Le Cercle, London – Review

It`s very rare that one can find the combination of exquisite French cuisine, live music and delicious cocktails served in a relaxed and elegant environment. Le Cercle, situated minutes away from Sloane`s Square does just that, offering refined French cuisine with an exciting and innovative twist.

Whether you choose to relax in their intimate Lounge area and select from the delicious French `tapas-style` options from the Bar menu, an example of which is the Fois Gras Choco Bar or opt for the a` la Carte menu, Le Cercle will undoubtedly leave you and your taste buds feeling refreshed and satisfied. On your arrival to Le Cercle, you are welcomed by the concierge and the ever so friendly staff and taken to your seat or invited to have a drink by the bar while you wait. The Drinks menu had a unique and select range of cocktails and spirits, including both your well known brands and some more unique and original ones that you certainly don`t come across every day, their selection of different gins and vodkas was particularly impressive.

Once seated in the elegant and vaulted main dining area, as the live band started to play, I was offered to sample the `Traditions` menu. This is a five course taster menu that varies throughout the year to make the most out of seasonal ingredients. With this menu you can opt for a sommelier matching throughout the meal, something I would highly recommend as each course was paired beautifully and the matching had clearly been well thought out and definitely enhanced the taste experience. The `Traditions Autumn` menu had a game theme, with an optional fish course for those that weren’t quite so… game, so to speak.

This menu showcased the very essence of what Le Cercle is all about; refined, exciting and delicious French cuisine with an unusual twist. In each course (bar the cheese and desert ones) the game was the star of the show, my particular favourite being the seared venison, served with an unexpected accompaniment – a sweet vanilla macaroon, a truly surprising yet mouth-watering combination. So if you are looking for a lively and elegant venue where you can sample sumptuous and original haute cuisine, I would recommend Le Cercle for a truly delectable and memorable evening.