Pied a Terre

Located in a narrow townhouse on Charlotte Street, the biggest criticism of Pied a Terre is that it’s ‘a little cramped’. We prefer to call it intimate & it’s certainly an elegant backdrop for Australian chef Shane Osborn’s refined take on French cuisine. The constantly changing menu might feature a beautifully presented starter of langoustines with apple jelly, celery crackling & walnut crumbs – a dish that puts as much emphasis on texture as taste. Move on to rich Anjou pigeon in port sauce, served with earthily sweet beetroot puree & Swiss chard or, if choosing from the a la carte proves too taxing, try the tasting menu – 10 small but exquisitely formed plates that show off the best of the kitchen’s offerings. None of this comes cheap, of course, but Pied a Terre offers an ‘all-time fine dining experience’ that ‘stamps itself indelibly on the memory’.

Wine List: Pied a Terre is home to one of the UK’s greatest wine cellars. There is pretty much everything any serious wine lover could want to drink. The collection of Burgundy is wonderful but equal passion is shown for wines from lesser-known countries such as Austria. There are plenty of half bottles & by-the-glass options, plus some fascinating food-&-wine pairing menus. Best Buy White 2005 Roussette de Savoie, Gilles Berlioz, France, £32. Best Buy Red 2004 Shiraz, Shaw & Smith, Adelaide Hills, Australia, £48.