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L'Etranger (∗)

Address:36 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4QT
Tel:020 7584 1118
Email:
Website: Visit L'Etranger website
Price: £58.00Wine: £15.00 Champagne: £45.00
Opening Hours:Mon-Fri, Sun 12N-3pm Mon-Sun 6-11pm (Sun -10pm)

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Shimmering in silvery greys, with glassware as polished as the immaculate staff, L’Etranger’s sexy little dining room suggests decadence rather than chummy local bonhomie – a mood that is picked up by the kitchen. The prevailing culinary style is modern French, with strong Japanese influences, although this is no arty fusion gaff. A trio of foie gras (pan-fried, placed inside a dumpling & cleverly turned into a crème brûlée) was a standout during our visit, although we were glad to follow it with a refreshing plate of sashimi before tackling richer stuff. Tuna & crab spring rolls were another hit, likewise beautifully cooked Charolais fillet steak. It’s all very expensive (you can easily spend over £100 a head with wine), but the set lunch/early bird menu is an absolute bargain at £19.50 for three courses. For something more casual, grab a table in the wine shop next door.

Wine List: L’Etranger’s compilation is among the country’s finest – page upon page of the world’s great wines, including rarities such as Ukraine’s Massandra collection. Prices at the top end are good value; diners wanting to indulge should check out the discounts at lunch & early evening. Best Buy White 2006 Chasselas Vieilles Vignes, Schoffit, Alsace, France, £45. Best Buy Red 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Amery Vineyard, Kay Brothers, McLaren Vale, South Australia, £36.

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Reader reviews of L'Etranger:

Claudine C.
Reviews: 1

Claudine C. ( 30s, Female )

This was our second time dining at L' Etranger and it wont be our last !
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from every detail of the food to the wine and the service.
From our first visit , the sommelier chose a wine from a very extensive wine menu that was 100% to both our tastes and which suited the different array of foods that we ordered ,very well . We loved it so much , we ordered it again !
The Black Cod , Wagyu beef and scallops are highly recommended , as is everything else we ordered . You wont be disappointed !

22 October 2009
Overall:9
Food and Drink:10
Service:8
Atmosphere:9
Value for Money:8
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Jarrod F.

Jarrod F. ( 30s, Male )

Love this place, have been many many times and only disappointed once when I went to a special event that they didn't get right.

1 September 2009
Overall:9
Food and Drink:9
Service:9
Atmosphere:8
Value for Money:8
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John S.

John S. ( 30s, Male, United Kingdom )

We popped in to L'etranger prior to a concert at the RAH, it was on an earlybird 3 course special with a glass of champagne.
The service and food were great as was the decor of the restaurant although I think it could get pretty cosy on a busy night.
I personally thought a couple of simple things let the place down, the first being the outside appearance of the entrance and signage for the restaurant looked a bit grubby and didn't fit in with what was a nice interior. The other thing was the gents toilet which came with nice soap and hand towels but no bin to place your used hand towel which is a bit poor really.
I would go back again and would have no problem in recommending this place to other people, it certainly represents good value if your want a nice meal prior to a concert, or you can push the boat out if you really want to, given the quality of the food we had I would assume the rest of menu would be just as appetising.

6 June 2009
Overall:8
Food and Drink:9
Service:8
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:7
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Alex C.
Reviews: 1

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

Four of us went to L'Etranger last night before going of to a show at the Royal Albert Hall. As we arrived my first impression was good, the decor was light and crisp; modern. Expect the a subtle feeling of opulence, be sure to look down to the beautiful tile mosaic on the floor in the front hall.

The greeting we received from staff was warm and freindly. We quickly felt relaxed and at eased us in and seemed genuinely happy to have us there.

Be fore warned about the wine list, at first glance, it can be overwelming at 40 pages long, with with hundreds, if not thousands of items most priced over £100 a bottle (some as much as £10,000) you may be frightened that you've perhaps sat down at a table that's outside your budget. Don't hesitate to ask the staff for help finding something in your price range, there are a number of reasonably priced bottles starting at around £20.

We had arrived early enough to order from the ‘early bird’ menu. When the first course arrived, a misscommunication at some point between the kitchen and service staff meant they brought out the wrong order. I had to watch the rest of my party merrily munching away as the kitchen scrambled to prepare another rocket & daikon salad.

When it did arrive, it was very good, but left me feeling it was lacking something. My… More

January 2009
Overall:5
Food and Drink:5
Service:3
Atmosphere:8
Value for Money:6
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MissSushi
Gold Reviewer

MissSushi ( 30s, Female, London&Paris )

Last time I visited L'Etranger was years ago and I now I can't understand why. I went back and have to admit that the food is outstanding. I had forgotten how deliciously fusion the not-so-french menu was. Unlike so many other London restaurants that try the fusion-thing half heartedly, here you can tell that combination of unlikely flavours is well thought through. We had the menu degustation which included delicious tuna tartare (well seasoned), a tender and succulent Black Cod, Wagyu Beef and an aromatic yuzu (a tangy japanese citrus fruit) ice cream – which was a touch too sweet and creamy for me.
For next time my eye is on the following which I spotted at the next table: crispy Squid and scallops with shiso (that green spikey leaf you find under your sashimi) and shitake mushrooms. Not french at all – I like it a lot.

January 2009
Overall:8
Food and Drink:8
Service:8
Atmosphere:6
Value for Money:7
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Glenn K.
Reviews: 1

Glenn K. ( 30s, Male, United Kingdom )

Have heard good things about this restaurant so my wife and I decided to give it a try as it’s in our neighborhood. I have to admit we were very disappointed. We had the tasting menu and found it lacking innovation but worst yet, it was prepared poorly and presentation was not up to par. We found the lobster bisque to be over salted, the miso cod over cooked and the wagyu beef was cold telling me it had been sitting out waiting for pick up. My wife and I both had the warm chocolate cake for dessert and while her cake was nicely presented looking just like the mold it came out of, mine looked like it was dropped from ceiling onto my plate. Not sure how they could have sent it out of the kitchen looking like that to be honest. One of the worst offensives of the night was that they served different wines with the tasting menu then what was printed on the menu. If they would have told us this when we ordered that would have been acceptable, but they just served the wines hoping we wouldn’t notice. When I brought this to the server’s attention, he just shrugged and said they were out of some of the wines listed. Sorry for the rant, but needless to say we won’t be going back.

January 2009
Overall:3
Food and Drink:3
Service:3
Atmosphere:5
Value for Money:2
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R.R.Gill
Gold Reviewer

R.R.Gill ( 30s, Male, United Kingdom )

It's been a long time between my visits to L'Etranger and after today's trip out I'm definitely going to go back a lot sooner. The design of the restaurant is smart and quite chic without having to try too hard – spoiled for choice with tables by the window for bright and airy or a little more secluded and darker towards the back. The menus seem to be hugely expansive and cover a large selection of dishes and styles. Being a creature of habit I chose the tuna tartar for starters – very tasty and readied my taste buds for one of my favourite dishes and the speciality of the house – the black cod. Portions were huge – I've seen similar size portions being offered as a sharing plate for two at twice the price at other venues in town. Having tried it I can see why it is the house specialty and would advise you to try if dining here. Sadly the main had filled me up so again I had to skip dessert. The wine list is also a major attraction with an amazing selection suited to all wallets – and in some cases bank loans. I'm planning on returning to try the five-course champagne tasting menu – it's not cheap but given the food and the selection of champagnes including Cristal & Krug it could well be a perfect Christmas treat.

December 2008
Overall:8
Food and Drink:9
Service:8
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:8
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