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Club Gascon two stars

Address:57 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS
Tel:020 7796 0600
Website:Visit Club Gascon website
Price: £55.00Wine: £21.00Champagne: £54.00
Opening Hours:Mon-Fri 12N-2pm Mon-Sat 7-10pm (Thurs-Sat -10.15pm)

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It says much about chef Pascal Aussignac’s eye for detail that he even creates the stunning flower arrangements in his Michelin-starred restaurant – an otherwise understated venue with an olive & brown colour scheme. The same dedication is lavished on the ‘marvellous, innovative’ food that updates the rustic gastronomy of Aussignac’s native Gascony, creating daring contrasts & textures. Foie gras, in various inventive guises, is a star attraction; we relished the cunningly crafted ‘pom poms’ (little balls of foie gras encased in a crisp apple shell). To follow, violets & blueberries bring a riot of colour & intensity to venison loin, while king scallop ‘plancha’ is boosted by fregola bisque & apple. Conventional courses are abandoned in favour of midi-sized dishes, giving diners greater scope to explore the menu – at the risk of breaking the bank. In summer the £55 five-course seasonal menu (for the whole table) might conclude with summer berries ‘surprise’, with silky yoghurt & sweet beetroot. Friendly, well-informed service adds to the pleasure.

Chef: Pascal Aussignac

Club Gascon’s Chef - Club Gascon chef Pascal Aussignac In the decade since Pascal Aussignac moved to London from Paris, he & business partner Vincent Labeyrie have built up a small empire of Gascon-inspired sites in the capital. The jewel in the crown is the Michelin-starred fine-dining site Club Gascon, where Aussignac's tapas-style dishes from south-west France have won a cult following among London's diners. Chelsea restaurant Le Cercle & Smithfield-based wine bar Cellar Gascon, plus bistro & pastry deli Comptoir Gascon complete the package.

Club Gascon Location:

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Reader reviews of Club Gascon:

Pa C.

Pa C. ( 30s, Male, United Kingdom )

My brother tells everyone that Club Gascon serves the best foie gras in London and he might be right but I don’t think that you should go on that basis alone.
I have had two dinners at CG, one for my birthday and we all had the seasonal menu which included 1 glass of wine with each of the 7 courses and once of Valentines Night when my partner and I ate in the Cloisters of Saint Bartholomew behind the restaurant which dates back to 1123, that was pretty cool.
The dining room is formal rather than relaxed and I would go here on a special occasion rather than because I wanted French food. There is a CG wine bar next door and a CG Deli on the other side of Smithfield market which should mean I guess a CG fast food foie gras van parked up nearby sometime soon. I can't say I much like the idea of a foie burger but I know someone who would.

Thursday, 29 Jul 2010
Overall:7
Food and Drink:7
Service:9
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:7
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Iona E.
Reviews: 1

Iona E. ( Over 60, Female, United Kingdom )

This was my first vist to Club Gascon but one had had intended to make for some time. The welcome was very civilised but we would have liked to have had an aperitif before being led to our table if it had been possible. We did not enjoy the rose champange that was suggested but it was changed for another champagne without fuss.

The service was excellent. The sommelier was unpretentious and helpful. In fact all the staff (of which there were many) were natural and attentive. We liked the decor. The room was well ventilated with high celings and furnished in a simple but classy way. The first course (a hot foie gras with grapes) was perfectly cooked and served in an innovative and modern way. My friend chose the lobster main dish with black pudding and asparagus and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was unusual in both it's conception and presentation. I chose the king scallop dish with seafood and samphire with a lobster consomme. It was light, clean and very savoury. As we had eaten lunch, in the Brindisa tapas bar, we did not partake in a dessert.

I chose this restaurant as a special birthday treat for my friend. It transpired to be an excellent choice and our experience matched the reviews that I had read beforehand. The style of cooking suited us very well as it was light, but modern and sophisticated and of course, French. Perhaps clients that expect quantity as well as quality would prefer somewhere like Fergus Hendersons' St Johns. Perhaps my most important comment would be in answer to would I like to re-visit? The answer would certainly be ‘Yes’!

Just to put this into context. I have not been up to London much of late. Especially since my husband died 5 years ago. We regularly followed Marco P W from Harveys onwards, visited Le Gavroche, Ramsey and the OXO restaurant to name a few in the city. I therefore hope that my limited comments will be of use to someone.

Iona Evans, Holywell, North Wales

11 October 2009
Overall:8
Food and Drink:8
Service:9
Atmosphere:9
Value for Money:8
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