L'Etranger

Address:	36 Gloucester Road SW7 4QT
Tel	020 7584 1118
Email:	axelle@etranger.co.uk
Website:	Visit L'Etranger website
Price: £56.00	Wine: £19.50	Champagne: £45.00
Opening Hours:	Mon-Fri Sun 12N-3pm Mon-Sun 6-11pm (Sun -10pm)

Square Meal review of L'Etranger:

L’Etranger has long been welcomed into the South Ken fold by French expats & francophiles alike. Though its sophisticated ambience & subtle, contemporary interiors – steely lilacs & muted greys – might feel a touch restrained, there’s nothing muted about the French/Vietnamese fusion cooking of chef Jerome Tauvron, which pays close attention to presentation, taste & texture. Some favourites, such as lobster ravioli with lemongrass & caramelised black cod with miso, never leave the menu – & justifiably so – while newcomers such as a starter of stuffed-to-bursting scallop & asparagus roll in wafer-thin tempura batter, decorated with shiso leaves & salmon eggs, are worthy innovations. Desserts tend to be fruit-based and mercifully light, though the chocolate platter provides an ultra-indulgent finish. If you can overlook the occasional touch of brusqueness from the predominantly French staff, the service is as smooth as the clientele.

Wine List: An extensive list selected with passion & boasting mark-ups that are well below industry norms. The Champagne collection is a draw with extensive verticals of Dom Perignon & Salon. The rest of the offer takes in the whole world, with Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone & Italy being particularly strong. A small but good collection of ever-changing bins is offered at bargain prices during lunch. Best Buy White 2004 Domaine Louis Cheze Marsanne, Rhone Valley, France, £26. Best Buy Red 2003 Tim Adams Shiraz, Clare Valley, Australia, £32.

L'Etranger Location: