The Forge

On the site previously occupied by L’Estaminet, The Forge comes from the same stable as Le Cafe du Jardin & Le Deuxieme & follows a similarly satisfying formula. Ivy-esque comfort food is the best thing to order here, & there’s certainly enough of that on the lengthy menu: eggs Benedict might be followed by anything from a bowl of pasta to a retro chicken Kiev. It’s simple stuff done well: Welsh rarebit has the right tangy bite, juicy whole lobster is enhanced by a terrific thermidor sauce, well-hung T-bone steak is grilled for just long enough to retain its velvety texture & the salty crunch of the thin-cut fries is plain perfect. A lengthy French-leaning wine list has good choice under £30 & around 30 choices by the glass.