Top 5: Bastille Day Menus in LondonBy Angelica Malin
This feature contains all the French fare your heart desires: cassoulet, tarte tatin, cheese and Champagne. If you’re wondering where to celebrate Bastille Day (Saturday 14th July) in London, we’ve discovered the best and tastiest menus in the capital:
1. For a Special Menu: The Duke of Richmond
The Run-Down: To celebrate la Fête nationale – AKA Bastille Day – Tom Oldroyd and his team at The Duke of Richmond are hosting an all-day petite soiree on Saturday 14th July. The recently-opened Hackney pub and dining room will take the lead from its French-inspired menu, with the proceedings kicking off from midday.
Eat and Drink: £8 gets you the special spicy lamb Merguez hot dog with fries and harissa mayo as well as a bottle of French Meteor Blonde Lager or a glass of wine. Also on offer are three quid pints of Meteor, and to get you in the party mood: French music and plenty of bunting.
Where: 316 Queensbridge Road, Hackney, London E8 3NH
2. For a Bastille Day Brunch: Neptune x Citadelle Gin
The Run-Down: Storming into Bastille Day in style, Citadelle Gin has teamed up with Neptune restaurant in Bloomsbury for a one-off Bastille Day brunch on Saturday 14th July. Start with a G&T and oyster on arrival followed by the choice of a Brotherhood, Equality or Liberty cocktail.
Eat and Drink: Neptune’s Brett Redman has created a selection of gourmet French-style brunch dishes including a pepper crusted burger with Oglesheild cheese, smoked bacon, pickles and green peppercorn sauce; house-made ham and pudding triple decker croque madam, topped with Dijon mustard, Béchamel, cheddar and a fried egg; and an asparagus and barrel-aged feta omelette.
Where:Cnr of Guilford Street and, Russell Square, London WC1B 5BE
3. For a Four Course Feast: Orrery
The Run-Down: On Saturday 14th July, Orrery will be celebrating Bastille Day with a one-off dinner, drawing influences from across L’hexagone, in tribute to France’s national day.
Eat and Drink: Highlights from the menu include salmon ballotine with citrus, dill and Fromage Blanc, and Boeuf En Croûte and pommes purées, with a rich truffle and Madeira sauce. Orrery’s celebrated cheese trolley will also be making an appearance before a dessert of fresh strawberries with meringue, Chantilly cream and sorbet. And matching wines from the vineyards of France and beyond will accompany each course, picked out by sommelier Nicola Perrone. The dinner is ticketed, with each ticket including a glass of Moët & Chandon on arrival, and four courses with matching wines for £95 per person. Tickets can be purchased here.
Where: 55 Marylebone High St, Marylebone, London W1U 5RB
4. For a Bottomless Cassoulet Party: Comptoir Gascon
The Run-Down: Toast La Fête Nationale in traditional style at Pascal Aussignac’s Comptoir Gascon at their bottomless Bastille Day bash. Sister restaurant to Michelin-starred Club Gascon, and a true French institution in London, Comptoir Gascon will be hosting an evening of celebrations at their bottomless cassoulet party.
Eat and Drink: For £29 per person, enjoy free-flowing Ricard Pastis, a traditional French anise-flavoured aperitif, followed by bottomless Cassoulet Toulousain, served sharing-style. The party kicks off at 6pm on Saturday 14th July and bookings for the Bastille Day celebration can be made here.
Where: 63 Charterhouse St, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 6HJ
5. For an Exclusive Menu: Little Social
The Run-Down: On Saturday 14th July, Jason Atherton’s Little Social will be offering an exclusive menu in celebration of Bastille Day. Executive Chef, Cary Docherty has created a special three-course menu showcasing traditional French-style bistro dishes with a luxury twist.
Eat and Drink: The one-off menu, available for both lunch and dinner, will feature the likes of; Smoked ham hock terrine, cornichons served with grilled toast; Normandy fish stew; Confit of duck leg with crispy potato and a classic Barigoule of summer vegetables. To finish, in true French style, freshly baked honey madeleines will be on offer, as well as Little Social’s famous pear tarte tatin served with homemade lavender ice cream.
Where: 5 Pollen St, Mayfair, London W1S 1NE
