according to consumption – it all feels like the Paris of the 1950s (or even earlier).
reviewed
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L
Polpetta
Craving down-to-earth dining? Then hike uphill to this disarmingly old-fashioned trattorianext to a garage where eggs and veg are delivered each morning by a man in a little white van. The doing of the Guasco brothers for 20-odd years, Sinatra among others loved Polpetta. We love its osso bucco.
reviewed
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M
Le Hollandais
This subdued split-level restaurant doesn’t look like much, but it’s helmed by a smart, thoughtful chef with a passion for regional French food. The kitchen makes its own sausages and doesn’t shy away from ‘variety meats’; sweetbreads and black pudding abound!
reviewed
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N
La Table d'Anvers
Just far enough off the Montmartre tourist track to keep the tourist hordes away, this local favourite overlooking a stylish and grassy square offers contemporary French cuisine with Mediterranean (and especially Provençale) influences. The lunch menus are particularly good value.
reviewed
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O
La Rascasse
It changed its name to Café Grand Prix but the punters just wouldn't have it. It does, after all, sit inside the Rascasse bend of the F1 Grand Prix circuit and throbs with drivers' girlfriends and support teams during the race. The restaurant is on the 1st floor, the bar is on the ground.
reviewed
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P
Petit Paris
Like the name says, this is a little piece of Paris, complete with checked tablecloths, friendly waiters and good-value grub – the moules-frîtes (mussels and chips) are excellent. There’s a lunch/pretheatre deal (noon to 3pm and 5.30pm to 7pm) offering the plat du jour and a coffee for £7.90; add a starter and it’s £11.90.
reviewed
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Q
Voyageur Nissart
No frills, just good solid portions of traditional Niçois fare, served speedily and with a smile ensure this small three generation-run family bistro near the train station makes it in practically every travel guide. Going strong since 1908, its clientele nonetheless remain fairly local.
reviewed
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R
Le Champignon Sauvage
For nearly a quarter of a century this Cheltenham institution has been delighting visitors and locals alike with chef David’s finely executed dishes and inspired (ans sometimes unlikely seeming) flavour pairings (such as the chocolate and olive tart with fennel ice cream or the cured pigeon breast with fig compote). Somehow, it all works beautifully. Worth every penny.
reviewed
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S
Le Vinéa Café
The anchor tenant – or so it would seem – of the cour St-Émilion, this is a delightful wine bar-restaurant with a lovely terrace to the back facing place des Vins de France. There’s live music some nights and a popular brunch (€23) from noon to 4pm on Sunday.
reviewed
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T
Le 15ème
Near the water, culinary innovator Cyril Lignac adds an element of surprise: something of a Jamie Oliver with his televised chef-training and school canteen projects, he cooks up cuisine attitude at Le 15ème, aptly placed on the ground floor of an apartment block.
reviewed
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U
Christophe
Lobster dishes, duck-liver terrine and unusual elegance keep Jean-Christophe Royer's Michelin-starred restaurant busy every night. However, the excellent, caring service puts it over the top in our book, making this an extraordinary restaurant by world, and not just Amsterdam, standards.
reviewed
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V
Au Temps des Cerises
There's no better place to check out Normandy's famous cheeses than this ever-popular restaurant (look out for the fox and raven murals outside). Choose your cheesy poison - the menu is packed with tartiflette, fondue and endless varieties of croûtes - and tuck in.
reviewed
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W
Maison Charlotte
There's a rustic lyricism to the French country cuisine in this darling Dutch Quarter bistro, no matter whether your appetite runs towards a simple Flammkuchen (Alsatian pizza), Breton fish soup or a full four-course menu (€45). Budget bon vivants come for the daily lunch special: €7.50, including a glass of wine.
reviewed
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X
Beams Restaurant
Housed in an 18th-century coach house replete with massive wooden beams, this one-day-a-week charmer is undoubtedly the county's best source for finely crafted exquisite French cuisine, albeit with an Irish accent. The extensive wine list draws on the stock of the subsidiary wine shop.
reviewed
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Y
Francouzská Restaurace
The grand main restaurant of the even grander Municipal House is a haven for fine dining. Coq au vin, bouillabaisse and swordfish are some of the gourmet offerings, or there's the cheaper 3-course 'quick lunch' menu, which changes regularly. The Art Nouveau decor is sublime.
reviewed